Wooden conservatories
A wooden conservatory, usually built in hardwood, costs more than uPVC or aluminium, and it suits older houses and conservation areas where a plastic frame would look wrong. It needs regular painting or staining, and it can last for generations with care.
Who wooden conservatories suit
Suits
- Period and listed houses
- Conservation areas where uPVC may be refused
- Anyone who likes the look and feel of timber
Good points
- The most natural look, and the best match for older houses
- Can be painted or stained any colour, and repainted later
- Repairable, so a well-kept frame lasts a very long time
Watch out for
- The highest price of the three main frame materials
- Needs painting or staining every few years
- Fewer installers offer it
What wooden conservatories cost
Wooden conservatories typically cost £19,500 (4m × 3m Victorian conservatory in hardwood, fitted), with most jobs between £13,500 and £25,000. That includes VAT at 20%. Fitting takes 15–30 days on site.
What you would actually pay
Typical 4m × 3m Victorian conservatory in hardwood, fitted · UK- Typical installed cost Wooden conservatories, supplied and fitted
- £16,250
- VAT at 20% Standard rate
- £3,250
- Net cost to you
- £19,500
If you borrowed £19,500.00 over 36 months at 0.0%, it would cost £541.67 a month – £19,500.00 in total, of which £0.00 is interest. The last payment would be £541.55.
Illustration only – not a quote, not an offer of credit, and not financial advice. Rates depend on your circumstances and creditworthiness.
Where the money goes on wooden conservatories
| Element | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Frame, glazing, roof and fitting The frame in this material, double glazed units and a polycarbonate roof, fitted on a standard concrete base. This row is the headline price. | £13,500 – £25,000 |
| Glass roof instead of polycarbonate An upgrade from a polycarbonate roof to A-rated glass. Optional, and priced against the standard roof. | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Solid or tiled roof instead of polycarbonate A warm roof in place of a polycarbonate one, for a conservatory you want to use all year. Optional. | £4,000 – £8,000 |
| Groundworks on sloping or poor ground Extra digging and a deeper base where the site needs it. Many gardens need none. | £0 – £3,000 |
Guide prices including VAT. Your actual cost depends on your home, access and specification.
What moves the price of wooden conservatories
- Size
Floor area is the biggest single driver. A larger footprint means more frame, more glass and a bigger base, though the price per square metre falls as the conservatory grows.
- Roof
Polycarbonate is the cheapest roof, glass costs more and a solid tiled roof costs the most. The roof is often the biggest difference between two quotes for the same shape.
- Frame material
uPVC is the base price. Aluminium and hardwood both cost more, and hardwood costs the most.
- The site
Sloping ground, poor soil, drains in the way and awkward access all push the price up before any frame goes in.
- Who builds it
National brands usually quote well above local FENSA or CERTASS installers for a similar specification. Compare like for like on frame, roof, base and guarantee.
What a quote for wooden conservatories should include
If a quote is missing any of these, ask why before you compare it with another.
- The footprint, the style and the roof type, with a drawing that shows the layout
- The frame material and colour, inside and out, and the guarantee on frames, glass and the roof
- The base and groundworks: what is included, and what happens if the ground is poor
- Whether a dwarf wall is in brick or in the frame, and who builds it
- Building Regulations and planning: who checks whether you need them and who pays any fees
- Electrics, heating, flooring and blinds, and whether any of them are in the price
- FENSA or CERTASS registration for the windows and doors, and the deposit and payment schedule
Wooden conservatories prices by region
Labour is most of the difference. Typical price (4m × 3m Victorian conservatory in hardwood, fitted), including VAT.
| Region | Typical | vs UK average |
|---|---|---|
| London | £24,000 | +25% |
| South East | £22,500 | +17% |
| South West | £21,000 | +10% |
| East of England | £20,500 | +6% |
| West Midlands | £20,000 | +4% |
| Scotland | £19,500 | +2% |
| East Midlands | £19,500 | UK average |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £19,500 | UK average |
| North West | £19,000 | −2% |
| North East | £18,500 | −5% |
| Wales | £18,000 | −6% |
| Northern Ireland | £17,000 | −12% |
Common questions about wooden conservatories
How often does a wooden conservatory need painting?
A good factory finish lasts several years before it needs recoating. After that, expect to repaint or restain every few years, depending on the finish and the exposure.
Is a wooden conservatory worth the extra cost?
On a period house or in a conservation area, often yes. Elsewhere, uPVC or aluminium gives similar warmth for less money and less upkeep.
What is the best wood for a conservatory?
Hardwoods such as oak, sapele and meranti are the usual choices, because they are stable and last well outdoors. Ask where the timber comes from and whether it is certified.
Where these wooden conservatories prices come from
Guide prices are compiled from published UK price guides, converted to a price before VAT, and shown here with VAT added. They are indicative, not quotations. How we price explains the method.
Get quotes for your home
A guide price only takes you so far. Local firms can price the work on your own home, and comparing a few quotes is the quickest way to see what is reasonable.
Compare free quotes