Orangeries,
built like an extension.
Brick pillars, wide glazing and a roof lantern over a plastered ceiling with spotlights. An orangery is warmer and more private than a conservatory, and still full of daylight. Admiral and its own trusted builder build it from the foundations up, and arrange the Building Regulations approval it needs. See how it’s built. Plan your kitchen in it. Try a size, then see what sets the price.
- CAD drawings before we build
- Building Regulations arranged
- Foundations to lantern, one team
Design your conservatory in 3DFree, in a few minutes: choose the roof, style, size and doors, then send it to us for a free quote and your design as a PDF.
“Excellent advice and surveys prior to work. Very capable and polite fitters. Very pleased with finished conservatory.”
“As a building company, reliability and quality are essential to us, and Admiral Windows delivers on both every time.”
“We’re so pleased with our new sun roof. It’s been good to see beautiful skies through the glass.”
“We went to 3 different companies and Admiral were the most competitive.”
What we build with
- Halo
- Smart
- Cortizo
- Ultraframe
- SupaLite
Orangeries and loggias, photographed by their makers.
Photos from Ultraframe and SupaLite, whose roofs and lanterns we build with. See roofs and glazing for real in our Ipswich showroom.
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Piers and a lantern
- Shown
- An orangery with stone piers and a roof lantern
- Photo
- Ultraframe
-
Under the lantern
- Shown
- A sloping, plastered ceiling round a lantern
- Photo
- SupaLite
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The lantern
- Shown
- Looking up through a roof lantern
- Photo
- Ultraframe
Product photos from the makers’ own brochures: Ultraframe and SupaLite. See the real thing in our Ipswich showroom.
Your orangery, drawn as you choose.
Brick pillars or rendered columns, a raised lantern or a flat rooflight, the walls, the doors and a frame colour. We’ll start your quote from your choice, then draw yours properly in CAD at the survey.
Orangery
- Brick pillars at the corners, matched to your house, with wide glazing between them.
Loggia
- Insulated corner columns instead of brick pillars, for a cleaner, more modern look and more glass.
Raised lantern
- A pitched glass roof that adds height and character, in uPVC or aluminium.
Flat rooflight
- A low, contemporary rooflight that sits almost flush with the roof. Flat rooflights are aluminium.
A guide to the look, not a design, and the colours are only a guide. Aluminium comes in any RAL colour.
Built like an extension. Lit like a conservatory.
An orangery keeps the glass where it counts, in the walls and the lantern, and builds the rest like your house: on foundations, with an insulated roof edge and a plastered ceiling all the way round.
- Foundations and brickwork. Our builder lays the foundations and builds the pillars and base, matched to your house.
- An insulated roof edge. A solid, insulated perimeter with a plastered ceiling and LED spotlights, so the room keeps its heat. Ultraframe makes it from 300 to 1,200 mm wide.
- A lantern in the middle. Raised or flat, double glazed, with tinted, solar control or self-cleaning glass and roof vents if you want them.
- Glazing and doors. uPVC or aluminium frames, with French, sliding or bifold doors to the garden.
- Finished inside. Plastered walls, sockets and lighting, and a subfloor ready for your flooring. Heating is an option.
Plan the room. See where the lantern goes.
Choose a size and how you’ll use it. The plan is drawn to scale with typical furniture, and the lantern is dashed overhead: put the island or the table under it for the best light.
20m²Room for a kitchen run, an island with three stools and a table for four.
Furniture at typical sizes, to give you a feel for the space. We measure up and draw yours properly in CAD at the survey.
An orangery kitchen? Settle these early.
Kitchen-diners are one of the most popular uses for an orangery. A little planning before the survey makes the room work better and the build go smoother.
- Where the light falls
- Put the island or the table under the lantern, and keep tall units and appliances against the house wall.
- Opening up the house
- Taking out a wall or doors into the orangery is a structural opening. It needs Building Regulations approval, and we plan it with you.
- Power and light
- Sockets, switches and spotlights are part of the build, and we leave a subfloor ready for your flooring.
- Warmth
- The insulated roof edge holds the heat. Heating and underfloor heating are options.
- Air
- Manual or electric vents in the lantern let steam and summer heat out.
- Glass
- Solar control or tinted glass in the lantern keeps a south-facing kitchen comfortable.
Orangery or conservatory? And where a loggia fits.
We build all three, so we’ll tell you straight which suits your house and how you’ll use the room.
| Feature | Conservatory | Orangery | Loggia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walls | Glass on a low brick base, or to the floor | Brick pillars at the corners, glass between | Insulated columns, in aluminium, render or brick |
| Roof | Glass, polycarbonate or tiles | An insulated roof edge with a lantern | A solid roof edge, with a lantern or a full warm roof |
| Inside | Bright and open to the sky | A plastered ceiling with spotlights, and light from above | A plastered ceiling with downlights |
| Building Regs | Usually exempt with a glass or polycarbonate roof | Usually needed, and we arrange it | Usually needed, and we arrange it |
| Best for | Light and garden views | Kitchen-diners and family rooms | Modern rooms with more glass |
From the ground up. One team, start to finish.
No juggling trades and no chasing builders. We manage every stage, with our own trusted local builder, who has worked alongside us for years on hundreds of conservatories across Suffolk.
Survey and CAD drawings
We measure up and draw your orangery in CAD, so you can see it before we build.
Approvals
We apply for Building Regulations approval, arrange the inspections and hand you the certificate, and we’ll tell you if planning permission is needed.
Foundations and brickwork
Our builder lays the foundations and builds the pillars and base, matched to your house.
Frames, roof and lantern
We supply and fit the frames, the insulated roof and the lantern ourselves.
Electrics and plastering
Sockets, switches and spotlights, plastered walls and ceilings, and a subfloor ready for your flooring.
Sign-off and aftercare
Final checks, certificates, and guarantees on everything from the base to the roof, including the roof maker’s own 10-year guarantee.
A full build includes
- Foundations, brickwork and pillars
- Frames, the insulated roof and the lantern
- Electrics, sockets and spotlights
- Plastered walls and ceilings
- Building Regulations approval, arranged for you
- Guarantees from the base to the roof, with 10 years on the roof from its maker
What we leave to you
- Painting
- Skirting boards
- Your kitchen, if it’s going to be one
Heating, underfloor heating, flooring, roof vents and blinds are options, if you want them.
How much does an orangery cost? Here’s what sets the price.
Every orangery is designed for your house, so we price yours after a free survey: one written price for the whole build, to take away and think over. It’s made up of these choices:
- Size
- The width along the house and the depth into the garden. Plan it above.
- The lantern
- A raised lantern or a flat rooflight, in uPVC or aluminium, and the glass you choose for it.
- Brickwork
- New foundations, a base and pillars matched to your house, and any opening into the house.
- Frames and doors
- Halo uPVC, or aluminium from Smart or Cortizo, with French, sliding or bifold doors.
- Where you start
- A brand new orangery, or turning the conservatory you have into one.
- Inside
- Plastering, spotlights and electrics are part of the build; heating, underfloor heating and flooring are options.
“Very good price… From expert advice followed by a top quality installation”
A free survey, then a written price to take away. No pressure, no obligation.
Also worth a look. Two other options.
If an orangery isn’t quite right for your house or budget, these are the two people most often weigh it against.
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Loggia Loggias
A modern hybrid of conservatory and orangery: insulated corner columns, a solid roof edge and a plastered ceiling, with tall glazing for light.
- Roof
- A roof lantern or a solid warm roof
- Frames
- uPVC or aluminium
-
Lean-to conservatory Lean-to conservatories
A single roof sloping down from your house wall: clean lines, a rectangular room, and one of the most cost-effective ways to add space.
- Best for
- Bungalows, smaller homes and low walls
- Roofs
- Glass, polycarbonate, tiled or a mix
Why people pick Admiral for a bigger project.
Four things customers mention again and again, in their own words.
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Advice first
A proper survey and honest advice on style, size and approvals before anything is built.
“From start to finish we found everyone polite, friendly, helpful, informative which is why we chose Admiral for our new conservatory.”
Andy, Trustpilot, May 2026 -
Trusted by builders
Main contractors use Admiral on their own extensions and new builds.
“Great service Josh and Jake great team very attentive to the customer’s needs just what I need as a main contractor”
Lee Sulley, Trustpilot, Oct 2025 -
The rules, handled
Specifications and Building Regulations explained, and the paperwork done for you.
“…answering all my questions on specifications meeting my requirements and building regulations.”
Dreamer, Trustpilot, Nov 2025 -
Warmer all year
Insulated roofs and better glazing that make a room usable in every season.
“The conservatory is now so much warmer and feels lighter.”
David White, Trustpilot, Dec 2024
224 reviews. Not one below four stars.
Six more about conservatories, roofs and building work, as they were written. Admiral invites every customer to review on Trustpilot, good or bad.
4.9/5
Also rated 4.9 from 30 reviews on Google. Figures checked 19 October 2026.
- Aluminium, new build
“They have just completed a new-build property for me in Smart Aluminium and their knowledge and advice from product selection through to installation and care has been first rate.”
Richard Brand - New conservatory
“We had all our windows and doors replaced and a new conservatory. Everything was done to a very high standard with no problems.”
Brenda Moyse - Warm roof conservatory
“Over the last 8 months we have had replacement uPVC windows, front door and a replacement warm roof conservatory all from Admiral… On each occasion Admiral have been brilliant”
Chris Gilbert - Service and build
“All very impressive. Great value and really great service and build.”
Toby Abrehart - New roof, in a day
“I was very impressed by the hard work skill and attention to detail the four men showed today when they installed a new conservatory roof for me.”
A customer - Aftercare
“After I noticed some structural movement in my property, they were more than happy to come back out. They quickly adjusted everything to stop the doors/windows from nipping.”
Edward Quantrill
Spread the cost. Over 1 to 10 years.
Finance through Novuna at 12.9% APR representative, on amounts from £500 to £25,000, with a 10% to 50% deposit.
There’s also a buy now, pay later plan at 14.9% APR, with your first payment put back 6 or 12 months. Finance is subject to status.
Your figure, not our price.
£100.54a month for 5 years
After a £500 deposit. Total payable £6,532.40, including £1,532.40 interest. An illustration only, not an offer of credit.
Representative example: cash price £8,000, deposit £3,000, amount of credit £5,000, 12 monthly payments of £444.70, total charge for credit £336.40, total amount payable £8,336.40. 12.9% APR representative.
Finance is subject to status. Admiral Home Improvements Ltd (FRN 1053043) is an Appointed Representative of Ipswich Trade Frames Ltd (FRN 794166), a credit broker, not a lender, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Finance is provided by Novuna.
Step inside before you choose.
Conservatory, roof and glazing displays alongside our windows and doors, with parking at the door. Book ahead and we’ll make sure an adviser is free to talk through your plans.
Visit our Ipswich showroom
Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 4.30pm
- Monday to Friday
- 7.30am to 4.30pm
- Saturday and Sunday
- Closed
Hampstead House, Felixstowe Road, Nacton, Ipswich IP10 0DE. Parking right outside the door.
Questions people ask before they call.
Anything else? Request a quick callback or call 01473 659062 and ask us straight.
How much does an orangery extension cost?
It depends on the size, the lantern, the brickwork, the frames and doors, and what goes inside. We survey for free, draw it in CAD and give you one written price for the whole build. Try a size and see what sets the price. Finance is available at 12.9% APR representative.
What’s the difference between an orangery and a conservatory?
An orangery has brick pillars at the corners and an insulated roof edge with a plastered ceiling and spotlights, with a lantern letting light into the middle. It’s warmer and more private than a conservatory, and feels like part of the house. See them compared.
Is an orangery a proper extension?
Close to one. It’s built on foundations, with brick pillars and an insulated roof, and it usually needs Building Regulations approval like an extension. The difference is the light: wide glazing in the walls and a lantern in the roof.
Do I need planning permission?
Often not. An orangery follows the permitted development rules for single-storey extensions: on most houses it can go up to 3 m beyond the original back wall of the house (4 m for a detached house), up to 4 m high, with eaves no higher than 3 m within 2 m of a boundary, and, with any other extensions and outbuildings, cover no more than half the land around the house. It can’t be higher than the house’s roof or eaves (a lantern counts), or stand forward of the front wall. A bigger one may need prior approval or full planning permission, and flats, listed buildings, conservation areas and some new-builds have their own rules. We check yours at the survey.
Does an orangery need Building Regulations approval?
Usually, yes. With a solid, insulated roof edge, an orangery is normally treated like an extension rather than an exempt conservatory, and any new opening into the house needs approval too. Ultraframe’s orangery roof is pre-approved by Assent, Stroma and MFA, which speeds up the paperwork, though Building Control still inspects it. We apply, arrange the inspections and hand you the completion certificate.
Can it be our new kitchen?
Yes: kitchen-diners are one of the most popular uses. Put the island or the table under the lantern for the best light. We build and finish the room, ready for your kitchen to go in. Plan the layout.
Raised lantern or flat rooflight?
A raised lantern has a pitched glass roof that adds height and character; a flat rooflight is low and contemporary. Raised lanterns come in uPVC or aluminium, flat rooflights in aluminium. Both are double glazed, with tinted, solar control or self-cleaning glass and manual or electric vents if you want them.
Whose lantern do you fit?
Lanterns from both our roof makers. Ultraframe’s Ultrasky lantern has a 25° pitch that draws the light down into the room, and a stronger ridge that means fewer, slimmer bars. It’s made from 1 × 1.5 m up to 4 × 5.85 m, with a manual or automatic vent if you like, and a 1 × 2 m lantern has a U-value of 1.1. SupaLite’s S1 is an aluminium lantern, also at 25°, up to 3.2 × 6 m, in a choice of styles, with a channel for LED lights built in and anti-tamper fixings. Both makers guarantee their lanterns for 10 years.
Will it be warm in winter?
That’s the point of an orangery. The insulated roof edge and plastered ceiling hold the heat: Ultraframe’s flat roof has a U-value of 0.12, and its insulated columns 0.15. The glazing is double glazed, and the lantern can have solar control glass for summer. Heating and underfloor heating are options.
Can you turn my conservatory into an orangery?
Often, yes. If your base and foundations are sound, we may be able to build on them. We’ll check at the survey and tell you straight.
What’s included?
The survey and CAD drawings, foundations and brickwork, frames, roof and lantern, plastering, lighting and electrics, Building Regulations approval, and guarantees from the base to the roof, with 10 years on the roof from its maker. Heating and flooring are options; painting and skirting boards are left to you.
How long does it take?
It depends on the size and the groundwork, so we’ll give you a timescale with your quote, and we’ll keep you posted through the build. Ultraframe says its orangery roof goes up in a couple of weeks once the base is done, and SupaLite says its ILite flat roof goes on in about half a day, before the waterproofing and the lantern.
Can I spread the cost?
Yes. Finance through Novuna at 12.9% APR representative, from £500 to £25,000 over 1 to 10 years, or buy now, pay later at 14.9% APR. Finance is subject to status. Try the calculator.