Orangery Extension Cost In 2022: Home Extension Prices UK

Like some other olden architectural ideas, orangeries have remained a fantastic choice for the modern home extension. In the past, orangeries were used to grow citrus fruits indoors during winters. However, modern bespoke orangeries can be built to the taste of a homeowner’s prefered functionalities. This article details the cost of building an orangery extension in 2022, as well as other important things to know and consider.

Orangeries give an antique aesthetic appeal to your property and could significantly increase your property’s value. While they add a fantastic touch to period homes, you can also incorporate them into any home.

In the 17th century, when they became popular in Italy, they were mostly built and owned by the elite. Back then, orangeries had a knee wall, glazed walls, and lantern roofs. Oranges, limes and other citrus fruits were commonly grown alongside other exotic fruits.

In modern times, however, orangery extensions and conservatories can be built as a place for relaxation and to create a garden ambience indoors. Thus, a modern orangery could be in the form of a dining area, kitchen, or even a home office. All in all, you can easily add an orangery extension to your home to suit your needs.

Orangeries are not the cheapest structures to build, but they may also not be as expensive as you imagined. At the end of the day, these structures can offer much in terms of aesthetic appeal and even health benefits.

In this article, we explore:

• The cost of building an orangery extension
• Factors contributing to orangery cost
• Tips for spending less money on your orangery extension
• Pros and cons of orangery extensions
• Finding the right builder
• Some other frequently asked questions

First, let’s explore how much you should consider budgeting for your orangery extension.

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Cost of Building an Orangery Extension

The cost of building an orangery extension will vary depending on several factors. Building an orangery is no small feat and requires proper budget planning.

These structures differ in size and material, and thus their costs may be a wide range. We will discuss the factors that affect the overall cost of building an orangery extension later in the article.

On average, an orangery might cost about £2,300 per square metre to build. The average estimated cost of building an orangery extension is about £22,000. However, smaller orangeries could cost significantly less and bigger ones more. Small lower-end orangeries can cost as low as £5,000 for supplies. Let’s take a look at average costs for different sizes of orangeries.

Orangery Size	Supply costs	Labour costs	Duration
Small (4m x 4m or less)	£5,000 to £17,000	£150 – £300 per day	2-4 weeks
Medium (6m x 6m)	£10,000 to £25,000	£150 – £300 per day	3-5 weeks
Large (7m x 7m)	£20,000 to £65,000 upwards	£150 – £300 per day	4-6 weeks

A small orangery extension would usually be about 4m by 4m or smaller. Depending on its materials, such an orangery can cost anywhere from £5,000 to $18,000 for supplies. Plus labour costs, a small orangery could cost an average of £15,000. Although, as earlier stated, it could be cheaper or more expensive.

A medium-sized orangery is a bit larger, ranging from 4m x 4m to 6m x 6m. The average total cost of building is £26,000. Although, it could be significantly cheaper or more expensive.

A large orangery measures about 7m x 7m, costing about £30,000 to £60,000 and upwards. This size of the project can take up to six weeks to finish.

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Factors Affecting the Cost of Building an Orangery Extension

As we stated earlier, several factors contribute to the overall cost of building an orangery extension. These factors are responsible for the wide range of costs an orangery project might incur.

Depending on these variables, your overall costs could significantly reduce or increase. Thus, before preparing your budget, you should know what contributes to your orangery’s final cost.

Supply Costs

As expected, the bulk of your project’s cost will come from the supply angle. There are several supplies that your builders will require to complete your orangery project. These individual supplies can also range widely in price based on their type or quality:

• Foundation, walls/brickwork and roofing – The integrity of any building starts from its foundation to its walls and roofing. These are the major features of your structure and make up the bulk of its cost. Depending on the materials used for these and the size of your orangery, these supplies can cost £5,000 to £60,000 or more.
• Doors and windows – You can use several materials for your orangery doors and windows. Using uPVC is a popular option for your building’s glazed components. This material costs an average of £250 per 600mm x 900mm area. Composite frames can cost up to twice the cost of uPVC.

• Rendering – The cost per square metre of your orangery’s rendering could range from £10 to £30 per square metre. The cost depends on the render material you use. Roughcast (pebbledash) is a great option to shield your orangery’s external surface from the elements. It can cost up to £30 per square metre to use.
• Patio – If your structure’s design includes a patio, the cost of your project will increase significantly. The patio costs will consist of pavement costs and other design costs.
• Interior design and painting – Decor choices vary widely, and thus their costs vary also. Painting your orangery could cost between £200 – £350, depending on the size.
• Heating system – Depending on your desired heating system, you might spend £50 to £75 per square metre to install it. Electric underfloor heating may cost about £60 per square metre, and a wet system could cost double to install.

The Orangery Type

Your selection of building materials for your orangery project will determine how much your project costs. Some building materials are more low-end than others, and thus prices vary significantly.

uPVC and timber are popular options for building orangeries. However, some homeowners go for sturdier composite options.

• uPVC

This material is considered one of the best budget-friendly building materials for an orangery. It’s quite durable and requires little maintenance after installation. Using uPVC for your orangery could cost as little as £13,000 for a smaller structure and up to £40,000 for a larger one.

This low-maintenance material can be used to give your project a great finish. Whether you’re going for a modern or a dated look, uPVC is a great choice.

• Timber

Orangeries framed with timber cost significantly more than uPVC structures. A small orangery framed with timber can cost up to £16,000. Hardwood timber is a more durable and expensive option. This building material can cost over £100,000 for a big orangery.

• Aluminium

Aluminium framing can give your orangery a contemporary look. They are the material of choice for homeowners who want a sturdy, stylish frame without frequent maintenance.

However, this material choice could cost significantly more than others. Aluminium frames installed in a small orangery can cost up to £25,000, and a bigger orangery can cost substantially more.

• Composite Materials

Instead of sticking to just one material, you might decide to use composite materials for sturdier frames. A timber and aluminium mix offers the best of both worlds for orangeries. This mix offers the durability of aluminium and the cosy warmth of wood.

This option is the most expensive. Homeowners considering this option have to budget up to $20,000 for a small structure and £100,000 for a larger one.

The Size of Orangery

As we stated earlier, your structure size determines the cost of your building project. A small orangery usually measures 4m by 4m. Depending on the materials and other factors, the building could cost as little as £5,000, and a bigger orangery with similar materials installed can cost up to £60,000.

However, a smaller orangery might cost far more than a bigger one due to several factors. For example, the costs may differ significantly if more expensive materials were used. Thus, even though size affects cost, there’s more to the cost of building an orangery extension than its size.

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The Quality

The quality of your orangery extension also determines the overall cost, and both its internal and external build can cause the prices to vary widely.

The fixtures, including the lighting, electrical work and others, contribute to your building’s overall costs. Different fittings and fixtures have wide quality ranges and thus affect your project’s costs.

The Architectural Design

The building design of an orangery can involve great precision and craftsmanship. Much consideration also goes into your building design to sympathise with the old structure from which it extends.

Most orangeries have a brick structure. Unlike conservatories, the roofs of orangeries are flat with roof lanterns. The design of the roof lanterns and the brick structure contribute significantly to the building’s cost.

If your design incorporates floor-to-ceiling windows, it will incur higher costs. Also, the design of your doors causes the costs to vary. Depending on your preference, you may want to use a bi-fold door in your orangery. French doors and patio doors are also popular. These door designs can cost up to £4,000 to install.

The Preparatory Work

Like any project of this nature, some prep work might be required before starting the building process. Your builder has to adequately prepare your ground and garden for the task.

Depending on the nature of your land and building, this process may take some planning. Preparatory garden work can cost up to £300 or more to do.  

The Orangery Location

Your project’s location could also greatly affect the cost of your building project. There are several reasons this could be.

First off, certain building and construction costs tend to be lower in rural areas compared to other places. This could be due to the varied cost of real estate and property insurance in these different areas. Thus, two homeowners in two locations can pay significantly different prices to build the same orangery.

Also, labour costs may differ depending on location. Some areas with less available labour could be more expensive than areas with excess labourers.

Also, since your location can be far or close to your supplier, your location can affect supply shipping costs. Zoning laws and permits in different areas can also contribute to the overall costs of building your orangery extension.

Tips to Save Money on Your Orangery Extension Project

Building an orangery extension is not a small feat. It requires significant financial planning if you want to get it right. There are, however, several ways in which you can cut costs when extending your home.

Firstly, consider less expensive alternatives to your building materials. However, cheaper materials can mar your structure’s integrity and finish. Thus, you must research inexpensive, high-quality options.

As much as possible, you should not compromise on the quality of your building’s foundation, roofing and building. These aspects of the project make up the bulk of its cost, and you might be tempted to get cheaper alternatives. Though it may cut costs in the short run, repairs and redesigning due to poor quality may incur greater long-term costs.

Also, to save costs, consider timing your project to periods of favourable weather conditions. Bad weather conditions can lead to delays that cause labour costs to increase. These delays can also cause an increase in rental prices of equipment used in the construction, like scaffolding. Also, damage to the extension caused by bad weather like rains or snow can increase your project’s cost.

Also, consider sticking with a simple design for your extension. Complex designs with curves and corners take more expertise to construct and cost more. In addition, plan your project. Plan every single detail, including exact light fittings and socket placements. Sticking to your intended design without making changes will help you save the costs of making alterations to the original design.

Another important tip is to design your extension with off-the-shelf products and designs. Custom-made products can cost significantly more to obtain and can cause your expenditure to shoot up. Also, you can DIY the less complex jobs. You can also consider using recycled materials for your project.

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Is an Orangery Extension a Good Choice for Me?

Building an orangery extension can be a fantastic choice for your property. However, most homeowners would love to know if an orangery will work for their home.

You should consider the different pros and cons of building an orangery extension.

Pros	Cons
Can serve a wide range of purposes	Could be considerably more expensive than a conservatory
Building design retains more heat and can keep heating bills in check	Might disrupt areas of the building being extended
Might be more spacious than conservatories	May not receive optimal sunlight like conservatories

There are several reasons building an orangery extension will be great for your living space. This cosy indoor space offers a great garden view attachment to your home.

Due to their brickwork, these exquisite structures will blend seamlessly into the previous home designs. They also have a contemporary look that makes them a great extension to any home. Moreover, orangery extensions are multi-purpose. Thus, they can be designed as a lounge, home office, or dining area.

Due to the building design, they are also great at retaining heat. Therefore, you can save significantly on heating bills. On the flip side, they can cost considerably more to erect than conservatories. Their lantern roofs may not allow in as much sunlight as conservatories.

What Does Orangery Installation Involve?

Installing an orangery extension might take a few days to a few weeks. The first step of the installation depends on the site where the extension is to be built.

For example, if you are rebuilding an old conservatory, the builders must first demolish the old structure and clear the grounds. Even if there is no old structure, your contractor would usually first clear and level the ground to begin work.

After that, the foundation work begins, and the builders erect the exterior brick structure. The necessary beams are then built across the structure’s external edges. Your building contractors will then proceed to install the box gutters.

The necessary electrical works such as internal running rings are usually done with the brickwork. Plumbing work is also done at this time. The major work of laying the foundation and building the brickwork must be completed before installing the roof, windows or doors.

After the box gutters, your orangery’s roof is installed with the necessary structural beams fitted in place. The glazing is then securely installed. After that, the builders fix the fascia to tidy up the external construction. After the external bit is done, your contractors will commence with the interior finishing of the orangery.

Light and plumbing fixtures and other fittings will be installed. Afterwards, you can commence with painting and adding your interior decoration elements.

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Finding and Hiring a Builder for Your Orangery

Hiring the right builder for your orangery extension is a crucial decision. Your choice of contractors could make or mar your building project. Thus, finding the best builder for your type of extension plan is important.

Usually, it’s best to receive word-of-mouth recommendations from trusted folks who have had similar work done. However, a more efficient way to find an orangery extension builder is to use a premium services marketplace like Bark.com.

Bark offers an efficient way to find the best orangery extension specialist in your area. With Bark, you can also obtain free quotes from builders and compare them to make the best choice. All you need to do is enter your postcode on the website and post details of your building requirements on the Bark website.

You will see all the available professionals in your locale in just a few moments. Bark would also contact them on your behalf and get free quotes. After making your choice, you can choose to get started with a chosen profession.

Afterwards, you can write reviews and rate the work of your contractors on their profiles. Before choosing a contractor, you can check their reviews and ratings from past users.

Ensuring the Building Profesional Is Right for the Job

You should consider several factors before picking a builder for your project. Before hiring any contractor, ensure they have a track record of competence. Also, to know what you’re getting into, ensure to take a look at their previous work.

If they have a website or social media handle, check out their previous works to see if they meet your expected standard. Also, if possible, check their reviews on external review sites.

Ensure also to ascertain their skill level and experience doing the job. It’s also crucial to ensure that your contractors have insurance to cover your project if anything goes wrong. It’s also best to agree on a quote on paper, and not just verbally. The quote must detail everything that would be involved in their project and exactly how much it will cost.

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Final Checklist

Adding an orangery extension to your home can be an exciting and rewarding project. Before setting out on or wrapping up your project, you must consider every possible factor.

• Consider what position or location you want your orangery to be. Its position could determine how much light gets into the space. Depending on if your extension is north-, west-, east-, or south-facing, you’ll get different degrees and duration of sunlight daily. A north-facing structure will be sunlit all day, while a south-facing one will enjoy natural light all day. Also, west-facing structures enjoy late afternoon sunlight, while east-facing structures enjoy the morning sunlight daily.
• Ascertain what you’d like to use the orangery for. Do you want a playroom, a workspace or a family room? Deciding on this early enough can make the planning, budget and installation much easier.
• Finding a reputable artisan that can build your orangery extension professionally is more important than anything else. Using a tool like Bark.com will help you fast-track that process to find competent professionals in minutes.
• Try to incorporate environmentally friendly materials into your build and design as much as possible. You can also incorporate refurbished or recycled items into your plan.
• Also, now that you know you want an extension of your home, decide if a conservatory or orangery would be better for you. These two options have significantly different functionalities, and further research might show that a conservatory is better suited to your needs.

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FAQs Regarding Orangery Extension

• Do I need planning permission to build an orangery extension?

In the UK, you generally do not need to get planning permission before building an orangery, and this is because such a structure is considered a “permitted development”.

However, this law might be subject to some factors. Thus, it is best first to find out if your project requires planning permission. If your building has no previous extensions, and you plan on building a single-storey orangery that doesn’t take up more than half of your garden, you’ll probably not need a permit.

As we stated earlier, confirming local property laws is best so you don’t incur unexpected expenses.

• What’s the difference between a conservatory and an orangery?

These two structures are quite similar. However, they differ significantly in how they are built. A conservatory can have up to 80-100% of its pitched roofs glazed. Orangeries, on the other hand, have flat solid roofs, with a roof lantern at their centre.

• Can an orangery add value to my property?

Depending on your orangery’s build, size and quality, your property value can increase significantly. Building an orangery extension to your home can increase its value by up to 12%.

• What are orangery extensions used for?

Centuries ago, when orangeries were built in Italy, homeowners used them to house citrus plants during the winter. However, as time went by, the uses of these extensions changed widely.

Now, orangeries can be used for whatever purpose a homeowner deems fit. Thus, you can build this extension to house a living area, relaxation and entertainment spot, a kitchen or dining area, a home office, etc. The purpose of orangeries is entirely up to the homeowner.

Conclusion: Orangery Extension Costs

Building orangeries come with a lot of moving parts. Thus, before going ahead with the project, it’s important to know the costs.

In this article, we found that constructing an orangery extension in 2022 costs anywhere from £10,000 to £100,000. In some cases, it can cost even more. Several factors contribute to this wide range in cost. For example, the type of orangery, the design, location, and the supply contribute to the final cost. 

Thus, before you begin this rewarding extension project, we advise that you consider every necessary factor. That way, you’ll avoid costly mistakes and build an orangery extension of your dreams.

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