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Building a HomeWindowsDesign Dilemma
jonathandb1972

orangeries - compared to an extension

Jonathan
2 years ago

I am looking at a new house, I know I can build a 16sq metre extension for less than £25k
But would an Orangery be much cheaper? I would need it to be about 5x3m internally and it would also have to be insulated sufficiently so as to not need external doors between it and the main house.
Has anyone built one recently or had one of the major window suppliers build one? What did you think? How does the price compare to a solid structure?
Thanks in advance.

Featured Answer
  • Maths Wife
    2 years ago

    I guess at the end of the day it depends what you want the room for. If it's somewhere to sit and have dinner, a cuppa etc, then and Orangery is lovely. However as a full time room, not so wonderful, due to the glazing, furniture placement can be awkward.


    The cost I feel could be roughly the same. Instead of bricks and blocks on the walls, you have further glazing. If you're building with a brick face it's more expensive than rendered block, which in return would be cheaper than a lot of glazing. I'd also bear in mind that an orangery can get very hot in summer. Our old one was unbearable and it was North facing. Therefore, you need to add in the cost of window blinds and roof blinds. Roof blinds are expensive.


    There are a lot of variables!



    Comments (12)

    • Patrina
      2 years ago

      Corious to see what Houzzers think. Following your thread as I've been debating this very same thing. We would like to open up the whole back of our property incorporating existing kitchen and dining room. My initial enquiries come in cheaper than an extension.

    • PRO
      OnePlan
      2 years ago

      Also depends on the aspect - all full on south facing might get pretty hot ?

    • Ribena Drinker
      2 years ago

      I know nothing about orangeries vs. extensions, but I will say....what about your beautiful front garden? How could you even consider leaving that?

    • PRO
      At No 19
      2 years ago

      One of our clients had a similar dilemma a few years ago. We opted for a mid way solution. Opened up the kitchen into the new extension, added French doors with side panels on North and South elevations linking front and rear gardens, high level windows on the Eastern elevation and a partial glass roof with solar control film. Pleated blinds were added to all windows which are the best solution for heat control. It met their needs perfectly. See photographs below.


      Barton on Sea kitchen and Orangery · More Info


      Barton on Sea kitchen and Orangery · More Info


    • Gabby
      2 years ago

      I’d think I’d go for an extension if it’s within budget.
      As others have said, he orangery will get really hot and need blinds and roof blinds which will rapidly add up in cost.

      We’re having a roof lantern fitted in our extension and I contacted some lantern roof blinds companies yesterday to get rough quotes and for size of ~2.4x1.3 one company said between £1479 and £2233, and another (without size guide) said £2-5k

      You might need that regardless of the orangery vs extension debate of course, however presumably it’d be larger in an orangery. Plus all the blinds.

    • Leslie Tamani
      2 years ago

      Sun coming from overhead can be nice to walk through but can create oppressive glare if you are sitting under it

    • Anthony (Beano)
      2 years ago

      Not sure of the cost sorry but I’d be more basing it on how it would look with your property, I feel they suite a more period style property and the one you posted looks lovely as does the first one I’m posting a pic of but my fear would be that it could look like the second which I feel is more like a converted conservatory.

    • Jonathan
      Original Author
      2 years ago

      Thanks to everyone for their time in replying.
      I am with Beano- I think my taste level demands it is not like a conservatory with fancy bits added and there is obviously a consideration of how to make it work with the new house.
      For this reason I am erring towards something that might well still be classed as an orangery because of a roof lantern but will actually be a modern extension.

    • Anthony (Beano)
      2 years ago

      Either or executed properly will look stunning but I believe that, in both cases the costs could be similar as the devil is in the detail!

      The more contemporary one is lovely too!

      I think the more contemporary one allows large sliding doors of some sort thus opening up the whole area to the garden, harder to do successfully with the orangery due to its styling! (Ie I’m thinking more sash style windows etc with it)

    • Laura Thorndyke
      3 months ago

      Hi Jonathan - i'm having the same dilemma here - did you decide to move forward with the build? If you went for a lantern what do you think? Thanks, L

    • Jonathan
      Original Author
      3 months ago

      Thanks for asking Laura. I bought a different house in the end so can’t help.

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