Can you have a freestanding conservatory?

[MisterBoy]

We have/had an old Victorian greenhouse - the wooden frame had to be demolished as it was rotten, leaving the brick base.

We've been looking at rebuilding the top, but I did wonder if I could simply have a 'conservatory' built to benefit from double-glazing and quicker fabrication. But looking online, I only see at most 3/4 designs relying on one external wall. Is that because it is required for structural reasons, or simply because that's what everyone wants? Is a 5x2.5m structure something that would be feasible?

 

[^woody^]

Have you tried the greenhouse section?

Conservatory companies will make whatever you want, it's just that normally people want a conservatory fixed to the house.

And you may want to allow for some sort of "stay clean" glass.

 

[JP_]

A conservatory is just a greenhouse really, or a shed with lots of windows.

 

[MisterBoy]

Have you tried the greenhouse section?

Conservatory companies will make whatever you want, it's just that normally people want a conservatory fixed to the house.

And you may want to allow for some sort of "stay clean" glass.

Great. I wondered if the design relies on a structural wall for support is all - if not then as you say why would it make any difference

A conservatory is just a greenhouse really, or a shed with lots of windows.

I suppose so, but made of plastic and with double-glazed panels. I would imagine a bit more substantial, greenhouses tend to be made from quite splindly aluminium, or from 2x2" timbers.

One reason I was curious is that seeing the price of a wooden greenhouse (high 4 figures) I wondered how much this would be in comparison for something a bit more substantial. Guess it's easy enough to get a couple of speculative quotes.

 

[JP_]

But do you need double glazing? You could build a wooden frame with glass panes. It doesn't really look large enough to be a conservatory with furniture, and without heating it would not be any different from a greenhouse for most of the year.

 

[Notch7]

We have/had an old Victorian greenhouse - the wooden frame had to be demolished as it was rotten, leaving the brick base.
View attachment 235271

We've been looking at rebuilding the top, but I did wonder if I could simply have a 'conservatory' built to benefit from double-glazing and quicker fabrication. But looking online, I only see at most 3/4 designs relying on one external wall. Is that because it is required for structural reasons, or simply because that's what everyone wants? Is a 5x2.5m structure something that would be feasible?

There's no practical reason why you can't specify 4 sides.
A conservatory is only a row windows and doors, ring beam and roof.

A 4 square structure is quite strong.

A upvc conservatory actually uses the glass panels a lot in practice to act as lateral restraint - and if the glazing is properly shimmed into the rebate, that should help minimise movement.

 

[MisterBoy]

But do you need double glazing? You could build a wooden frame with glass panes. It doesn't really look large enough to be a conservatory with furniture, and without heating it would not be any different from a greenhouse for most of the year.

As I said, seeing the cost of someone building me a nice wooden one just got me thinking how a conservatory might compare. It might be a bit more flexible for future use having double-glazing but you're right, it's not my top priority.
Although originally this was a hot-house with a coal boiler underneath Not my aim to reinstate that.

 

[JP_]

That explains the design, i was wondering what was below the surface.

Pizza oven with greenhouse above? Grow tomatoes and chillies!