What is an Orangery?

An Orangery is a direct extension of the property is is attached to, in that it will have certain unique features in common with it.

The brickwork may be of the same style and its colours and tones may also match. Conservatories tend to be made from either UPVC, timber or aluminum (in ascending price order).

It is built less from glass and more from brick. As such it feels more like a continuance of the property, rather than something that’s distinct.

Its windows are typically large and it will normally have a glass roof – glazed lantern styles are very popular – built into it.

Orangeries are, in most cases, of timber construction.

 

orangeries

Orangery Design

Presuming that you’ve now settled on an orangery and not a conservatory, it’s time to start thinking about the design aspect of your project. Looking at some orangery images first might help – but, in the meantime, here are some ideas for you to think about.

The Modern Orangery

If you want to eschew traditional design and opt for a more modern look, you could use less brickwork and ask your installer to add bi-folding doors instead. Why are these better than French Patio doors? They are created from panels that stack up together in a concertina format; these can be folded up against the walls of your orangery to create a perfect frame through which to view your garden.

You could also use bi-folding doors as way of entering/exiting your contemporary orangery – which would help to connect the two spaces seamlessly.

By using more glass, you’ll also be letting more light in to your orangery conservatory. Also ask your installer if they can use the same brick type as those used in your existing property; these two effects when combined together will help accentuate the link between these two living areas – resulting in a seamless and more joined-up feel.

The Traditional Orangery

Do you prefer seclusion? If you do, then a contemporary orangery might not be the best choice. Traditional orangeries, on the other hand, use walls and brick-built pillars to keep the outside world at bay. This might sound a little claustrophobic; but don’t forget that you’ll be able to choose from a range of different skylights.

If you want to let in lots of light, then an atrium roof is ideal for your traditional orangery. It comes available in a flat or pitched design and can help prevent problems with condensation, which it achieves by using condensation drainage paths (which are sometimes referred to as purlins).

Orangeries UK-wide are built in both the classical and contemporary mould. Neither is better than the other – it really comes down to a matter of personal preference, budget and practical application.

Installation and Planning

Having reviewed various orangery ideas, you’ve settled on a design and have found a local installer with the right level of experience to complete the work for you within budget and on time.

What happens next?

orangery

Building Your Orangery

There are several stages involved in the orangery design process, which are usually as follows:

  • Quotation. We will provide you with some guideline prices and offer to put you in touch with three of our accredited installers. If you’re happy with one of the orangery quotes you’re given, you ask the company in question to proceed.
  • Design Process. Using the information you’ve provided, your will create a technical orangery conservatory drawing – so that you can preview what your extension will look like before anything has happened.
  • Technical Survey. A fully-qualified surveyor will visit your property to take measurements. Their findings will then be passed back to your installer so that your orangery products can be manufactured to the right specification.
  • Plans. These will be drawn using the specifications detailed by the surveyor who visited your property and will be used to build your orangery.
  • Building Work. The base for your orangery conservatory will be built first. Before this can happen, you’ll need to ensure your installers – or the building company they’ve contracted to complete this all-important first stage – have access to both water and electrical supplies. The walls will then be built, thereby providing a supporting structure for the UPVC frames.
  • Roof. After the base, walls and windows have been successfully added, it’s time for the final stage of the building process: adding the roof.
    Completion. Your orangery has been successfully completed and all you need to do now is collect your guarantee from your installer.

Getting Planning Permission for an Orangery

Conservatories and orangeries are reviewed in the same way by Local Planning Authorities when it comes to granting planning permission.

That means that exactly the same conditions/limitations apply when it comes to seeking consent.

orangeries

Planning Permission

Below are some, but not all, of the guidelines you’ll need to bear in mind when thinking through your orangery ideas:

  • Your orangery cannot be built any further forward than the sidewall of your original property (by which is meant it’s condition as of July 1948, providing it was constructed before that date).
  • If you decide to build your orangery to the side of your property, it cannot be any greater than 50% of the width of your home.
  • The orangery cannot take up more than half of the total land surrounding your property. You will also need to factor in the size of any outbuildings when making your calculations – in other words, you should add their
  • dimensions to your blueprint to find out whether your orangery is too big.
  • If your orangery is sited at the rear of your home and is a single-storey construction, it should not exceed any more than 4 metres in height.

Please bear in mind that these rules are for guidance only and are not meant to be legally binding. They also do not apply to flats, maisonettes or other types of buildings. It is always advisable to contact your Local Planning Authority before commissioning any work – else you could be asked to make retrospective changes to your orangery designs or even take down the structure completely.

In general, orangeries UK-wide are granted planning permission. But, if in doubt, be careful.

Using the Government Planning Portal

If you think you need planning permission for your orangery, the government’s online planning portal is the best place to start. Whether you need help with something relatively simple – like finding your Local Planning Authority – or more information about building regulations, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for.

Please be aware that you may need to register on the site for planning permission and to prove compliance with building regulations before you can start building your orangery. What’s the difference between the two? Planning is concerned with how a property looks and interacts with its immediate environment – whereas building control is about the construction of that building from a health and safety perspective.

Confused? Don’t worry. If you need help to get planning permission for an orangery, you can speak to your local authority. Your chosen installer will also be able to help you navigate the red tape – it’s what you’re paying them for.

Finding an Accredited Orangery Installer

Most installers now offer conservatory and orangery design services. But how can you tell which ones to trust?

The majority of installers will be registered with an accreditation of scheme of some sort – it’s quite easy to spot accredited installers through their displayed logos on their website.

Conservatory Online Prices has a wide network of trusted, local accredited installers.

We can put you in touch with up to three recommended installer sin your area for free, no obligation quotations.

Contact us or read on for examples of two lead bodies to look out for when looking for orangery installers.

 

orangeries

The Double Glazing and Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme (DGCOS)

This is a consumer protection organisation that can mediate in the event that a homeowner has a dispute with one of its accredited members. It is the only organisation of its type operating within the double glazing sector and it’s completely free to use. It’s also very difficult for an orangery installer to become a member of the DGCOS – as they need to pass a twelve-step accreditation process.

If you pay a deposit to your installer, and they are DGCOS registered, it means that your money is protected in the (hopefully unlikely) event that your orangery installer goes out of business before completing the work.

The DGCOS does not charge homeowners in the event that mediation is necessary. It promises to:

  • Help fully resolve any issues free of charge;
  • Provide inspections (also at no cost) to help with product or installation issues (although this is not guaranteed and is at their discretion);
  • Help homeowners to resolve any disputes without any need for them to incur legal costs;
  • Provide access to a fund that can be used for compensation, thereby ensuring homeowners aren’t left out of pocket.

Orangery installers must also prove their competence over time. That is to say, they are rigorously re-assessed to prove they are just as competent and reliable as when they first joined the DGCOS.

Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme

FENSA was established as what’s referred to as a Competent Person Scheme (or CPS). It is responsible for regulating double glazing companies – specifically those operating within the window and door sector of the industry. As with the DGCOS, you have to apply for FENSA membership by proving your ability as an orangery installer to fully comply with current building regulations.

If you want to check whether an orangery installer is a member, you can use FENSA’s online search tool to find them: by name, location or their FENSA company number.

What do their customers say about them?

An orangery installer might be accredited, but are they any good? As part of your research, you should seek out reputable review sites in order to ascertain whether your shortlisted companies are going to do a great job for you.

Checkatrade is the most well known of these sites. In order to be listed on its website, its members have to:

Undergo a telephone interview; have their references, ID and insurance checked; prove they are a Limited company.

Any orangery installer listed on there will, therefore, be of a high quality. But if you can’t find the company you’re looking for, it could be that they’ve chosen not to register (in which case, look for testimonials on Google Reviews or sites like Facebook).

Online Conservatory Prices – Our Role

Our national network of accredited orangery installers have all been vetted by our expert team. But we cannot say for certain which bodies they are registered with – so we would always recommend running some checks yourself if you want further information about a particular company’s expertise.

Orangery Prices

How much does an orangery cost? Prepare to pay at least £20,000. This sounds expensive; but, in reality, it isn’t.

Did you know that a single storey extension that measures 20 metres squared could set you back anywhere from £30,000–£50,000?

Because of the expense involved in buying an orangery, homeowners tend to save up for a couple of years.

This also gives them time to plan their building project properly, therein avoiding any costly errors that might be caused by rushing.

If money is an issue, and you need to make some changes quickly, an orangery might not be the best choice. Instead, you may want to look at conservatory prices.

You can expect to pay at least £7500 for a Lean-To conservatory (which is the least expensive style of conservatory) with a glass roof – although you could reduce this figure by using some of your building’s existing walls as solid sides.

orangeries prices

orangeries prices

Free Orangery Costs

You’ve looked at some orangery images online and have found a design idea that works and is within your budget. Now you need to get some orangery quotes and find an installer that can get the work done to specification. Where do you begin?

We’ve already compiled a list of accredited orangery installers that are working in your area. All you need to do is tell us about the size, style and colour scheme that you’re interested in. Based on this information, we’ll be able to give you a guide price. We’ll also get one of our technical experts to call you and discuss putting you in contact with trustworthy orangery installers in your area.

Visit our online quoting tool to get started. There are only a few steps involved and it’s completely free. Alternatively, you can contact us directly via our online enquiry form.

 

Orangery Size (mm) Service Guide Price
3500 x 3500 Full Build £17,500 – £19,600
3500 x 4000 Full Build £18,900 – £21,000
3500 x 4500 Full Build £20,300 – £22,400

FAQs

How much is an Orangery conservatory?

As with conservatories, the price of an Orangery will change greatly depending on the type of materials you use and your overall design preferences. As a guide price, expect to pay upwards of £20,000 for a decent one. This price might reduce if you are willing to make concessions. It’s possible to buy a small timber-framed orangery for circa £8000, but it will be built using cheaper materials – and you’ll probably have to spend money to repair it later and throughout its lifecycle.

How should I design my Orangery?

Orangeries traditionally use a lot of brick. To avoid a closed-in feeling, you could opt for ceiling-to-floor glass at the front. This would let in a lot of light and make your orangery feel less claustrophobic. Although at night time you could use blinds, during the day your contemporary orangery would feel less private – so you need to think carefully about whether design is more important to you than practicality.

Should I choose aluminium or UPVC for my window frames?

Aluminium is stronger than UPVC. From an orangery design perspective it is also a better choice, as its frame are thinner. This not only looks better, it also lets more light into the property and gives you a better – and less obstructed – view of your garden. UPVC is still durable and is easy to clean. Both styles can be colour-coded according to preference, but the choices with UPVC are limited to set colours. Aluminium frames can be spray-painted to match any colour, which means they can be fully personalised.

What is thermally efficient glass?

Thermally efficient glass is filled with gas (normally argon). This helps prevent heat from escaping from your orangery – which in turn helps to maintain a pleasant climate for you to enjoy. It also helps keep your orangery more energy efficient and controls your heating cost. Thermally efficient glass can also be self-cleaning. It can take about a week to activate, after which it uses a titanium coating to break down the dirt and wash it away (using a hydrophilic process that doesn’t leave behind any nasty streaks).