Looking For Conservatories in Kent?

Conservatories in Your Local Area of Kent

Looking for conservatories in Kent? Whilst the UK can claim to have some of the most changeable weather anywhere, and not all of it good, Kent and the south counties can probably boast they have the best the country has to offer.

Still, winter can be freezing, spring and autumn are often harsh and even the warmest summer can be wet enough to keep you indoors. It isn’t that our climate is extreme. It’s just not reliably good enough to guarantee outdoor entertainment.

Even avid gardeners find cause to complain (let’s leave farmers out of this conversation. They’re never satisfied). That’s the main reason that ever more homeowners are acquiring conservatories. It really is the “must have” home improvement.

Of course, there are other motivations such as a need for affordable extra space, but the British climate is the main mover.

conservatories in Kent

Improve Your Home in Kent

And who in Kent wouldn’t love to sit comfortably in a lovely conservatory, glass of wine in hand, imagining they’re somewhere in the south of France.

Having said that Kent gets more than its share of British sunshine, you’ll appreciate the importance of carefully considering where you site a conservatory (assuming you have some choice in the matter).

And where you site it will have a considerable impact on the specification of the glass for the roof. Here we should say that you can choose a more economical roofing material than glass. The cheapest is called polycarbonate.

It is formed into translucent multi-chambered glazing panels. Yes, it is available in opal and bronze and it is relatively cheap. But, it does not have the insulating qualities of glass. This means that the conservatory will be expensive (maybe impossible) to heat in winter and could be an unbearable hot house in summer.

We always recommend using double glazed insulating glass sealed units in conservatory roofs.

Conservatory Roofs in Kent

Making The Right Decisions

So, what is the optimum siting or orientation for a Kent / south counties conservatory? Winter seems to offer much the same conditions facing all four cardinal compass points. In January a south or west facing conservatory might benefit from a bit of solar gain (heat from the sun), but probably not enough to offset heating costs by much.

Choosing a roof glass that will reflect heat back into the conservatory is an absolute must. Now, summer is an altogether different thing.  Odd though it may sound, a south or west facing conservatory is the one that could give the most problems in temperature control.

This orientation requires a roof glass that will reflect the sun’s heat back into the atmosphere. You might also consider argon filled sealed units for additional insulation. And the sun’s harmful UV rays can be minimised by opting for tinted glass. Improvements and innovations in glass are happening so rapidly that it really pays to take expert advice before you specify roofing requirements.

Conservatory Design Choices

Kent Conservatory Design Options

Now that you’ve decided on where you want the conservatory to go, it’s time to consider designs. There isn’t one particular style of conservatory that you could identify with Kent, so the field is wide open.

The most popular styles are the lean-to or garden room, the Victorian, the Edwardian, the Gable front and the P shape. The way to begin to narrow the field is to first decide what size you want. This is more than a function of budget and garden space available for the build.

You should carefully consider what it is you are actually going to use the conservatory for. It will be helpful if you take a rough measurement of the proposed exterior base dimensions. That done, try to imagine which style best compliments your house.

At this point you’ll have to begin the search for a dependable company to price your plan for you. At least, that is what used to happen before Conservatory Online Prices put its clever conservatory quote calculator online.

Conservatory Cost Calculator

Simply click start my quote and the process of getting a free instant quote begins. All you’ll need to do is choose a design and enter the measurements that you took in the garden. It only takes a few seconds and you get a price that is relevant to costs in Kent.

You can do as many quotes as you like and they will all be saved. You’ll be sent a link so that you can review, compare or add to you quotes whenever you like.

The service doesn’t stop there. Once you’ve got a good idea of exactly what you want, Conservatory Online Prices will put you in touch with up to three specialist conservatory companies near you. They are all members of the Trusted Local Supplier Scheme and are well established in your local area and excellent suppliers and installers of high-quality conservatories.

As well as being vetted by us, they are all members of a Competent Persons Scheme such as FENSA or CERTASS, which means they have been inspected by an independent body for quality and regulatory compliance. Their surveyors and fitters are all qualified to MTC and/or NVQ level for the industry. These are people you can trust.

But, why take our word for it.

Customer Review

Mr Lewis from Kent had a Gable conservatory added to his property after going onto our website. Here is what he had to say:

Your website was crucial in my research of conservatories. Nowhere else would give me instant price – I just wanted to see how much it would cost me. I was very pleased with the prices and after being put in touch with some companies I chose the company who gave me a price I was most happy with.

The chosen company was brilliant. Lovely bunch of people, very professional. They made me aware of other conservatory options so I could make an informed decision and were very helpful all round.

It really couldn’t be easier.

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Instant Online Conservatory Costs in Kent

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Frequently Asked Conservatory Questions

In most instances the council tax will not increase on a property unless the additions another living quarter or self-contained annex. This means the addition of a conservatory should not increase the council tax payable on a property. To be absolutely certain you can always check the government's website which gives advice on council tax.
The main difference between a conservatory and an orangery is how the roof is constructed. A conservatory roof is over 75% glazed whereas an orangery roof has less than this amount. A conservatory also has over half of its wall space glazed whereas an orangery can include more brickwork than this.
Yes, you can put a conservatory on the front of your house. This is because conservatories come under the category of a permitted development. As such in most instances you do not need planning permission. This applies if the area surrounding the original house is not more than 50% covered by other buildings or additions.
A glass conservatory can cost as little as £4,000 depending on the style you choose and the amount of building work you need. Larger glass conservatories with more building work can cost £20,000 and above. If you know the conservatory style and size you need or just want an idea of cost our online conservatory cost calculator will give you a guide price.
A Loggia Conservatory can cost about £15,000 to £20,000 for an average size. The Loggia Conservatory is a popular style but can be more expensive than traditional conservatory styles.
A Loggia Conservatory can cost between 20% to 50% more than a uPVC conservatory. It is a good idea to shop around for quotes in order to get a competitive conservatory cost.
The average conservatory cost begins in the region of £4,000 to £5,000. This will be for a reasonably small and basic conservatory. The cost of a conservatory can be as much as £40,000 to £50,000. This will be a large conservatory, fully fitted with all building work included. As this is a wide spread it is a good idea to know your style and size in order to get an average conservatory cost.
There are many ways of gaining temperature control. Conservatory blinds, ventilating windows, cooling film and air conditioning to name a few. You might also want to consider replacing your conservatory roof with a tiled or solid design.
There are many ways of keeping your conservatory warm in the Winter. If you have a small conservatory then an electric heater will suffice but those with bigger conservatories may want to look into installing underfloor heating.
Glazing is also very important in a conservatory. Most heat can be lost through glass so ensure your conservatory glazing is thermally efficient. You can also tackle draughts or cold spots by installing conservatory blinds.
This will largely depend on your location. You will find that certain areas have different setbacks based on the use of the building. We recommend that you check with your local council or take a look at the Goverment's Planning Portal.

You must notify your neighbour if you want to:

- Build on or at the boundary of your 2 properties - Work on an existing party wall or party structure - Dig below and near to the foundation level of their property
Replacing your conservatory roof can indeed make your conservatory warmer however, this will depend on the type of roof you choose. A solid or tiled conservatory roof will offer greater insulation than a plastic or glazed roof.
A solid roof can be put on a conservatory. There are many solid conservatory roof designs available - just ask your chosen installer for a recommendation. The majority of new-build conservatories with a solid, tiled or glazed roof will not require planning permission. They are covered under what is known as 'permitted development'. However, building regulations will apply if you want to build an extension.
When it comes to your home improvement, it's important to have all the necessary legal documentation. The installation of a conservatory, orangery or porch does not require a FENSA registration form.
The average life span of a uPVC conservatory is largely dependent on the quality of materials and build. Typically, a uPVC frame can last up to 25 years but some can last for decades ensuring they are well maintained.
Planning permissions used to say that a certain percentage of roofing must be translucent in order for a conservatory to be exempt from planning permission. Changes to building regulations however, now means that you may not require planning permission for roof replacement.
Swapping your existing conservarory roof for a tiled or solid roof replacement can be done without needing to file for planning permission. Planning permission may be required however, if the height of your extension is changed following completion.
A conservatory is defined as a 'building that has no less than 75% of its roof area made of translucent material and no less than 50% of its total wall area made of glass.
It is possible to convert a conservatory to an orangery but it isn't a simple process. A surveyor will need to come out and assess your property and conservatory to see if it is at first , feasible.
Both extensions and orangeries often require planning permission and in order to satisfy requirements, a new structure will have to be built.
If a conservatory is within two metres of a boundary, a conservatory should not be higher than three metres. It must also not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 3m if an attached house or by 4m if a detached house.
For construction work to begin a trench will need to be excavated to a minimum depth of 600mm. A conservatory needs footings just as much as any extension does.
Solid ground will need to found first and needs to be accepted by Building Control as being a minimum of 1 metre in standard conditions.
Foundations will need to be dug and because conservatories are lightweight in structure, their foundation loads are usually quite low. This can often lead to the notion that shallow foundations are satisfactory however, shallow foundations are more susceptible to subsidence.

Conservatories that are built with foundations shallower than the Building Regulations advise, are likely to encounter problems.

Building Regulations state:

A2. The building shall be constructed so that ground movement caused by :-
(a) swelling, shrinkage or freezing of the subsoil; or
(b) land-slip or subsidence (other than subsidence arising from shrinkage), in so far as the risk can be reasonably foreseen, will not impair the stability of any part of the building
Usually, there are no planning requirements when it comes to building a conservatory to a bungalow. However, the conservatory will be subject to certain conditions so be sure to check with your local building authority or with the Government's Planning Portal to ensure your conservatory remains within these guidelines.
Any structure that is built as an extra living quarter will require its own council tax band, even if it shares facilities with the main dwelling. If you're adding a conservatory then council tax won't be an issue however if you're adding a whole new annex, then your council tax is likely to change.
When is a conservatory not a conservatory? In order for a structure to remain a permitted development (a conservatory), the build needs to comply with a number of rules. A conservatory must be ground level, must not be more than 30m2, must be thermally separated from the original building, have its own heating and have glazing in critical zones that meet Part Nof the building regulations.
An extension refers to an additional structure that is anatomically in-keeping with your main property. An extension often requires planning permission unless it is classified as permitted development and is built with opaque cavity walls and brick-based foundations. Extensions are a big home improvement and investment, needing the work of an architect.
Conservatories or glazed extensions are perfect for those looking to add extra space on a budget. Typically, they are less of a logistical strain and in most cases do not require planning permission,
A conservatory can be built under permitted development rights, not needing an application for planning permission. A conservatory however is subject to the limits and conditions listed here. Building a conservatory onto an extension however, will be subject to different conditions. In some cases and under the permitted development regulations, you cannot attach an extension to an already extended part of a dwelling. It has to be attached to the original walls of the dwelling house.
A well built conservatory can increase your home's value by up to 7% . A conservatory can add lots of value to your home, increasing monetary value and making it much more attractive to a prospective buyer. A conservatory extension will change how you live and interact in your home for the better, enhancing space and comfort. It will certainly put your home above other properties too, especially when it comes to attracting a potential buyer. Read more here.
Conservatories are generally much cheaper than a single-storey extension of the same size. The price difference will largely depend on size and how complex the structure is to build, as well as the quality of materials.
The cost of a conservatory extension can range from £6,000 to £20,000. Compared to a full on extension, it is a much more affordable way of increasing space within your property. A full blown extension can cost up to £30,000. An extension is priced on average, per square metre.
A conservatory or single-story extension can be built without planning permission if: It's a maximum of 4 metres high or 3 metres high, within 2 metres of a boundary and the conservatory or extension does not cover more than half of the garden.
From now until 2019, you can extend outwards by up to 8 metres for detached homes and 6 metres for other property types. For this, instead of applying for planning permission you will need to undergo a Neighbour Consultation Scheme.
Fully fitted conservatory prices start from around £4,000 for a small room up to £20,000 + for bigger, more bespoke rooms. To get an idea on how much you can expect to pay for your new conservatory, you can use our conservatory cost calculator. It will provide you with a unique online guide price based purely on your own specifications. Fully fitted conservatory prices will vary from company to company and is also very much dependent on design.
In most circumstances, building regulations tend to apply when you build a new extension or a very large structure to your property. However, most of the time, conservatories are exempt from building regulations when they are erected at ground level and the floor surface areas is less than 30 square metres.
The average life expectancy of a conservatory depends on the quality of materials used as well as the installer. Generally speaking a conservatory built with uPVC window and door frames can last up to 25 - 30 years.
Conservatory extension costs are far more affordable than a full-blown extension. A conservatory costs anything starting from £3,000 - £4,000 deadening on final styles and specifications. On the other hand, full build house extensions can cost anything from £20,000 right up to £100,000+! Generally speaking extensions are priced on average, per square metre.
It is possible to build either a conservatory or a single-storey extension without gaining planning permission if: firstly, it has a maximum height of 4 metres or 3 metres high if situated within 2 metres of an existing boundary. The conservatory itself does not exceed over half the size of the garden.
The average cost to build a conservatory varies depending on many factors such as: size, style, materials, roof, number of windows and doors, building work requirements and internal works e.g. lightning, plastering, finishing etc. On average, costs for smaller type conservatories such as the lean-to conservatory style will start from around £3000 - £4000 including VAT and installation (subject to final requirements and technical survey).
Yes you can! Whatever the shape of your existing conservatory, you can be sure that there is a solid roof equivalent to meet your exacting requirements.
Changing roofs from a polycarbonate to a solid roof means that building regulations will apply. Your chosen installer will be able to answer any questions you have and help with any red tape such as contacting local authorities to resolve building regulations compliance.
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