6 considerations for planning the perfect orangery
An orangery can be a fantastic addition to any home – providing the perfect combination of a space full of light from its glazed roof lantern, but with the substantial feel of a traditional extension.
Orangeries can provide truly versatile living space, creating room for relaxing and enjoying garden views, for everyday dining or entertaining, and they are increasingly used for home working as stylish studies with an abundance of light.
There will of course be some key questions and considerations when planning your orangery – here we guide you through them.
1. Do I need planning permission for an orangery?
One of the first aspects to consider is planning permission.
In general, orangeries up to a certain size fall under permitted development rights and do not require planning permission if they meet certain criteria. For example, the orangery should not cover more than half the area of land around the ‘original’ house (original means prior to any alterations or extensions), should not be higher than 4 metres, or wider than the existing house.
Overall projection of an orangery is limited to 3 metres for a semi-detached property, and 4 metres for a detached property. Any further projection is of course possible but will require planning permission.
Rules can vary based on local restrictions and whether your property is listed or located in a conservation area. It’s always best to check with your local planning authority before you go ahead with your orangery and take professional guidance from the experts.
2. Orangery building regulations
Building regulations are crucial to ensure your orangery is safe, structurally sound and built to the correct standards. The stipulations cover aspects like structural integrity, fire safety, energy efficiency and ventilation:
- An orangery must have adequate foundations to support the structure and this will be determined by the local ground conditions
- It should be energy-efficient. This requires double glazing with performance glass to manage solar reflection, and sufficient insulation to ensure comfort and manage heat loss
- Adequate ventilation will prevent condensation and maintain healthy airflow
- Electrical work must comply with safety standards.
At Window Wise, we are highly experienced and well-versed in the latest regulations. We will help ensure that your orangery meets all necessary requirements and answer any of your questions.
3. How much does an orangery cost?
The cost of an orangery can vary widely based on size, materials, design, and location. Factors influencing the cost include:
Size
Our orangeries here at Window Wise are all individually designed, and tailor made to suit your requirements.
Materials
Most orangeries have brickwork as part of their construction, which can help them feel like a natural extension to the home. However, the latest innovation is the Hup! system, this is an alternative to traditional brick and blockwork.
When selecting materials for the framework, hardwood or aluminium frames tend to be more expensive than PVCu, as they offer greater strength and durability.
Design
With an orangery, there is a huge amount of scope to create custom designs including roof lanterns, bi-fold doors and underfloor heating to create your perfect space. These design aspects all influence the overall cost.
At Window Wise, all aspects of your orangery are fully costed, so that you can plan accurately to achieve the perfect orangery for your home and budget.
4. How long does it take to build an orangery?
The time required to carefully plan, construct and complete all design aspects of an orangery can take several months, depending on the complexity and size of the project.
Here is a breakdown of the process and approximate timeline:
Planning
It’s a good idea to allow 2 to 4 weeks for this stage, and longer if you need a bit more time to consider your design, or if you need to apply for planning permission. Any planning application could take up to 10 to 12 weeks before a formal confirmation of approval is given.
Preparation
Once you’ve decided on your design, a surveyor will visit your home to take the necessary measurements and ensure that everything is structurally sound for the installation. Much of your new orangery will be manufactured off-site. This process can take up to 12 weeks.
Installation
When the off-site manufacture is complete, your orangery can then be installed on-site. Construction time can vary, depending on the amount of preparatory work required on site and the project itself. You should therefore allow 4 to 8 weeks for the installation.
Overall, it’s a good idea to allow 3 or 4 months from the first steps to completion of your new orangery.
Timing
If your goal is to be able to enjoy your new orangery in time for summer, the best time of year to plan it is in the autumn or winter, so it’s a good idea to think ahead!
5. Choosing the right design for your orangery
Selecting the right design for your orangery is essential to ensure that it complements your home, and meets your expectations as to how you want to use it. Consider factors such as:
Architectural style
You may want to ensure that your new orangery blends seamlessly with your home’s existing architectural style, or you many prefer to create a contrast with a contemporary structure alongside a character property.
There are several styles available to help you find the perfect approach:
Traditional orangeries
Combining solid brick pillars or thermally insulated ‘Loggia’ columns, a performance glass roof and a range of traditional finishing touches, a traditional-style orangery can enhance the period aspect of your home.
Insulated internal pelmets create energy efficiency and can be used to subtly incorporate lighting and speakers.
Contemporary orangeries
At Window Wise, our contemporary orangeries include the UltraSky roof to give you maximum light.
Super-insulated ‘Loggia’ columns and a hidden structural ‘goalpost’ ensure a solid, warm and cosy feeling even in the depths of winter.
Lantern orangeries
Lantern orangeries incorporate a lantern roof light to sit on a flat roof and flood your home with natural light, creating a stunning focal point.
Window Wise is one of a select group of Ultra Installers approved to design and install orangeries with an Ultraframe roof system.
Using your orangery
Thinking about how you’ll use your orangery will help inform the design you choose.
Will it be an area for dining and entertaining, for additional living space to relax, or a home office?
Light and privacy
Consider the proportions of glazing and solid walls in the design. This will ensure that your orangery is the perfect balance between a light and airy room, and a true extension to your living space.
For example, the combination of dwarf brick-built cavity walls combined with standard height window frames and French doors can give a traditional aesthetic.
Low level or full height windows combined with brick pillars, insulated columns, and patio or bifold doors can achieve a striking, contemporary design.
Alternatively, the Hup! system can provide and quick and easy, less time-consuming method of construction.
Hup!
Hup! is a modular system that uses composite insulated panels in place of traditional brick and block work cavity walls. With Hup!, you choose your windows and doors, roof style including lanterns or skylights, and your choice of finish, whether brickwork, render or decorative fascia.
The Hup! system is fast to build and incredibly energy efficient.
Read more about the Hup! system
6. The finishing touches that complete your orangery
There are a host of ways to personalise your orangery and create a unique room designed around you and your family.
Some of the design and build options to consider include:
Ventilation
Ventilation is a crucial part of the design to ensure the perfect climate in your orangery.
At Window Wise, we offer a choice of:
- Ultraframe trickle ventilation, giving a natural upward movement of warm air to carry moisture to the roof and allowing it to filter outside
- Ultraframe roof vents, which are highly insulated with a choice of manual or electric opening
Heating
You might want to extend your home’s central heating system into your new orangery. Alternatively, depending on your budget you may consider installing under-floor heating or infra-red heating panels, which can operate independently
Cornices and finials
You can choose from a variety of cornice and finial options to personalise the exterior of your orangery roof and to create the aesthetic that will best complement your home.
Lighting and sound
Integrated spotlights in the roof pelmet are a popular way to create subtle, ambient lighting. The pelmet is also ideal to house built-in speakers.
Talk to the experts
Book a design consultation with us and we’ll guide you through all these considerations to help you achieve the perfect orangery for your home.
Please visit our showroom or call us on 01444 45 71 45 to chat through your requirements.
Further reading about orangeries…
Orangeries have a fascinating history that you can read about in our blog article, where we explore the difference between conservatories and orangeries, and where the passion for these buildings originated.
We also share the details of three famous orangeries to visit and their history.