Lean-To Conservatory Prices

Should you be considering a lean-to conservatory, you’ve come to the right place to discover more including whether planning permission is required, the approximate costs involved and another element to consider when reviewing if a lean-to is right for your property.

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What is a Lean-to Conservatory?

A lean-to conservatory, also known as a Mediterranean conservatory, is a simple square or rectangle-shaped extension with a flat roof installed at an angle so that the rain can fall off without gathering and causing water damage. It is common for a lean-to conservatory roof to be constructed fully of glass, providing plenty of natural light to the extension.

The basis of the clean-lined design of a lean-to conservatory can often be adapted to suit all styles of property to create additional living space and can include a mix of walls and windowpanes.

Lean-to conservatories can be designed to fit into most shapes and sizes of spaces, providing additional space benefits to a property, even in the most awkward of spaces, without affecting the aesthetics of the property, mainly by utilising glass as much as possible in the design.

What are the Benefits of a Lean-To Conservatory?

There are several benefits of a lean-to conservatory as follows:

Cost-effective option – A lean-to conservatory is often seen as a cost-effective choice to achieve additional space within a property, due to the simple design. There are even some DIY pack style lean-to conservatories available on the market.
Simple design – The simple, yet the aesthetically pleasing design of the conservatory can be erected fairly quickly to provide the benefits of the additional living space within a short time frame.
Increase Property Value – Often a quality-built extension will increase the value of the property.

What are the Disadvantages of a Lean-To Conservatory?

There are some disadvantages of a lean-to, that a property owner would need to consider before proceeding to install this type of extension including:

Design Limitations – Due to the simple nature of a lean-to design, there are limited options available and therefore lean-tos can appear similar to others within the area.
Restricted views – The views can be restricted due to the wall components and multiple window frames of the design.
Temperature issues – Often lean-tos are mainly constructed from glass panes which can result in issues with the room being either too hot in summer or, too cold in winter. To resolve this concern, investigate reflective glass to reduce the solar rays entering the room, additional insulation or installing a solid roof instead of glass.

Do Lean-To Conservatories Require Foundations?

Yes, like other types of building extensions, the foundations must be built to provide a structurally safe new room. Often, lean-to conservatories are considered a lightweight construction and therefore the foundations are often fairly shallow, however, Building Control can advise the specific requirements of the foundation’s needs for each unique circumstance of a lean-to extension.

Would Planning Permission be Required for a Lean-To Conservatory?

Often Lean-To Conservatories do not require planning permission and can be constructed under a permitted development status, however, there is a range of rules that would need to be met to satisfy this status such as; the dimensions must be 30m2 or less and have their own heating and glazing.

However, there may be circumstances where a lean-to conservatory does require planning permission due to either:

The shape, size and height of the planned lean-to conservatory,
If the lean-to conservatory is planned at the front of the property,
If the property is listed
If the design includes a balcony, raise platform or veranda, or
If the property is situated within a protected area.

Therefore, it is always worth checking with the local council to ensure that the plan meets the local planning rules before proceeding.

Would the Addition of a Lean-to Conservatory to my Property Increase my Council Tax Bills?

Usually, the installation of a lean-to conservatory will not increase your council tax costs, however, if the extension will be self-contained and act as a separate annexe, this may affect your bills. It would be worth checking with the local council where the property is the situation in order to clarify before proceeding with a lean-to conservatory build.

What are the Average Costs of a Lean-To Conservatory?

The total cost of a lean-to conservatory project would vary depending on the size of the planned extension, the ratio of glazing to brickwork, the cost of the raw materials and labour of the job, the quality of materials selected and the location of the property as there are often slight differences nationwide.

As a very rough guide, a uPVC lean-to Conservatory could start at around £5,000, or if the construction is due to be made of hardwood, this would increase the starting costs.

Can a Solid Roof Be Installed onto a Lean-to Conservatory?

Often a solid roof can be included within the original design or replaced later on depending on the foundations and any planning permission requirements. The benefits of a solid roof can provide greater insulation properties to that of a plastic or glazed roof, therefore assisting with controlling the temperature of the living space.

What is the Life Expectancy of a Lean-to Conservatory?

A lean-to conservatory mainly constructed from uPVC will have an average life expectancy of 25-30 years depending on the quality of the window and door frames and materials used to construct the extension.