Installing a conservatory can help extend your home living space dramatically. Whether it’s a basic lean-to conservatory, an ornate Victorian conservatory or a simple Edwardian conservatory, all offer a cost-effective way to add space to your home.

Typical Edwardian conservatories cost around £10,000 to install. Adding one to your home can increase your property’s overall value by around 5 per cent – making it a worthwhile investment that will be attractive to future buyers.

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Conservatories have been booming in popularity and in England alone, around 4 million homes have a conservatory. In the past 20 years, England has seen the number of conservatories built more than double and the number increases by around 3% each year. It’s no wonder. With good insulation, heating and electricity, a conservatory can double up as a dining room, a playroom for children, or a further living room to relax and enjoy the afternoon sun.

What are Edwardian conservatories?

Edwardian conservatories reflect the distinctive architectural style popular during the reign of King Edward VII from 1901 and 1910.

Edwardian architecture and design rejected the highly decorated designs of the Victorian era. It focused instead on cleaner lines and lighter colours with less pattern and ornamentation.

Edwardian conservatories are less ornate than Victorian conservatories. They feature a simpler shape, less detailing and ornamentation and plain windows to let in as much natural light as possible. As such, Edwardian conservatories allow for more usable living space than a similar-sized Victorian conservatory.

Main features of an Edwardian conservatory

Edwardian conservatories have several distinct features including a signature flat front. This ties into a square or rectangular base shape design that extends up to the roofline. The square, functional design of an Edwardian conservatory is a complete contrast to the multi-faceted design of its Victorian predecessor.

Don’t expect a lot of detailing in Edwardian conservatories, which tend to shun designs in favour of plain glass to give as clear a view of the outside as possible. Unlike a lean-to conservatory, however, an Edwardian conservatory retains the pitched roof of its Victorian predecessor, though it’s usually divided into three segments that slope up from the three edges and meet in a central ridge. In some designs, Edwardian conservatories may feature a four-sided roof.

An Edwardian conservatory’s more modern styling means it can work with both French doors and bifold doors, which can be set across the entire width of the conservatory. It’s possible to mix dwarf walls into the design, adding more substance to the overall build.

Planning a Victorian conservatory? Read our expert guide to Victorian conservatory ideas, planning and costs.

Edwardian conservatories – roofing materials and options

There are plenty of options in addition to the glazed three-sectioned sloping roof when choosing an Edwardian conservatory. Materials mean you can add a roof made of plastics such as polycarbonate to keep costs down through to adding a solid tiled roof to transform it into a more robust, integral part of your home. Ask your conservatory installer about the different options when choosing.

Glass – This traditional roofing material keeps the design of a modern Edwardian conservatory close to the original design. Glass is cheaper than a tiled roof and allows plenty of light into the conservatory. Modern glass can come as sealed double-glazed units as opposed to single sheets, and these can include solar control gas and self-cleaning glass. Solar control gas helps mitigate heat loss during winter, but also reduce heat build-up in summer which can lead to a stuffy conservatory. Self-cleaning glass has a special coating that uses sunlight to break down accumulated dirt on the glass, saving you the hassle of scaling a ladder and clean the roof yourself.

Polycarbonate – A plastic roofing material that is sturdy, lightweight and flexible. Its low-cost makes it useful if you’re on a budget, while its flexibility means it can be cut and installed to fit most roof shapes. It’s also a good choice for handling everything the British weather throws at your conservatory and you can also buy tinted polycarbonate that reduces heat gain. However, polycarbonate roofs are fairly noisy during rainfall. They also lack some of the thermal insulation properties of double-glazing or a solid roof.

Tiles – You can forgo a transparent or translucent conservatory roof and choose a solid roof instead. Tiles are sturdier and offer protection against glare from the sun, and you can opt for a vaulted or sloped roof design. People often choose a tiled roof to better blend with any existing roof tiles on the main property, though you can use a range of tiles, such as red or black tiles, as well add skylights and Velux windows to let in additional light.

Why choose an Edwardian conservatory?

Less fussy than a Victorian conservatory but more elegant than a traditional lean-to conservatory, Edwardian conservatories are viewed by many as an ideal compromise between the two styles. Thanks to their square or rectangular shape, living space is maximised so it’s easier to add furniture to Edwardian conservatory compared with a Victorian conservatory. Owners tend to appreciate the illusion of extra space it gives thanks to its vaulted ceiling, which lets in more light. Window designs are less ornate, with clear, plain window panes providing a great view of your garden or surrounding area.

Prefer a simpler style of conservatory? A lean-to conservatory is a popular way to add space to your home. Read our guide lean-to conservatory: ideas, plans and costs to find out more.

Edwardian conservatories – security features

Previously conservatories were viewed as a bit of a weak spot in home security. Poorly fitted glass and weak locks meant burglars often targeted conservatories as an entry point into a home. Once in, it is short work to access the rest of the house. Today’s conservatories had adopted a range of security measures designed to thwart burglars, making them as secure as any part of your home. When buying a conservatory, make sure you check with the installer to ensure they are using up-to-date security features:

Windows and glass – What were once the weakest part of the design, today’s windows and glass fittings are far more robust. Look for windows that push bolts into the window frame itself, anchoring the window in place – these are known as a shoot lock. Internal beading around the glass units will prevent would-be burglars from lifting the glass from the outside and request toughened glass to deter smash-and-grab raiders.

Doors and locks – Doors should be fitted with anti-force hinges to prevent them being popped off their hinges and forced open. Ensure external doors such as French doors or bifolds are fitted with a multi-point locking system. Check if the conservatory meets British Standards, especially BS7412 and BS7950, which mean the conservatory is constructed to high-security standards.

Don’t forget the outside of the conservatory, too. Placing security lights in your garden and adding a lock to a side gate – even a throw bolt with a padlock – can deter burglars from even attempting to break in.

Do I need planning permission for an Edwardian conservatory?

In the past few years, the government has relaxed home building regulations in an attempt to encourage homeowners to extend and improve their properties. It also means a reduction in red tape, and most conservatories won’t require planning permission as they fall within what’s known as permitted development rules. These are standard rules that, as long as you follow them, allow you to build without getting permission – though you will need to check with your local council as they’ll want to check insulation and other elements if you’re creating an additional living space.

The permitted development rules are fairly straightforward. You can build a conservatory or extension out to 4m from the rear wall of a detached property, and 3m from an attached property such as a terrace or semi-detached home. Until May 30, 2019, this has been extended to 8m and 6m respectively, though you will need to undertake a consultation with neighbours if you want to extend that far.

Your conservatory must not exceed a height of 4m, or the roof height of your home if lower than 4m. You’ll also need to ensure that the conservatory doesn’t take up more than 50% of the original outside area. Check with the planning department at your local council offices and use the government’s Planning Portal to check regulations.

How much do Edwardian conservatories cost?

The cost of Edwardian conservatories sits midway between a cheaper lean-to and a more expensive Victorian conservatory.

Many factors, such as choice of materials, design and layout can affect the cost, but a standard 3.5m-x-3.5m Edwardian conservatory will cost between £9,500 and £11,000.

If you want to go larger, expect to pay around £15,000 for a 4m-x-4m conservatory. You’ll need to factor in an additional budget for adding a tiled roof or upgrading to solar glass, for example.

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