Would You Be Better Extending With A Conservatory Or An Orangery?

If you have outgrown your home, but you don’t wish to move and have room at the rear of your property to extend, you will probably be considering either getting a conservatory or an orangery. 

They’ll both provide you with lots of new usable space, that’s what they most share in common with each other. But they do differ in certain ways and once you know these differences, it may give you a better idea of which of the two extensions you should invest in. 

We sell both products, and have done so for a long time. So, we can provide you with great insight into what a conservatory and orangery entail:

Conservatory

Some conservatories and orangeries have a very similar style, but if you need help identifying which is which, look at the roof. Traditionally, a conservatory will have a sloped or angled roof that consists of 75%+ of glass. That is unless it has a solid roofing system, which features realistic tiles or slates. 

Fully glazed sides and also a dwarf or single solid wall will also tell you that you are looking at a conservatory. 

From a price point-of-view, it is normally cheaper to buy a conservatory than an orangery, mostly because there isn’t as much brickwork in a conservatory and it’s roof is a little less sophisticated.

Orangery

Did you know that the first orangery was developed before conservatories came around? First constructed in the 17th Century by the Italians, orangeries are more enclosed spaces, and their roofing system has a glazed area of less than 75%. 

Shaped either square or rectangular, an orangery is supported by solid pilasters, very much how most 18th Century structures were, and has a shallow pitched roof.

Around the inside perimeter of an orangery is a pelmet, which you can have downlighters and spotlights integrated into so that the interior can be lit up at night.

Some will say that an orangery makes for a more natural extension of a house.

We hope this information helps with your decision-making. You may also find it helpful to look at some of the conservatories and orangeries we have installed on our Living Spaces page.