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Last Updated on November 22, 2020 By Jon
Ever wondered what the average cost of an Orangery was? Still not quite sure the difference between an orangery and a conservatory? Read our detailed guide to find out more about these wonderful, characterful house extensions.
Get Free Orangery Quotes OnlineSay the word and most immediately picture a glass building adjoining a stately home or some other grand property, filled with tropical fruit trees and an abundance of greenery. In fact, during the 1700s to 1900s that’s exactly what they were. Providing year round protection to fruit trees such as oranges in the form of a lavish, modern day greenhouse. For that reason they are often referred to as ‘garden rooms’ and are attached to the main body of the house. Still sounding like a conservatory right? Well read on to find out more…
An orangery or orangerie was a room or a dedicated building on the grounds of fashionable residences from the 17th to the 19th centuries where orange and other fruit trees were protected during the winter, as a very large form of greenhouse or conservatory.
As you can imagine, there are many different shapes, sizes and designs to choose from when looking to add an orangery to your home. Though many sizes and shapes can come as standard, the real beauty is getting one to match the size and contours of your existing property, which is why bespoke extensions are commonplace and easily produced by the specialist companies.
The first part of the decision process is usually to look at examples available, and there are 3 main types to look out for:
The modern, popular choice as is seen in countless new windows and conservatories. UPVC offers a number of advantages:
Typically hardwood (though softwood varieties are available), if you’re looking for a traditional, classic look to your orangery then timber frames are an excellent option. It will need to be stained or painted to match your house, but because of this you can match the scheme exactly.
There is further ongoing maintenance required with wooden structures as you run the very real risk of decay over time even with hardwood. However if you’re looking to match an oak framed house for example, there is no more beautiful material to choose.
Lightweight and very strong, aluminium though more expensive than uPVC is a popular choice. Thankfully nowadays the frames can be powder-coated to many different colours and provide a flawless, strong finish that can be cleaned easily. They also don’t suffer from the condensation of yesteryears structures which put many people off.
Both the roof and overall structure of an orangery can give it a characteristic look, and careful consideration should be made when deciding on a style, else you might end up with a basic looking conservatory.
Here are some features that will need your consideration:
Though often believed to be the same… there are in fact some key differences between an orangery and a conservatory.
It is easier to think of it this way:
A conservatory is a glass-walled structure with a brick base and sloping glass roof.
An orangery is a brick-walled structure with large glass windows and a flat roof with a glass lantern on top.
Typically, a conservatory is an additional structure attached to the side of a property after construction. For this reason they can be colder as they don’t share the same heating system, and are closed off from the main building by use of a sliding door.
An orangery however is traditionally designed at the same time as the house as it contains structural walls and elements such as heating plumbed in. THey are far more usable spaces throughout the year. That being said, it’s perfectly acceptable to have an orangery added to your home at a later date.
For these reasons you can see why people often opt for the cheaper more convenient conservatory extensions, however when you’re looking for the character and style of a true orangery there are no real substitutions.
When it comes to discussing the average cost of an orangery, it’s important to understand the main benefits they present over a conservatory (spoiler… they’re more expensive than conservatories, but less expensive than traditional extensions!).
You can think of them as far more akin to a traditional house extension, in that they create additional living space that can be used seamlessly for entertaining at any time of the year.
For that reason, the average price for an orangery is £18,000 to £25,000. The prices however can rise up to £50,000 for a high-end example.
Let’s look at the pricing in a little more detail, and see some key points which will affect your budget. Here are some example prices for various sizes and materials:
Size | Material | Price |
---|---|---|
Small | uPVC | £15,000 |
Medium | uPVC | £23,000 |
Large | uPVC | £30,000 |
Width (m) | Depth (m) | Average Cost |
---|---|---|
4 | 3 | £22,000 to £26,000 |
4.5 | 3 | £26,000 to £30,000 |
4.5 | 3.5 | £28,000 to £32,000 |
5 | 3 | £30,000 to £35,000 |
5 | 3.5 | £32,000 to £35,000 |
There is of course likely to be a huge variation in the overall costs as both size and styles vary according to the specification. You will also need to factor in costs such as plans being drawn which can be anything from £350 to £1000 and any building regulations expenses when seeking planning permission.
Now let’s look at the various elements that will in turn affect the overall cost of your orangery:
Actually.. Yes! When you take the mindset of looking at an Orangery as a house extension then they are very good value for money. They add just as much resale value to a property but cost around 2/3rds of the price to build. Here’s a very rough price example of how orangeries compare to extensions when it comes to cost:
Size | Traditional Extension | Orangery |
---|---|---|
1sqm | £1500 - £2,500 | £1000 - £2,000 |
3x3 | £13,500 - £16,000 | £11,000 - £14,000 |
4x4 | £24,000 - £30,000 | £18,000 - £25,000 |
6x4 | £36,000 - £40,000 | £28,000 - £34,000 |
Timescales will of course vary depending on the scope of the project, however as a rough guide you can look at them in a similar regard as traditional house extensions.
The process is essentially the same:
As an example, with a more traditional brick walled orangery you could be looking at up to five weeks build time. However the more modern glass-sided variations are more ‘flat-pack’ in construction which can take weeks off the overall build time. Your chosen contractor will be able to give you an accurate timescale based on your individual requirements.
You will also need to determine whether planning permission is necessary. Most small orangeries fall under permitted development rights therefore do not need any prior consent, however it’s important to be sure about and consent needed.
Here are some useful links:
Getting a new orangery built is only the start of the project… you might also want to consider some accessories during the initial design consultation:
So now you’ve decided you would like one built, who do you choose to carry out the work? It’s important to choose a reputable company with such an important project. Here are a few points to look out for:
Warranties: though prices may be similar, you may find some companies offer an extended warranty giving you peace of mind for longer.
Accreditations: Membership of professional bodies such as NHBC or FENSA will give you a good indication of the professionalism of the company.
Reputation: Is the company well known locally? Do you know anyone that has had work done with them before and are happy to recommend them?
Thankfully, when it comes to finding local, trusted orangery installers Cost Shed can help you out. We’ve partnered with a leading network of specialists who are ready to provide you with free quotes. By completing the quote form on our website you can be sure that the orangery installation companies are all trustworthy and pre-screened for reliability. You can save a lot of money and time, and all quotes are completely obligation-free.
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