Victorian conservatories are certainly one of the best option when it comes extending your home because of their attractive design, style, materials and security they offer. Find out more about victorian conservatory prices in this guide and choose the best option for you and your family.
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Why choose a conservatory?
A new conservatory is great way to add a bit of extra space to your home; whether it is for casual morning breakfasts, elegant dinner parties or simply as an additional lounge area to relax in, a conservatory can really improve your standard of living, wherever you live.
Why choose a Victorian conservatory?
Victorian conservatories have been growing in popularity in recent years, thanks to their ornate, gothic structures and classical conservatory ‘look’. They can be shaped into regular square or rectangle shapes, or hexagonal or octagonal ‘circles’, depending on the shape of your garden; you can even have it moulded against more than one wall if that’s what you would prefer. The extra sides allow more light to be reflected in the available space, thus offering a more ‘illuminative’ quality; plus the additional supports at the end of each panel allow for a more decorative, extravagant style that you don’t get with ordinary lean-to models.
What does a Victorian conservatory look like?
Usually a Victorian conservatory will have French doors to the side, with very delicate frames and lightweight glass. Most Victorian conservatories will come with three front facets, though some larger varieties could have up to seven. As times have progressed most Victorian conservatories now come with double glazing, making them far more hardwearing – as well as warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer months. It is worth nothing that a Victorian conservatory will usually have cavity insulated walls. The detailing of your Victorian conservatory is really up to you, it can be as elaborate or as minimalist as you desire.
Are there any disadvantages to having a Victorian conservatory?
The one major downside is that due to the nature of its shape, Victorian conservatories may restrict where furniture can be placed. If this is a very big issue then you may well want to consider an alternative.
Styles
Generally, a Victorian conservatory design is based on the three facets or five facets structure, featuring a bay front, steep roof, and ornate ridge. Both of these designs have wide windows. The glass used has little thickness and a thin frame, but it is durable. As for the paint, that is the same as the exterior of your house.
Materials
Victorian conservatories are available in several materials such as aluminium, wood, and uPVC. Wooden Victorian conservatories are expensive, but look extremely attractive. When uPVC is used as a material, the incurred costs are less. Some conservatories feature a combination of these materials.
Security
Security is often a concern with all types of conservatories. Several protective measures ensure that your structure is kept safe. For instance, you can affix beading on the interior glass, which will prevent it from being moved from the outside. You can also install force resistant hinges for all doors and windows.
Regulations
Building a conservatory means complying with a number of regulations, but you are exempted from them if you follow certain regulations. For instance, you should build a Victorian conservatory at ground level over space that occupies an area of less than 30 square metres. The conservatory must be single storey, follow safety glazing requirements, and must be separated from your house with a proper exterior door.
What other types of conservatory are there?
If the shape of a Victorian conservatory is not for you then you may want to consider an Edwardian conservatory. These also fit easily onto any type of property, however they come in a regular square or rectangular shape, so fitting furniture in is a far easier job. They also don’t have facets like Victorian conservatories, which mean that they maximise the floor space.
If you live in a modern property then an Edwardian conservatory may be more suitable for your house, as they have a far more modern look than Victorian conservatories do. One of the key attributes of an Edwardian conservatory is their pointed roof design and the fact they are flat facing. This type of conservatory is a similar price to a Victorian conservatory.
Victorian Conservatory Prices
Conservatory costs vary with a number of factors such as the size, style, material, and extra features. In most instances, prices for a Victorian conservatory range from £10,000 – £15,000. For a 3.5m x 3.5m fully glazed victorian conservatory with dwarf wall estimate to pay from £10,500 – £12,000.
| Fully-glazed victorian conservatories dwarf wall | ||
| Size (cm) | Roof material | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| 350 x 350 | Polycarbonate | £10,500 – £12,000 |
| 350 x 400 | Polycarbonate | £11,000 – £13,000 |
| 400 x 400 | Polycarbonate | £12,000 – £13,500 |
| 350 x 350 | Glass | £13,000 – £14,500 |
| 350 x 400 | Glass | £12,000 – £14,500 |
| 400 x 400 | Glass | £13,500 – £15,500 |
| Fully-glazed victorian conservatories wall prices | ||
| Size (cm) | Roof material | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| 350 x 350 | Polycarbonate | £9,000-£11,000 |
| 350 x 400 | Polycarbonate | £10,000-£11,500 |
| 400 x 400 | Polycarbonate | £11,000-£12,500 |
| 350 x 350 | Glass | £9,500-£11,000 |
| 350 x 400 | Glass | £11,000-£12,500 |
| 400 x 400 | Glass | £12,000-£13,500 |
In some cases, a Victorian conservatory can cost as much as £100,000 if it has been exclusively designed. Among the extra features, blinds are common and cost around £85 if their width is 200 mm. For a width of 300 mm, the costs increase to £125.
Where do the money go?
Building a new victorian conservatory is a complicated home improvement project that requires the expertise of many professionals. In terms of costs, you should expect to spend anywhere from £225 to £3,000 per m2 on a Victorian conservatory.
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- A concrete base will be required to build your Victorian conservatory on, this will cost around £95 per square metre, and there is usually a minimum charge of around £650.
- The Victorian conservatory cavity wall construction will start out at approximately £125 per metre.
- Single skin brickwork will work out at roughly £90 per square metre, and again there will probably be a minimum starting price of around £200 – £300.
- You will also need to install proper drainage, which will set you back approximately £30 per drain.
- If you are looking into changing the position of the gully, that will cost about £200.
- Then there are specifics, such as angled bricks that will be required for a Victorian conservatory, this will cost you around £5 per brick.
- You will also need a cavity tray where the conservatory roof is attached to the existed house; this will cost roughly £55 per metre.
- If drainage is a problem in your garden then you could well need a soakaway that could cost anything from £200 upwards.
- You may also want a radiator, which will start from around £300.
- Then there is the electrical installation (wall lights etc), which will cost a minimum of £200.
- Labour will also cost, but this will depend on where you live and what contractor you decide to hire.
You Should Also Read The Following Articles:
- Lean Conservatory Costs
- Conservatory ceiling fans
- uPVC Conservatories Cost Guide
- Guide to Re-Roofing Costs: How Much Does it Cost to Re-Roof a House