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What changes the cost of a conservatory?
A conservatory price depends on its style and size, the base and dwarf walls, the roof, the glazing, the heating and electrics, and whether planning or building control is involved. This page does not print a figure, because we could not find two dated public sources that agree on one.
Last reviewed:What a conservatory quote covers
A conservatory is a glazed room built onto the house. For a home in Cheshire, a full quote usually includes the groundwork and foundations, the base and floor, any brick dwarf walls, the frames and glazing, the roof, doors, guttering, any heating and electrics, and making good where the new room meets the house. Some quotes also include blinds, flooring and decorating. Others leave those to you.
QuoteZila is starting in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach among the first towns, and anyone in the UK can post a job. We have not printed a conservatory price. We could not find two dated public sources that agree on a figure, so a number here would only be a guess. This guide explains what moves the total and which rules to check.
Conservatory styles
The style sets the shape of the frame and roof, and that affects both the look and the price. Common styles include:
- Victorian. A faceted, rounded end with a steep roof.
- Edwardian, or Georgian. A square or rectangular plan with a hipped roof. It makes the most of floor space.
- Lean-to. A single sloping roof against the house wall. Often used where space or height is limited.
- Gable-fronted. A tall, upright front with a pointed roof, which adds height.
- P-shaped or T-shaped. A combination of shapes for a larger or more complex space.
A combination style, or one that wraps around a corner, needs more frames and more complex roof joints. Ask each installer to quote for the same style and the same footprint, ideally from a drawing.
The parts that move the price
| Part of the build | Why it changes the price | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Size and shape | More floor area and more complex shapes use more materials | What is the floor area, and what style? |
| Foundations and base | The base must suit the ground and the weight | What foundations are planned, and to what depth? |
| Dwarf walls | Brick walls under the windows add building work | Will the bricks match the house? |
| Frame material | uPVC, aluminium and timber frames differ | Which frame, and in what colour? |
| Glazing | Glass type affects heat, glare and safety | What glass is used in the walls and the roof? |
| Roof | Glass, polycarbonate and solid or tiled roofs differ a lot | Which roof, and is it insulated? |
| Doors | French, bi-fold and sliding doors are priced differently | Which doors, and how many? |
| Heating | Exempt conservatories need their own heating controls [S2] | How will the room be heated? |
| Electrics | Sockets and lights are electrical work | Who does the electrics, and how is it certified? |
| Making good | The join with the house and any moved paths or drains | What making good is included? |
| VAT | A business must register for VAT when taxable turnover goes over £90,000 [S5] | Is VAT included? |
If one quote leaves out the base, the electrics or the making good, ask whether those lines are excluded or just not written.
Planning permission
The Planning Portal says conservatories fall under the same permitted development rules as other extensions [S1]. Those rights apply to houses, not flats or maisonettes, and they set limits on size, height and position, including that the conservatory and other extensions should not cover more than 50% of the land around the original house [S1].
Listed buildings, conservation areas and houses where permitted development rights have been removed need extra care. If any of those apply, or if your design is large or close to a boundary, ask the council before you sign a quote.
Building regulations and the separation rule
The Planning Portal says a conservatory is normally exempt from building regulations if it meets several conditions [S2]:
- it is built at ground level and has a floor area under 30 square metres
- it is separated from the house by external quality walls, doors or windows
- it has its own heating system with separate temperature and on/off controls
- its glazing and any fixed electrical installation meet the relevant rules
The Planning Portal also says a new opening between the house and the conservatory needs building regulations approval, even when the conservatory itself is exempt [S2]. If the dividing doors are removed later to make an open-plan room, the exemption is lost and the conservatory then has to meet the rules for heat loss and ventilation [S2].
That is why an open-plan conservatory is a different project from a separated one. If you want the conservatory to feel like part of the house, ask a builder or building control how that can be done properly.
GOV.UK: building regulations approval. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
GOV.UK explains when building regulations approval is needed.
Roofs, heat and glare
The roof decides how the room feels across the year. Glass and polycarbonate let in light, but can make the room hot in summer and cold in winter. Solid or tiled roofs make the space behave more like an extension, but are heavier and may need a stronger structure and different sign-off. A tiled roof replacing a glazed one can change whether the conservatory still counts as exempt, so ask building control before you choose one.
Questions to ask about the roof:
- What glazing or panels are used, and how do they deal with heat and glare?
- How does the roof join the house wall, and how is it sealed?
- Where does rainwater go, and is the gutter big enough for the roof area?
- Is the roof insulated, and could you add blinds later?
Electrics and heating
Lights, sockets and heaters in a conservatory are usually electrical installation work. Ask who will do it, and how it will be certified. Do not run an extension lead permanently out to the conservatory as a substitute for proper sockets, and do not add circuits yourself.
Heating needs its own controls if the conservatory is to stay exempt [S2]. Extending the house radiators into it, without separate controls, may affect that. Ask the installer how heating will be provided, and whether it meets the separation rule.
Electrical Safety First: find a registered electrician; NICEIC; NAPIT. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
Replacing or upgrading an old conservatory
Not every conservatory job is a new build. An older conservatory may have a leaking roof, misted glass, failing seals, rotten timber or a base that has moved. The options usually range from repairs, through a new roof on the existing frame, to taking the whole thing down and starting again.
Before you ask for quotes, look for:
- cracks in the dwarf walls or the base, or doors that no longer close properly, which can point to movement
- water marks, mould or drips on the inside of the roof
- misting between the panes of the sealed units
- gaps where the roof meets the house wall
If you see signs of movement in the base or walls, mention them. A new roof on a base that is still moving may not last. Ask a builder to look at the foundations as well as asking a conservatory installer to look at the frame and roof.
A replacement roof, a new base or a change to the dividing doors can change how the building regulations apply [S2]. Ask each installer how they have checked that for your plan, and ask building control if you are unsure.
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts.
- "Looking for an Edwardian conservatory on the back of a semi-detached house, roughly three metres by three metres, on dwarf walls."
- "Old conservatory has a leaking polycarbonate roof. Want quotes to replace the roof, or the whole conservatory."
- "Would like a conservatory with French doors to the garden and sockets for a small office."
Give rough sizes, the style you like, the ground surface where it will go, and photos of the back of the house showing drains, windows and doors.
How to compare conservatory quotes
Citizens Advice says a quote is a fixed price and an estimate is a guess, suggests written quotes from at least three traders, and suggests not agreeing to a deposit above 25% [S4]. For a conservatory, ask each installer to list:
- The style, size and floor area, ideally on a drawing.
- Foundations, base and dwarf walls.
- Frame material, glazing and roof type.
- Doors, gutters and drainage.
- Heating and electrics, and who does them.
- How planning and building regulations have been checked.
- Making good, and what is left for you to finish.
- Lead time, stage payments and whether VAT is included.
Get quotes for a conservatory
QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1]. Up to five matched local businesses can send you a quote [QZ2].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
See glaziers for frames and glazing, builders for foundations and dwarf walls, and electricians for sockets and lights. The electrician cost guide explains how electrical work is usually priced. For a simpler single-slope design, see our lean-to conservatory guide.
Questions about conservatory prices
How much does a conservatory cost?
This page does not print a figure. The style, size, base, roof type, glazing and any heating or electrics all change the total. Ask installers for itemised written quotes based on the same drawing, with each part listed.
Do I need planning permission for a conservatory?
Often not, for a house. The Planning Portal says conservatories fall under the same permitted development rules as other extensions, which apply to houses rather than flats or maisonettes, with limits such as not covering more than 50% of the land around the original house. Check with the council if unsure.
Does a conservatory need building regulations approval?
The Planning Portal says a conservatory is normally exempt if it is at ground level, under 30 square metres, separated from the house by external quality walls, doors or windows, has its own heating controls, and its glazing and electrics comply.
Can I take out the doors between the house and the conservatory?
The Planning Portal says removing that separation means the conservatory no longer has the exemption, and a new opening between house and conservatory needs building regulations approval. Ask building control before you plan an open-plan layout.
Does a new conservatory come with a FENSA certificate?
FENSA says its scheme does not cover windows and doors in new conservatories. Ask the installer how the conservatory will be shown to meet the rules, and what paperwork you will receive.
How much deposit should I pay for a conservatory?
Citizens Advice suggests keeping any deposit as low as possible and not agreeing to more than 25%, and getting a receipt. For a build like this, ask for payments linked to finished stages.
Does QuoteZila check the businesses?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
This page is general information, not professional or legal advice. QuoteZila does not check Gas Safe, WaterSafe, NFRC, NICEIC or other registrations against the register on your behalf: look them up yourself.
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- French Doors: What a Quote Should Name. A French door quote in Cheshire should name the pair of leaves, the threshold and the glass in the critical zone. Ask whether the opening stays the same size.
- Front Door Replacement: What Affects Cost. Composite, uPVC, timber or aluminium: what changes the price of a front door replacement in Cheshire, from glass and locks to the frame, fitting and paperwork.
Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and jobs-for-tradesmen copy.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ and app README.
- S1: Conservatory mini guide (Interactive House), Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-10-25. https://interactive.planningportal.co.uk/mini-guide-type/conservatory
- S2: Building regulations: conservatories, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-10-25. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/conservatories/building-regulations/
- S3: Homeowners, FENSA. Accessed 2026-10-25. https://www.fensa.org.uk/homeowners
- S4: Before you get work done on your home, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-10-25. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S5: Register for VAT, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-25. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat