What is the average price of an orangery?

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” Benjamin Franklin

If you’ve visited our offices for a workshop tour you may have noticed this quote by B. Franklin in our entrance hall. However, this quotation rings true whenever we begin to discuss guide prices, quotations and even when catching up with clients 20+ years on. Throughout the process of buying an orangery, this should be at the forefront of your mind, not only ‘What is the average price of an orangery?’ But also, ‘Am I getting the best value for my money?’

We caught up with Emma, your first port of call in the journey to building an orangery, to understand more about the average cost of an orangery and what can impact price.

How much do orangeries cost?

Emma starts by explaining that ‘Our prices start from around £50,000 + VAT and prices largely vary due to the size of the orangery. The approximate average cost of a Westbury orangery is about £80,000 to £90,000 with an average size of around 45-50m_². But the total price will ultimately come down to how many sides of joinery, and various customisable options. These prices account for several integral parts that make a Westbury Orangery, different.’

What can impact (increase) the cost of an orangery?

‘As with any bespoke building project, many factors can bear an impact on price.’ Emma explains some of the most common reasons you might see an increase in the price of an orangery. ‘Any number of unique or extra design points can influence the cost. But as a general rule the following design details can affect the price:

• Number of sides of joinery
• Breakfront
• Number of roof lanterns & roof vents
• Clerestory windows (also known as fan lights) and panelling 
• Loggia (outside covered area)
• Number and style of windows and doors
• Number and style of pilasters’

Building to a standard, not a budget

When it comes to home investments, such as building an orangery, price and value for money is everything. We don’t believe in cutting corners to increase profits or up-sell our clients with unnecessary additions. Our process is to apply the same quality, materials and 100% dedication to every project, big or small. Tailored to your exact wants and needs.

‘Because no two orangeries are alike, we often request information from our clients to help draw up an approximate guide price. So that they’re able to consider the full budget of their project before making any commitments. Our aim is to deliver complete transparency, thorough, tailored advice and information for each project, and clear communication.’

What is included in the price of a Westbury orangery?

‘We offer a full design, manufacture, supply & install service. This involves several teams within our offices working collaboratively to design and draw your project, apply for planning permission on your behalf (if required), and install the timber and glass structure – ensuring that it is fully watertight.

We also support your builder on all associated building work such as foundations, masonry walls, plumbing, electrics, and plastering. Providing them with a helpful ‘Working together’ document, scope of works, detailed drawings, and direct contact with a member of our team. Enabling the build to run smoothly and be carried out to the specified requirements’

Our Timber

We aim to consistently deliver high-performing, long-lasting products. So the choice to manufacture our garden rooms using Accoya is the first step towards this goal. Accoya begins as PEFC and FSC certified Radiata Pine. These trees grow incredibly quickly reaching maturity after 10 years, making them an abundantly available and highly sustainable resource. In comparison, an Oak tree can take up to 100 years to reach maturity. The environmental benefits to using Accoya outweigh slow-growing hardwoods, woods treated with toxic chemicals, and non-renewable materials such as uPVC.

“Price is what you pay, value is what you get”

Warren Buffet

The Pine goes through a chemical modification process – acetylation – which changes the structure of the material and results in Accoya, a highly durable, lightweight and stable timber material. Wood is made up of chemical groups called “free hydroxyls”. These are responsible for swelling and shrinkage in the wood as the free hydroxyl groups absorb water. The acetylation process alters the free hydroxyls within the wood into acetyl groups, altering the wood’s ability to absorb water, making it more dimensionally stable and protected from rot and decay.

Our Glazing

Our glazing methods exceed the GGF (Glass & Glazing Federation) guidelines. But why is that important?

Because an alarming number of cheaper glazed rooms and extensions do not. This means that many homeowners are unknowingly relying on sub-par glazing to protect their homes, furnishings and families from the rain and cold weather.

Are there any additional costs to account for?

‘When budgeting we encourage clients to also factor in building works which typically start at £25,000 + VAT for simple base works and foundations, and finishing works, such as plastering and decorating. Electrical and plumbing work can be in addition to this. If demolition of an existing garden room is necessary, this can increase building works costs together with the need for piling if the ground is not stable or too soft.’ Emma continues, highlighting some of the expertise that is involved in building an orangery.

‘Furniture, flooring, and interior finishes should also be factored in and how much a client spends on these things will depend on the spec they decide to go for. We also encourage clients to push their budget as far as possible for these finishing touches to ensure they don’t compromise on the final look, and they maximise their enjoyment of their new room.’

Do you charge more for obtaining planning permission, or more complicated builds? I.e. natural beauty areas and listed buildings?

‘We do not charge more for obtaining planning permission or where there are certain planning restrictions. However, we do explain that if planning permission is not granted following receipt of the client’s deposit, we will return the deposit less a small retention to cover our costs for assisting with the planning. The amount of the retention varies depending on the extent of our involvement in the process, whether we have had to engage a planning consultant to write a supporting statement, and whether an appeal has been necessary. Generally speaking, this retention does not exceed £3,500.

Our Designers & Technicians have many years of experience dealing with planning matters and we also provide some initial advice in relation to planning before a project goes ahead. Where we feel the likelihood of obtaining planning permission is low, we will discourage a client from proceeding with a project, or we will agree on separate costs just in relation to planning before any deposit is paid.

Working with our clients in their homes, which are such an important and personal part of our lives, means we have great responsibility for ensuring that everything runs smoothly and effectively. For us, this means it’s imperative to always be transparent and communicative throughout the process.’

How do you request a guide price for an orangery? What do you need to know?

‘There are several ways you can request a guide price from our team. You can either email me or my colleague Emma design@westburygardenrooms.com providing as many details about your project as possible, call us on 01245 326500, or complete this form to request a guide price.’

Are there any additional costs later down the line?

‘Our quotation is very comprehensive and details the specifications for each project. We try to ensure that all costs are agreed upon at the Offer stage so there are not any surprises. We appreciate a Westbury project is a big investment for our clients and there are other costs to factor into a budget, so we want to ensure our clients know exactly what to expect before we proceed with a project.

There are some optional extras that clients can choose, and sometimes these extras are chosen after the deposit has been paid. For example, occasionally clients may choose a dual colour scheme or solar reflective glass closer to manufacture and these will increase the cost from the original quotation. If you have an idea in mind of the options you would like to go for ahead of time then these can be included in your quotation from the start.’