A lean-to conservatory is a great way to add a uniquely relaxing space to your home. Whether you live in a single-storey bungalow, or a modest modern home, a conservatory adds not only value but also space, but it does so at a moderate price, helping it to become a viable option for many homeowners.
What’s more, with a lean-to-conservatory, you’ll gain additional space at the fraction of the cost of a house extension. In this article, we’ll be looking at:
- How much a lean to conservatory costs
- What affects the cost of a lean-to conservatory
- How to save money on a lean-to conservatory
- What’s involved in installing a lean-to conservatory
- How to find and hire an installer
If you’re wanting to make some extra room at home and think a conservatory is the way to go, keep reading to find out our top tips on achieving that at the best possible price.
How Much Does a Lean-to Conservatory Cost?
There’s no one set style when it comes to lean-to-conservatories, meaning prices can rise and fall depending on many different factors from materials to size and if you have a dwarf wall or a fully-glazed design.
| CONSERVATORY DESIGN | CONSERVATORY SIZE | ROOF MATERIAL | ESTIMATED COST |
|---|---|---|---|
| No base | 3500mm x 2000mm | Glass | £4,500 to £5,500 |
| No base | 3500mm x 2500mm | Glass | £5,250 to £6,250 |
| No base | 4000mm x 2000mm | Glass | £4,750 to £6,000 |
| No base | 4000mm x 2500mm | Glass | £5,500 to £6,500 |
| No base | 3500mm x 2000mm | Polycarbonate | £4,250 to £5,250 |
| No base | 3500mm x 2500mm | Polycarbonate | £4,750 to £5,750 |
| No base | 4000mm x 2000mm | Polycarbonate | £4,500 to £5,500 |
| No base | 4000mm x 2500mm | Polycarbonate | £4,750 to £6,000 |
| Dwarf wall | 3500mm x 2000mm | Glass | £7,250 to £8,750 |
| Dwarf wall | 3500mm x 2500mm | Glass | £8,750 to £10,250 |
| Dwarf wall | 4000mm x 2000mm | Glass | £7,750 to £9,750 |
| Dwarf wall | 4000mm x 2500mm | Glass | £9,250 to £10,750 |
| Dwarf wall | 3500mm x 2000mm | Polycarbonate | £6,750 to £8,250 |
| Dwarf wall | 3500mm x 2500mm | Polycarbonate | £8,000 to £9,500 |
| Dwarf wall | 4000mm x 2000mm | Polycarbonate | £7,500 to £9,000 |
| Dwarf wall | 4000mm x 2500mm | Polycarbonate | £8,750 to £10,250 |
| Fully glazed | 3500mm x 2000mm | Glass | £6,250 to £7,750 |
| Fully glazed | 3500mm x 2500mm | Glass | £7,250 to £8,750 |
| Fully glazed | 4000mm x 2000mm | Glass | £6,750 to £8,250 |
| Fully glazed | 4000mm x 2500mm | Glass | £7,750 to £9,250 |
| Fully glazed | 3500mm x 2000mm | Polycarbonate | £5,750 to £7,250 |
| Fully glazed | 3500mm x 2500mm | Polycarbonate | £6,750 to £8,250 |
| Fully glazed | 4000mm x 2000mm | Polycarbonate | £6,250 to £7,750 |
| Fully glazed | 4000mm x 2500mm | Polycarbonate | £7,250 to £8,750 |
Firstly, we’ll take a look at lean-to-conservatories with no base. For a small 3500 by 2000 millimetre model in glass, you can expect costs of between £4,500 to £5,500, while the same size in polycarbonate will command fees of between £4,250 to £5,250.
For a larger design of 4000 by 2500 millimetres, a glass design will come in at between £5,500 to £6,500, and the same size in polycarbonate will be between £4,750 to £6,000.
Dwarf walls are more expensive out of the three build options, but they do enhance the value of your conservatory and help to maximise the space available to you, so can be a worthwhile investment.
The small 3500 by 2000 millimetre model in glass comes in at between £7,250 to £8,750, while the same size in polycarbonate will cost between £6,750 to £8,250.
While, a larger design of 4000 by 2500 millimetres in glass will come in at between £9,250 to £10,750, and the same size in polycarbonate will be between £8,750 to £10,250.
To optimise the most out of natural light, fully-glazed lean-to conservatories can be a great choice – they’re also cheaper than those with dwarf walls if that’s an important budget consideration for you.
Starting small, the 3500 by 2000 millimetre model in glass costs between £6,250 and £7,750, while the same size in polycarbonate will cost between £5,750 to £7,250.
When we look at the larger size of 4000 by 2500 millimetres, the glass variation will cost between £7,750 to £9,250, while the same size in polycarbonate can cost between £7,250 and £8,750.
While these prices consider the entirety of a lean-to conservatory, if you only need the roof of your lean to conservatory replaced, you can expect this to cost between £2,000 to £3,300 for a glass roof and between £2,200 to £3,200 for a polycarbonate roof.
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What Affects the Cost of a Lean-to Conservatory?
Just about everything about your conservatory can be customised, from the construction material (white UPVC, wood, timber-effect UPVC or even aluminium). You can choose the dwarf walls to go with the red brick of your home, or you can go with the full-height glass to take advantage of the incredible view of your garden.
Full-Height vs. Dwarf Walls
Lean-to conservatories work for contemporary and period properties alike, adding that modern look to your home. Generally, the conservatory designs fall into two broad categories:
- Full-height glass conservatories
- Dwarf wall conservatories
The conservatories vary in price depending on the option you choose. Full-height glass conservatories tend to cost less than conservatories with dwarf walls, and although dwarf wall conservatories offer more privacy and security, as well as being sturdier in construction, full-length glass has its advantages too.
Benefits of full-length conservatories include more natural light and the uninterrupted views of your garden. Dwarf wall lean-to conservatories of 3500 by 2000 millimetres cost between £7,250 to £8,750, while the same size with full-length glass costs between £6,250 to £7,750.
Glazing Options
Polycarbonate glass is cheaper than low-energy glass which is dearer. Like-for-like on lean-to conservatory size, polycarbonate costs £5,750 to £7,250, while glass falls between £6,250 to £7,750.
Roof and Frame Material
Glass, polycarbonate and tiles are the most used materials for a lean-to conservatory roof. Tiles are the most expensive, coming out at £250 per square metre, while you can expect costs of between £2,000 to £3,300 for a glass roof, and between £2,200 to £3,200 for a polycarbonate roof.
Size
The larger the conservatory, the higher the price – the difference between a 3500 by 2000 millimetre conservatory and a 4000 by 2500 millimetre conservatory of full-height and constructed of glass is around £3,000.
Colours and Finishes
Standard colours of uPVC and timber will be less expensive than those coloured in a bespoke shade, so if you’re looking to keep costs low, stick to the traditional colours, or look to DIY the different shade yourself to help to keep costs down initially.
Windows and Doors
Having a uPVC patio door installed can cost between £500 to £1,250, while aluminium can reach £700 to £3,000. If you’re wanting something more bespoke, adding in a bifold door can be the way to go, but they do carry far higher costs at £3,000 to £3,500.
Extras
Further to the external features, you may wish to have some of the following installed on the inside of your conservatory to make it a useful space all year round:
- Electrics including mood lighting or a television point to turn it into a multi-purpose room
- Climate control to provide heat in winter, and cooling comfort in the summer months
- Floor tiles to match the floors in your kitchen, or another part of the house
Ease of Access
Considering ease of access to your property is something that can influence the cost of your conservatory, as your tradespeople will need to get various items into your garden to complete the work. If you live on a street where there is no off-road parking, or there’s no external access to your property or it’s very narrow, it’s worth telling your traders upfront so that they can look to mitigate these issues before the work starts to keep things running as smoothly as possible.
Your Location
Prices for the same jobs in capital cities cost more than those in less populated towns and villages, so be expected to pay more for the same work if you live in a more metropolitan area.
How Can I Save Money on a Lean-to Conservatory?
Comparing quotes is a great way to potentially reduce the cost of building a lean-to conservatory. HouseholdQuotes can help you get quotes from multiple builders near you, so that you can find someone that suits your budget.
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By choosing a lean-to rather than a full-sized conservatory, you’re already saving money, while being able to add value to your home in the realm of around 5%. This makes it a safe investment as you’re likely to see a good return on your buy-in when it comes to selling your home.
Let’s look at some other ways to keep your lean-to-conservatory costs low.
It goes without saying, but the size impacts the final price you’ll pay for your conservatory, so if you are tight on budget, make sure you stick within your budgetary boundaries to avoid spending over your limits and stretching yourself too much.
If this means you can’t afford what you had originally set out to have built, it might be worth spending some time saving to get the right size to avoid adding something too small to make much of a difference to your living space and might end up being a waste of money through the hastiness of having it installed.
When it comes to conservatories, there are two routes you can follow. The first one is purchasing a conservatory kit and then installing it yourself or finding an installer, and the second option is to request quotes which include supply and installation.
The second option is recommended if you are not an accomplished DIYer and want to have a guaranteed installation. We don’t advise the DIY route unless you feel comfortable installing it yourself, but it will bring down your labour costs considerably if you are comfortable with the work, which can make it a viable option for some.
Is a Lean-to Conservatory the Best Choice for My Home?
Considering having a lean-to conservatory installed is a big investment and you’ll want to make sure it’s the absolute best choice for yourself and your home before committing to it. We’ve created the below table of advantages and disadvantages to help you decide whether or not a lean-to conservatory is right for you.
| ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES |
|---|---|
| Very cost-effective method of adding a room to your property | Usually a limit to their width |
| Known for their appealing design which makes use of straight lines | May require planning permission |
| Good accessibility | Will typically reduce the amount of outdoor space |
| Works very well for homes with one storey |
Building a lean-to conservatory is a very cost-effective method of adding extra room to your property. They are known for their appealing design which makes use of straight lines.
Lean-to conservatories offer a great advantage in how they allow for fluidity of movement throughout the home without increasing the number of storeys. For this reason, they can be a great addition to a bungalow or home that only has one storey.
The main disadvantage of a lean-to conservatory is that there is likely to be a limit to how wide you can build it and it will reduce the amount of outside space you have. While lean-to conservatories don’t usually require planning permission, there are some instances where this is not the case and you should speak with a building regulations official to be sure.
What’s Involved in Installing a Lean-to Conservatory?
Providing your garden or external space is cleared and levelled, ready for building upon, your tradespeople will take the following steps to build your lean to conservatory:
Your base sill will be installed first and will be cut to make room for the door space. The sill will then be fixed once measurements have been taken to ensure accuracy.
The installers can then move on to fitting the windows, for which the window frame will be installed first. Depending on whether your conservatory is full-height or has a dwarf wall, this will vary slightly and require different fittings.
The windows will start at the property wall, and work outwards and corner posts will then be fixed in place.
Ridge assembly is next, followed by ridge capping and roof glazing is then added in.
A downpipe is added in position, and then the installer will move onto any finishings and trims to finalise the installation
How Do I Find and Hire an Installer?
Finding the right builder can be challenging. At HouseholdQuotes, we can connect you to experts in your area.
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One of the best ways to find a competent installer is to ask friends, family and neighbours who have used a similar tradesperson recently if they would recommend their trader. This way, you’re cutting out hours of searching, and you’re more likely to get a legitimate account of what someone’s work ethic is like, instead of just going off what their marketing materials say about them.
You can also take a look at FENSA (approved windows and doors installers), or the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) to find reputable and reliable traders in your area who are qualified to take on the job.
Ensuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
When it comes to building a structure, you want to ensure you’ve got a qualified professional taking care of the work in a good manner so that you don’t have to worry about anything going wrong. You must check out your trader’s credentials before agreeing to work with them, looking at their experience and past projects to see if they’d be a good fit for your needs.
Take a look at any customer references, get a feel for their work ethic, and look at any photos or videos of their past work to see what sort of finish you can expect.
You’ll want to have a written quote shared with you before any work begins to make sure you’re paying what you expect at the end of the job, and it’s always a good idea to double-check the trader has relevant insurance in place just to keep things covered if anything does go wrong during the job.
Final Checklist
For homeowners wanting to add a little extra space into their home at a fraction of the cost of a standard extension, opting for a lean-to conservatory is a great, cost-effective way to go. Here’s our final checklist for when you want to get going on your project:
- Decide if a lean-to conservatory is right for you, and settle on your materials and size depending on your budget and style requirements
- If you can, save up a little longer to get a slightly bigger size conservatory if possible to maximise your return on investment when it comes to selling your property
- Get a written quote from your trader before you begin work to ensure there are no hidden fees to be aware of
- Decide on your internal finishings and fixings, such as flooring, walls, lighting and heating, not forgetting about electricity supply, too
- Enjoy your newly acquired space!
Use HouseholdQuotes to find local builders and potentially save money on your lean-to conservatory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need Planning Permission for a Lean-to Conservatory?
It’s very rare for planning permission to be required for lean-to-conservatories unless you live in a period house or a designated area. If you are in any doubt, take it up with your local planning authority to find out everything you need to know for your specific case.
Will a Lean-to Conservatory Add Value to My Home?
Yes, lean-to conservatories can add value to your home, making it a great investment for those wanting to sell up in a few years and lose no money on their project. Typically, these styles of conservatories can add around 5% to your property’s value.
Is a Lean-to Conservatory the Cheapest Type of Conservatory?
Lean-to conservatories are the cheapest out of the available conservatory options as they rely on the existing structure of the house to ‘lean’ upon, whereas other models are free-standing and require more structural work, thus raising their prices. While standalone conservatories can potentially add more value to your home, they do come at a higher buy-in cost, so they’re a good option if you can afford them.
How Long Will It Take to Build a Lean-to Conservatory?
You can typically expect a build time of around two to three weeks for a lean-to conservatory, when carried out by professionals.
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