Do conservatories add more value to your home or are they affecting resale value for the worse?

They are often seen as a great investment, but do conservatories add more value to your home? 

Phil Spencer, the popular property expert says, on average, a conservatory can add 7% to your property value. However, that's not guaranteed.

A Guardian Warm Roof conservatory roof replacement increases thermal efficiency and adds value to your home

How much value a conservatory adds in the UK depends on its quality, condition and, above all, its roof.

In this article, we'll explore the answer to the question, "Does a conservatory add value to a property?” and share our advice on how to ensure your conservatory adds the most value.

Is a conservatory a good investment?

In short, yes, a conservatory can be an excellent investment.

They provide extra living space and are often cheaper (and quicker) to install than a home extension. Plus, planning permission is usually unnecessary (depending on the size and other factors).

Thermally inefficient conservatory roof
Heat escapes quickly from a conservatory in winter due to the nature of glass or polycarbonate roofs

However, it depends on the type of conservatory you get as to whether it’ll add value to your property.

Most old conservatories have glass or polycarbonate roofs. These can be cheaper to install, but they can lead to an unusable living space that actually decreases the value of your home rather than adds to it (we'll explain why in the next section).

The best conservatory investment is a solid, warm roof conservatory.

By replacing a glass or polycarbonate roof with a warm roof, you can create a more usable living space that boosts natural light, decreases your energy bills and almost certainly adds value to your home.

Do conservatories devalue a house?

While a conservatory can add value to a house, it depends on three main things – its quality, condition and roof type.

Old or neglected conservatories may not increase value. In fact, they could actually drag down the asking price.

However, this is usually only the case when your conservatory has a glazed or polycarbonate roof.

A solid, warm roof can have a much more positive impact on your property's value. Unlike traditional sunrooms, warm roof conservatories are seen as a more attractive conversion for buyers.

If you have a polycarbonate or glazed conservatory roof, here's why they could hinder your resale value rather than benefit it.

solid roofed conservatories add more value to your home
Solid roofed conservatories add more value to your home

1. It's nearly impossible to regulate temperatures

Glass and polycarbonate conservatory roofs don't regulate internal temperatures very well.

During summer, they can become unbearably hot. In the colder months, heat quickly escapes through the poorly insulated roof and makes the extra space way too cold to enjoy.

Therefore, use of these types of conservatories are limited to milder seasons. Except, of course, if you're willing to spend more on heating/cooling the extra room. In which case...

2. They can have massive energy costs

Because of their poor temperature regulation, old conservatories often leave homeowners with higher energy costs.

Heating them in winter can be expensive, especially if your space has an electric heater. Plus, even in summer, you'll often need to use a ceiling fan to keep the conservatory usable.

This means that glass or polycarbonate conservatories can cost homeowners more than £200 per year – which isn't a very attractive figure for most local estate agents or potential buyers.

3. Additional maintenance costs

Finally, conservatories with old roofs leave homeowners with more maintenance responsibilities and costs.

Since polycarbonate and glazed roofs aren't the most durable materials, they need regular cleaning and maintenance to avoid costly repair work.

Plus, a dirty or unkept conservatory can decrease the value of a property and appear much more unattractive to potential buyers.

 

Why do these things matter?

If you've been living with your old conservatory roof for a while, these things may not seem like dealbreakers to you. However, it's true that they can negatively impact the sell-ability of your home.

When it comes to home extensions, most buyers want a warm, modern and usable space. They also want something energy-efficient – that won't cost them more in heating and maintenance long-term than what the extra space is worth.

If you're concerned about resale value because of your old conservatory, investing in a solid, warm roof could be an excellent choice. You'll be creating a more usable living space – that may even pay for itself over time.

How much value does a conservatory add to a UK property?

When fixed with a modern, fully insulated, solid roof, a conservatory can add as much as 7% to a UK property (according to popular property expert Phil Spencer).

Since adding a conservatory to your home can be cheaper than an extension, and completed in almost half the time, it’s often seen as a more appealing home improvement project.

However, how much value a conservatory adds mostly depends on what roof it has. Old conservatories can lower your resale value instead of adding to it – which is why getting a warm roof replacement is always better.

What adds more value: An extension or conservatory?

When it comes to resale value, both extensions and conservatories can add value to a property (especially if the conservatory has a solid roof).

In terms of the figures, it's estimated that an extension can add around 11% to a property's value, while a conservatory can add 7%.

If you're considering either one of these home improvements, both bottom-line estimates are positive for homeowners.

Ultimately, choosing between a home extension or adding a conservatory depends on the other factors involved.

Should I get an extension or conservatory?

Home extensions can be an excellent investment for many homeowners, particularly since:

  • They can add as much as 11% to a UK property's value
  • You have more flexibility over size and location
  • You can choose between one or two storeys

However, it's important to bear in mind that with extensions:

  • You may need planning permission (which typically isn’t the case with a conservatory)
  • They can cause significant disruption to a home, particularly if the works are completed during winter
  • They can take more than double the time of a conservatory roof replacement
  • They can cost more than a conservatory installation or roof replacement

When adding a conservatory, you'll usually find that:

  • You can create more living space, often for less cost
  • Roof replacement services are quicker and often cause less disruption to home life
  • It can feel like a home extension, with the same customisations available

However, it's important to remember that:

  • Traditional polycarbonate or glazed roofs don't add much value to your home, and could even decrease it
  • A solid, warm roof conservatory is the best choice to ensure the extra space is usable year-round

Learn more about how to decide if you should get a conservatory vs extension here.

Does converting a conservatory to an extension add value?

Generally, yes, converting a conservatory to a more year-round useable space (that feels and acts like a home extension) can add value.

As Phil Spencer, a popular UK property expert, says,  conservatories add more value to your home when it 'feels like part of the house', rather than just something 'bolted on the back', can create a much better flow and 'enhances the feeling of space'.

 

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