Orangery vs Conservatory vs Extension: What Is the Right Choice for Your Home?

You need more space. That much is clear. Your kitchen feels cramped, your living room can't accommodate everyone comfortably, and you're constantly working around the limitations of your current layout. The question isn't whether you need to expand, it's how.

Three options dominate conversations with Hull homeowners: orangeries, conservatories, and traditional extensions. Each adds space to your home, but they do it in dramatically different ways. They have different costs, different planning requirements, different aesthetics, and crucially, different impacts on how you'll actually use the space.

At DB Construction, we've built all three across Hull and East Yorkshire over the past 13 years. This guide breaks down the real differences so you can make the right decision for your home.

What Actually Is a Conservatory?

A conservatory is predominantly glass. The roof is glass or polycarbonate, the walls are mostly glazed panels, and the structure sits on a dwarf wall or foundation. More than 75% of the roof must be translucent, and at least half the wall area is typically glass. This creates a bright, airy space that feels connected to your garden.

Modern conservatories have evolved significantly from Victorian designs. Today's versions use high-performance glass that manages heat better, reduces glare, and provides proper insulation. The frames can be uPVC, aluminium, or timber, depending on your budget and the look you want.

Understanding Orangeries: The Middle Ground

An orangery sits between a conservatory and a solid extension. It features a flat roof with a glazed lantern or roof light in the centre, surrounded by substantial brick or stone walls. The result is a room that feels more like a permanent part of your house than a conservatory does, while still delivering excellent natural light.

The brick perimeter provides better insulation than a conservatory's glass walls, making orangeries more comfortable in both summer and winter. The solid walls also give you more flexibility for furniture placement and create a room that integrates seamlessly with your home's existing architecture, particularly on period properties.

Traditional Extensions: Solid and Substantial

A traditional extension uses primarily solid construction with brick or stone walls, a tiled or flat roof, and windows positioned conventionally within the walls. This creates a room that's indistinguishable from the rest of your house in terms of construction, insulation, and functionality.

Extensions offer the most flexibility in terms of design and purpose. You can create any room type, from kitchens and dining areas to bedrooms and bathrooms. When done well with matching brickwork, a traditional extension in Hull looks like it was always part of the property.

Cost Comparison: What You'll Actually Pay

Conservatories typically represent the most affordable option. High-quality conservatories with proper foundations, advanced glazing, and good finishes range from £15,000-£25,000, depending on size and specification.

Orangeries cost more due to the solid wall construction and more complex roof structure. Expect to pay £20,000-£35,000 for a well-built orangery of reasonable size. Your budget needs to account for these higher costs.

Traditional extensions generally fall between £25,000-£50,000 for single-storey additions. Two-storey extensions cost more. While extensions represent the highest initial investment, they typically add the most value to your property.

Year-Round Usability and Comfort

Conservatories struggle with temperature control. Even with modern glazing, they get uncomfortably hot in summer and cold in winter without significant heating. Many homeowners find their conservatory sits empty for months each year because it's too hot or too cold to be comfortable.

Orangeries perform significantly better. The solid walls provide proper insulation, and the reduced glazing area makes temperature control more manageable. You can heat an orangery efficiently, and it stays cooler in summer than a conservatory. Most homeowners use orangeries as genuine living spaces throughout the year.

Traditional extensions offer the same comfort as any other room in your house. Proper insulation, standard heating, and conventional windows create a space that's equally usable in January and July. There's no compromise on comfort, which matters when you're spending significant money to add space you genuinely need.

Natural Light and Practical Considerations

Conservatories deliver maximum natural light through floor-to-ceiling glazing. The challenge comes when too much light creates glare, making conservatories uncomfortable for activities like watching television or working on computers.

Orangeries strike a better balance. The glazed lantern roof provides excellent natural light from above, while the solid walls at eye level reduce glare and provide privacy. You get a bright room without overwhelming light levels.

Extensions with conventional windows still deliver plenty of natural light when designed properly. Adding light to your extension through well-positioned windows, roof lights, or bi-fold doors creates bright spaces without the drawbacks of extensive glazing.

How Each Option Affects Your Home's Value

Conservatories add moderate value to your property. They're seen as nice-to-have features rather than essential living spaces. Potential buyers recognise the seasonal limitations and often view conservatories as bonus areas rather than proper rooms.

Orangeries add more value than conservatories because they're perceived as more permanent, elegant additions. The substantial construction and year-round usability make them attractive to buyers. A well-designed orangery can return 100% of your investment or more.

Traditional extensions typically add the most value, especially when they create additional bedrooms or significantly improve the kitchen and living areas. A £30,000 extension commonly adds £35,000-£45,000 to your home's value in Hull's market.

Which Option Suits Different Uses?

For dining areas you'll use daily, traditional extensions or orangeries work best. Conservatories can work for occasional summer dining but are less practical for everyday use.

Kitchen extensions almost always benefit from solid construction. The heat from cooking equipment makes conservatories uncomfortably hot, and you need wall space for cabinets and appliances. Traditional extensions provide the functionality kitchens require.

Home offices benefit from solid construction. The temperature stability and reduced glare make traditional extensions or orangeries more practical. If you're working from home regularly, invest in a space that's comfortable for extended periods.

Making the Right Choice for Your Property

Consider your home's architectural style. Period properties often suit orangeries beautifully, as the elegant proportions complement Victorian or Edwardian design. Modern homes can accommodate any option.

Think about how you'll actually use the space. Be honest about whether you need another proper room or whether a seasonal space meets your requirements. Your budget obviously influences the decision, but consider long-term value rather than just initial cost.

The benefits of improving your home extend beyond just the structure itself. Understanding whether building beats moving helps frame the decision correctly.

Getting Expert Advice from DB Construction

Choosing between an orangery, conservatory, or traditional extension affects your home for decades. At DB Construction, our team of builders in Hull have worked on all three types and can provide honest advice about which approach makes most sense for your property.

We can assess your property, discuss how you plan to use the space, and provide detailed quotes for different approaches. Our detailed quotes show exactly where your money goes. Whether you decide on an orangery, conservatory, or traditional extension, choosing the right builder ensures the project delivers what you're hoping for.

Ready to explore your options? Contact DB Construction today for a free quote. Call us on 07934 237607 or email dbconstructionhull@outlook.com. We cover Hull and throughout East Yorkshire, including Beverley, Cottingham, Hessle, Hedon, Brough, and Willerby.