Orangery or Conservatory: What is right for my home?

Conservatories. Orangeries. You’re looking to extend your house, but you’re stumped: what on earth is the difference? Most importantly, which one is right for your home? 

Many other homeowners are asking the same questions, struggling to understand the options available to them. That’s why we’ve set out to answer them, so you can make an informed decision about your home’s new extension.

What is a conservatory?

A conservatory typically consists of floor-ceiling glazing and a toughened-glass or polycarbonate roof. These extensions are built into the garden. The high percentage of glazing allows for an abundance of natural light to enter the home.

For homeowners with prideful gardens full of colour and joy, a conservatory will allow them to experience their outdoor living spaces without sacrificing the warmth of the indoors. This means that homeowners can enjoy their gardens all year round. 

Benefits of a conservatory:

Versatility:

Although they are not as grand or luxurious as orangeries, conversatories can be used for a variety of purposes in your home. Whether you need a dedicated dining area, a sunroom, or you want to use your conservatory as a home office, they provide a flexible living space that can be adapted to suit your requirements.

Merge your internal and external living spaces

With all-round floor-to-ceiling glazing, conservatories are the perfect option for merging your internal and external living spaces. If you have a garden you’re proud of, but still need more space in the home, conservatories are the perfect option to experience the best of both worlds.

Cheaper alternative

Conservatories can be made from a variety of different building materials. Most common are uPVC conservatories, which are affordable yet reliable and efficient solutions to conservatory building. Other materials may include aluminium, that can strike a sense of the industrial style into your home’s style, or timber, which can provide some traditional vibe and complement more woodland gardens. 

 uPVC conservatories are a stylish option that complement most styles of house, and also pair with a variety of different uPVC windows.

There are so many different types of conservatory available that you won’t struggle to find the perfect solution for your home. With our range of uPVC conservatories–including bespoke offerings–you won’t need to look far to make an informed decision.

What is an orangery?

An orangery features a brick-based foundation that forms the structure of the extension. It will typically have a flat roof with ‘lantern’ feature, where the roof is extended upwards with pockets of windows. 

Much like a conservatory, an orangery welcomes a wealth of natural light into your home whilst inviting a secure and relaxing living space.

The sturdy-based structure affords additional warmth over a traditional conservatory, which makes them a more efficient solution during the warmer and colder months.

Benefits of an orangery

Natural Light

Because of their versatile roofing options compared to traditional extensions, orangeries are more than capable of radiating natural light into the home. Lantern roofs–which consist of pockets of glazed windows–add an element of luxury to an otherwise boring flat roof, whilst welcoming a substantial amount of light in.

Instead of opting for solid structures, orangeries can be a luxury addition to your home that allow more of the outside world into your home without having to sacrifice on warmth and security.

Temperature control

The solid brick base of an orangery provides increased thermal insulation compared to floor-to-ceiling conservatory alternatives. This will help keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, whilst saving on rising energy bills. This also means that they can be used all year round without much need to compromise, making them a great alternative to conservatories in the winter that may require underfloor heating or additional heaters to retain heat.

Size

Whilst conservatories primarily consist of glazing to form their structure, the solid base of an orangery allows for larger construction projects. So if you’re looking for a larger extension for your home that also incorporates more of your outdoor living space, then an orangery is the option for you.

Both conservatories and orangeries provide a variety of benefits to homeowners, with each more suited depending on your personal preferences and requirements. Whilst a conservatory can extend your internal living spaces with an abundance of natural light, an orangery may be larger as a whole whilst also maintaining increased thermal efficiency. If you are still unsure which option is right for you, contact your local Double Glazing Network installer for professional advice.