Conservatory & Sunroom Quotes in Ireland
Compare up to 4 local conservatory & sunroom professionals. Free, no obligation quotes.
Conservatories and sunrooms add light-filled living space to your home, but there is an important distinction between the two in Ireland. A traditional conservatory (primarily glass walls and a glass or polycarbonate roof) is cheaper to build but can be uncomfortably hot in summer, freezing in winter, and noisy in rain. Modern insulated sunrooms (solid insulated roof with glass walls) are more expensive but comfortable year-round, far quieter, and significantly more energy-efficient.
The shift from traditional conservatories to insulated sunrooms has been dramatic in Ireland over the past decade. Most homeowners now opt for a solid, insulated warm roof with high-performance glazing on three sides, creating a room that can genuinely be used every day rather than just in summer. These rooms integrate seamlessly with the main house and, if built to the right specification, can improve your BER rating rather than drag it down.
Planning permission for conservatories and sunrooms follows the same rules as extensions: structures up to 40 square metres to the rear of a house are often exempt, subject to conditions on height, boundary distances, and site coverage. A well-designed sunroom on a properly prepared foundation adds value to your home. A poorly built conservatory with condensation, leaks, and temperature extremes detracts from it.
The market ranges from budget conservatory companies selling standard designs off the shelf to custom sunroom builders who design and build to your exact specifications. Comparing quotes from at least three providers, with attention to insulation values, glazing specifications, and structural warranty, ensures you invest in a room you will actually use.
How Much Does Conservatory & Sunroom Cost in Ireland?
Typical pricing for conservatory & sunroom services in Ireland (2026):
| Service | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard conservatory (12 sq m) | €12,000 | €22,000 | Size, glazing type |
| Insulated sunroom (15 sq m) | €18,000 | €35,000 | Insulation spec, finish |
| Premium orangery | €30,000 | €55,000 | Design, materials, size |
Conservatory and sunroom costs depend primarily on the roof type (polycarbonate is cheapest, glass is mid-range, insulated warm roof is most expensive), the size, the frame material (uPVC, aluminium, hardwood), and the glazing specification. Foundation costs (typically a concrete slab) add €3,000 to €6,000 depending on ground conditions. The specification gap between a basic conservatory and a fully insulated sunroom is the main cost driver, with the sunroom providing vastly better comfort and longevity. Dublin prices run 15-20% above the national average.
What to Expect: The Conservatory & Sunroom Process
- Design consultation. A provider surveys your home, discusses your requirements (size, use, budget, style), and presents design options. The best providers offer 3D visualisations.
- Planning check. The provider confirms whether your project is exempt from planning permission or requires an application.
- Foundation preparation. A concrete slab foundation is laid, with drainage and damp-proofing. This takes 2 to 5 days and needs time to cure.
- Frame erection. The structural frame (uPVC, aluminium, or timber) is erected on the foundation. This typically takes 2 to 3 days.
- Roof installation. The roof is fitted: polycarbonate panels, glass panels, or insulated warm roof panels depending on specification.
- Glazing and finishing. Glass panels or doors are fitted, the room is sealed and weatherproofed, and internal finishes (electrics, heating, flooring, plastering) are completed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing a polycarbonate roof to save money. The cost saving is modest (€2,000 to €4,000 compared to an insulated roof), but the comfort difference is enormous. A polycarbonate roof makes the room unusable for half the year and noisy in rain.
- Not including a foundation in the budget. Some providers quote for the structure only, excluding the concrete slab foundation (€3,000 to €6,000). This makes their quote look cheaper than it is.
- Building a conservatory that blocks light to the existing room behind it. A poorly positioned conservatory can make the adjoining kitchen or living room darker. Design the opening to maximise light flow into the existing house.
- Forgetting about heating. Even a well-insulated sunroom needs a heat source for cold mornings. Plan heating during the design phase (extending central heating, underfloor heating) rather than trying to retrofit it later.
- Not checking whether the structure meets building regulations. If you plan to remove the wall between the house and the sunroom (creating an open-plan connection), the sunroom must meet full building regulation standards, including fire safety and energy performance.
What to Look for When Hiring a Conservatory & Sunroom Professional
Look for providers with CIRI registration and a strong portfolio of completed sunrooms in your area. Check whether the company offers a structural warranty (10-year guarantees are standard from reputable providers). The insulation specification of the roof is the single most important quality factor: ask for the U-value (lower is better, aim for 0.18 W/m²K or less for an insulated roof). Ensure the glazing is at least A-rated double glazing, with triple glazing recommended for maximum comfort. Be cautious of companies that push traditional polycarbonate-roofed conservatories without discussing the insulated alternatives, that cannot provide a U-value for the roof, or that do not include foundation costs in their initial quote.
Questions to Ask Your Conservatory & Sunroom Professional
- What is the U-value of the roof? The roof U-value determines whether the room is comfortable year-round or only in summer. Polycarbonate roofs have poor insulation. Insulated warm roofs with U-values below 0.18 W/m²K perform like a standard room.
- Do I need planning permission? Most rear conservatories under 40 sq m are exempt, but conditions apply. If your conservatory is at the side of the house, faces a road, or your house is in a conservation area, you may need permission.
- What foundation is included? A concrete slab foundation is essential for structural stability and damp prevention. Some companies exclude foundation costs from their headline price, making the quote look cheaper than it is.
- What heating do you recommend? Even a well-insulated sunroom benefits from a heat source for cold mornings. Options include extending your central heating, underfloor heating, or an electric radiator. Discuss this during design, not after completion.
- What warranty do you provide? Expect a minimum 10-year structural warranty on the frame and roof, plus manufacturer warranties on glazing (typically 10-20 years). A company that cannot offer this is not worth considering.
- Can you show me completed sunrooms in my area? Seeing a completed installation in person gives you a feel for the quality, comfort, and finish that photos cannot replicate.
Frequently Asked Questions
A basic uPVC conservatory with a polycarbonate roof costs €8,000 to €15,000. A mid-range conservatory with a glass roof costs €15,000 to €25,000. An insulated sunroom with a warm roof costs €18,000 to €35,000. A premium orangery (brick pillars, lantern roof, high-spec glazing) costs €30,000 to €55,000. These prices typically include the frame, roof, glazing, and installation, but may exclude the foundation, electrics, heating, and flooring.
A traditional conservatory has a glass or polycarbonate roof and predominantly glass walls. It suffers from overheating in summer, cold in winter, and noise in rain. A sunroom (or garden room) has a solid insulated roof with glass walls on three sides. It is comfortable year-round, quiet, and energy-efficient. Modern insulated sunrooms are far more popular in Ireland because they can be used as genuine living space every day of the year.
A conservatory or sunroom to the rear of a house, not exceeding 40 sq m, is usually exempt from planning permission under exempted development rules. Conditions apply: it must not reduce the rear garden below 25 sq m, exceed certain height limits, or cause the total extensions to exceed the original floor area by more than a specified amount. Side conservatories, front-facing structures, and those on protected structures or in conservation areas may require planning.
Traditional conservatories with polycarbonate or glass roofs are notoriously cold in winter and expensive to heat. Insulated sunrooms with warm roofs (U-value below 0.18) are a different matter: they retain heat effectively and can be heated comfortably with a single radiator or underfloor heating. If you want a room you can use from November to March, an insulated warm roof is essential.
A well-built, insulated sunroom adds value because it creates additional usable living space. Estate agents estimate that a quality sunroom adds 5-10% to a property's value. A cheap, poorly insulated conservatory that is too hot in summer and too cold in winter can actually detract from value, as buyers see it as a maintenance liability. Quality of construction and year-round usability are the key factors.
Foundation preparation takes 3 to 5 days plus curing time (1 to 2 weeks). Frame and roof installation takes 3 to 5 days. Glazing and weatherproofing take 1 to 2 days. Internal finishes (electrics, heating, flooring, plastering) take another 3 to 5 days. In total, expect 4 to 6 weeks from foundation to completion. If planning permission is needed, add 8 to 12 weeks.
An insulated warm roof with a U-value of 0.18 W/m²K or less is the best choice for year-round comfort. These roofs use insulated composite panels with an internal plasterboard finish, giving the room a conventional ceiling appearance while providing excellent thermal performance. Glass roofs look dramatic but create overheating in summer and heat loss in winter. Polycarbonate roofs are the cheapest option but offer the worst performance in every measure: insulation, noise, appearance, and lifespan.
If the sunroom is built to a high insulation standard and the opening between the house and sunroom is left open (no door separating them), it is treated as part of the house for BER purposes. A well-insulated sunroom can actually improve the overall BER by adding well-insulated floor area. A poorly insulated conservatory with a polycarbonate roof, however, can drag the BER down. Discuss this with your BER assessor or architect if your BER rating matters to you.
Conservatory & Sunroom Quotes by County
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