The conservatory has long been a status symbol, and that’s not just true if all you did was have a sunlit room where your child practiced playing the piano. However, you shouldn’t plan a building project because it is a status symbol. You should consider it on the merits of the project. What is the impact of a sunroom or conservatory on your home?
The Increased Value of Your Home
A sunroom or conservatory adds value to your home, though the return on the investment depends on its construction. If you want to know how a conservatory can add value to your property, understand that it is at its heart an enclosed room added to the property. You’re adding to the square footage and living area of the property.
Sunrooms can act as play rooms and additional living areas for your family. For some, it is a flexible space you can use for working out or working at home. However, how often you use it depends on the design. If it is too small, it won’t be more than an enclosed patio. This is rarely of benefit unless it serves as a mud room or changing room for kids coming in from the swimming pool. If it is very large but not well insulated, it will cost too much to cool in the summer or become uncomfortable in both the summer or winter. This is why a well-designed conservatory is as energy efficient as your home. Otherwise, you might as well put in a patio or deck. On the other hand, a conservatory that’s barely more than an enclosed porch and looks like it will hurt your home’s value.
The Potential Green Energy Benefits
This will depend on the design of the sunroom. In colder climates, a conservatory or sunroom can act as a greenhouse. (That’s why conservatories are so often associated with greenhouses and gardening.) If the conservatory has excellent ventilation and the airflow is done right, the sunroom can act as a source of natural heat for the rest of the house.
However, the sun room becomes a nightmare in the summer unless it enjoys good shade at that time of year or you’ve selected glass that reflects back the summer sun. This is why you may hear terms like ‘three season sunrooms’ and ‘four season sunrooms’. A two or three season sunroom isn’t as well insulated and has cheaper materials than a sunroom you can use year-round. They won’t have a heat source, either. A four season sunroom can be used year-round. Yet it needs to be well-made and properly designed to provide the full range of benefits these spaces can provide.
The Potential Health Benefits
This again depends on the design as well as your lifestyle. A conservatory with large screened windows could let air and the view in while keeping the insects out. If the windows remain closed, it may give you a great view of the outdoors without exposing you to pollen, air pollution and other irritants. It could let young children or the elderly enjoy a view of the outdoors without the fear of wandering off, assuming you can secure the doors.