uPVC Conservatories in Windsor

Inspired Glazing designs and builds uPVC conservatories for homes across Windsor. We survey the garden, prepare the base, build the frame and fit the roof with our own team from Fifield, around 15 minutes from the town, and each design is drawn to suit the house rather than chosen from a fixed catalogue. Compare the uPVC conservatories Windsor gardens can take below, from compact lean-tos to wide orangeries.

Conservatory styles that work on Windsor homes

A Windsor terrace usually has a narrow back garden and a rear outrigger, which makes the side return the obvious place to build. A lean-to conservatory fills that gap neatly, with a single roof slope that tucks under first-floor windows. Wider plots, such as those behind Edwardian semis in Clewer, can take more decorative designs:

• Victorian conservatories with a faceted front and ornate ridge, a natural match for bay-fronted period houses.
• Edwardian conservatories, square or rectangular, which give more usable floor space for a dining table.
• Regency and Elizabethan styles, close cousins with flatter fronts and simpler roof lines.
• Gable-fronted designs, whose tall glazed end adds height and light.

For corner plots and wrap-around rooms, combination shapes help. An L-shaped conservatory turns a corner of the house, a T-shaped conservatory projects a central section into the garden, and a P-shaped conservatory joins a lean-to run with a rounded end to create two zones. Small conservatories make a good garden room or study; large ones can become a second living space.

Glass, solid or polycarbonate roofs

The roof decides how the room feels in July and January. A solid roof conservatory is insulated and plastered inside, so it behaves like an extension and blocks a good deal of overhead aircraft noise. A glass roof conservatory keeps the sky in view; specify solar-control glass if the room faces south. Polycarbonate roofs are common on older conservatories in Windsor and are usually the first thing owners want to change, because they are noisy in rain and let heat escape. Our replacement conservatory roofs swap an old roof for a solid or glazed one without rebuilding the walls, where the frame and base are sound.

Orangeries, with brick piers and a roof lantern over a flat perimeter, suit the larger Georgian and Victorian houses. A porch on the front elevation is a smaller project that adds storage and a draught lobby.

Foundations come first

Parts of Windsor are close to the Thames, and some riverside gardens lie in the floodplain, so ground conditions vary from one road to the next. We excavate and lay a proper base with damp-proofing and insulation; see our conservatory bases page for what that involves. If your garden has flooded before, tell us at the survey so we can plan floor levels around it.

Planning and Building Regulations

Conservatories follow the same permitted development rules as other house extensions. According to the Planning Portal, a single-storey rear extension can project up to 3 metres beyond the original rear wall of an attached house, or 4 metres on a detached house, with a maximum height of 4 metres. Within 2 metres of a boundary the eaves can be no higher than 3 metres, and extensions may not cover more than half the land around the original house. In a conservation area such as Inner Windsor, any side extension needs full planning permission, and the larger prior-approval route does not apply.

A conservatory is usually exempt from Building Regulations when it is single storey, at ground level, under 30 square metres, separated from the house by external-quality walls, doors or windows, and heated independently, with compliant glazing and electrics. A new structural opening into the house still needs approval. Our planning guide for conservatories and porches sets this out, and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead can confirm what applies to your address.

Frame colours and doors to the garden

White uPVC is the classic choice, but woodgrain foils and dual colour frames, such as a grey outside and white inside, suit period brick well; ask us to confirm the combinations available. To open the room to the garden, choose French doors, sliding patio doors, or aluminium bifolds from the Smart Visofold or Cortizo ranges.

Budget and timescales

Price depends on footprint, roof type, base work and glass. Our conservatory cost guide explains the main factors, and we give a fixed written quote after surveying. Work is covered by our 10-year guarantee.

Neighbouring areas

We build conservatories in Eton, Datchet and Old Windsor as well. Local window projects are covered on our Windsor windows page, our Windsor and Maidenhead windows and doors page, and our guide to uPVC windows and doors in Windsor.

Ready to plan your garden room? Ring 01753 965 005 for a free survey, or send your details through our free quote form and we will arrange a visit.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need planning permission for a conservatory in Windsor?

Many rear conservatories fall within permitted development, which allows up to 3 metres on an attached house or 4 metres on a detached one, up to 4 metres high. Conservation areas such as Inner Windsor and Windsor Town Centre bring extra limits, and listed buildings need consent. Check with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for your address before building.

Is a solid roof better than glass for a Windsor conservatory?

It depends on how you will use the room. A solid insulated roof keeps temperatures steadier all year and dulls rain and aircraft noise, which matters under the Heathrow flight path. A glass roof gives more daylight and a stronger connection to the garden. Many owners choose a solid roof with a glazed lantern as a middle path.

Can you replace the polycarbonate roof on my existing conservatory?

Usually, yes. If the base and frames are sound, we can remove a polycarbonate roof and fit a solid or glazed replacement on the existing walls. We check the frame and foundations first, because a heavier roof needs adequate support. If the structure is too weak, we will tell you honestly and price a rebuild instead.

What size conservatory fits a Windsor terrace garden?

Terrace gardens are often narrow, so a lean-to across the back or a side-return infill is usually the best fit. Permitted development allows up to 3 metres of depth on a terraced or semi-detached house. We measure the plot, the neighbouring walls and the first-floor window heights at the survey and draw a design that fits without overshadowing.

Will my conservatory flood if I live near the Thames?

Some Windsor gardens near the river lie in the Thames floodplain, so we treat floor levels seriously. We build a raised, damp-proofed and insulated base where needed, and we will ask about any past flooding at the survey. Check your address on the government flood map too, and consider how the room would be used if water reached the garden.