Approximately one in five British households have conservatories. But since exploding in popularity during the 1980s, many conservatories have now become outdated, with recent reports revealing that older conservatories with poor insulation can reduce home value by up to £15,000.
Eurocell’s Conservatory Census has highlighted the trends and preferences of people with conservatories. The census survey asked over 550 people across the UK about their homes, specifically their conservatories, revealing their main concerns and what they use the space for.
By breaking down the survey results, it can reveal where to focus when renovating your conservatory, boost kerb appeal and increase the value of your home.
Survey results
The majority of the respondents were between 46-65 years old (50%) followed by 65+ (25%) and 35-45-year-olds (20%).
One shocking finding from the survey revealed that over 40% of people are unhappy with the exterior of their homes. This may be due to the brick or paint style, doors, windows, or just general wear and tear.
Kerb appeal is immensely important for homeowners, and a sense of pride in your home when arriving back from a busy work day is important for many. It’s also an important factor that people consider when looking at purchasing a new home, so people must perceive your home as attractive from the outside.
An outdated conservatory not only reduces the aesthetic appeal of a home’s exterior but can also highlight issues such as insulation problems and leaks.
If you have a conservatory, what do you use it for?
The results highlight that the majority of respondents who have a conservatory use it as a relaxation space (59%) - somewhere quiet away from the main household.
With a rise in hybrid working models in the UK post-pandemic, having a quiet space can be useful for working (8% use as a home office), or a place to enjoy some mindfulness.
The research revealed that Brits use their conservatory for all sorts of purposes, with approximately 24% using it as a dining room, 9% for storage, with others using the space as a utility room, an extension of their living room space, TV room, or for drying clothes and as a children's play or craft room.
If you have a conservatory, how often do you use it?
The majority of respondents revealed that they use their conservatory daily (65%), with another 19% using it weekly. A small proportion of people use it monthly or less.
If you have a conservatory, what are your biggest frustrations?
The biggest complaint about owning a conservatory was that it was too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter (53%). In a recent government survey, it was revealed that around 77% of conservatories are heated either centrally or using electric heaters. A room made entirely of glass, if old and not well-insulated, can be energy inefficient.
Other complaints included loud noise when raining (25%), it’s too small (10%), leaks and condensation drips, bugs getting in, water pooling on a flat roof, or that gutter cleaning and maintenance is a tricky task.
60% of respondents believe conservatories elevate your home’s value:
60% of respondents believed that a conservatory added value to their home, with about 27% of people being unsure.
By increasing living space, enhancing natural light, and providing a connection to the outdoors, conservatories can be an attractive selling point for prospective buyers. Of course, the amount of added value depends on quality, design, and integration with the home.
It is however true that older conservatories that haven’t been looked after can be more of a burden than they are beneficial, and can actually knock value off of your home. In this case, it’s definitely worth looking into replacing or upgrading your conservatory instead.
Common pitfalls of conservatories
While conservatories add valuable space to a home, some common pitfalls were revealed in the survey results. The two main issues homeowners faced were too hot in summer or too cold in winter (25%), and that it can be too loud on the roof when it rains (12%). Fortunately, with the right materials and design choices, these issues can be effectively mitigated so that homeowners can enjoy the space.
An outdated conservatory can cause leaks and have poor insulation, which left unaddressed can reduce the thermal efficiency of your home. 77% of Brits with conservatories heat them during the winter, but inefficient glazing and draughty roof panels can make this a very expensive endeavour.
Investing in new doors and windows can improve the appearance of your home, refreshing the colour, whilst fitting the pre-existing style. In addition, high-quality windows, such as double-glazed UPVC windows, can increase energy efficiency. If insulation was the concern in a conservatory, you could consider a conservatory roof replacement, which would help maintain a more consistent temperature throughout summer and winter.
For those considering knocking down an old conservatory in favour of a modern home extension, a conservatory replacement could be an attractive option. Standing within the existing footprint of your conservatory, this more energy-efficient and thermally regulated extension addresses common issues like leaks and poor insulation while also allowing you to tailor the extension to your chosen style.
Commenting on the results of the survey, Beth Boulton, Marketing Director at Eurocell, said:
“Our survey results have given us an insight into how homeowners feel about their conservatories, revealing the common problems of outdated designs. This enables us to be able to guide consumers on how to best update or even replace their conservatories to breathe new life into their home.
“Eurocell’s conservatory census clearly shows that Brits value what conservatories bring, whether that’s extra room space, added value to the property value or just simply improving quality of life.
“For people considering adding a new conservatory to their home, with the right considerations in regards to roof and glazing choices, it’s possible to create a versatile space that can be enjoyed year-round, enhancing both the aesthetic appeal and overall value of a property.”
Methodology
A selection of questions was compiled into a survey, which was sent out in July 2024 to a sample of UK Eurocell customers. From this, we received 557 respondents, from which we were able to draw the results and percentages.
Data is correct as of July 2024.