Choosing Your Conservatory -
10 tips for success
There’s no disguising the fact that choosing
a conservatory is a major decision. Get it right and you’ll
enjoy many years of enjoyment from what could be the perfect addition
to your home and your lifestyle.
So how do you ensure you make the right decision?
Simple. You can start by reading these 10 tips compiled from the
advice of interior designers, architects and gardening experts:
| 1. |
Think
about the intended use
How
do you envisage using your new conservatory? Will be it a playroom,
a dining area, an office, a second living room or an all year
round, all weather extension to the garden? Its purpose doesn’t
have to fit exclusively into one of these categories, but your
conservatory’s ultimate day-to-day use will determine
how large it needs to be as well which style, layout and materials
will work best. |
| 2. |
Design
and Quotation
Make
sure that you receive detailed designs and quotation listing
all the specification; don’t be afraid to ask for the
quotation breaking down so you can see how the price has been
put together. |
| 3. |
Don’t automatically
go for the cheapest choice.
With
conservatories, you tend to get what you pay for. As such, don’t
automatically go for the ‘cheapest’ company unless
its products and services also happen to be better than the
competition. Another important factor to consider when appointing
your installer should be their ability to meet your timescales.
The last thing you want is an installation that will drag on
and on, leaving your home looking like a building site for weeks
or even months. |
| 4. |
Choose your materials wisely.
The materials that
make up your conservatory will have an enormous effect on its
lifespan, practicality and usage. Frames tend to be PVCu for
lasting performance and glazing can now be polycarbonate, clear
glass or performance glass. Choose materials that are easy to
clean and maintain – you’ll be thankful for this
in the long-term.
Bases are typically built in stone or brick; ensure your builder
can match to your existing brickwork. |
| 5. |
Think about the position.
Bear in mind the aspect
– or position – of your conservatory. Conservatories
that face south receive more sun than those facing north and
as such the need for adequate ventilation and blinds is of uppermost
importance. To help you regulate the temperature in a south
facing conservatory, you might also want to think about using
Celsius performance glass in the roof. |
| 6. |
Size matters
Once you’ve decided on the design and
size of your new conservatory, get a second opinion from a friend
or family member. Make sure your choice complements your home
and has enough internal floor space to meets your requirements.
In short, treat it as a fluid extension to your home rather
than just an add-on. |
| 7. |
Consider your glazing options.
Carefully think about the type of glazing
you’d like to use in your conservatory. Normal glass and
polycarbonate will allow solar heat to penetrate into your conservatory,
potentially making the inside temperature hot summer days. To
avoid this ‘greenhouse’ effect, whilst reducing
heat loss in winter, opt for a performance glass such as Celsius.
|
| 8. |
Ventilation, ventilation,
ventilation.
To help prevent the build of condensation in your conservatory,
you need to ensure it has adequate ventilation. The K2 roof
vent lets fresh air in whilst keeping the elements and insects
out. As an alternative, you could also consider roof fans or
an air conditioning unit if your budget will stretch to it.
|
| 9. |
Check with your local authority.
If you’re building
a conservatory in England or Wales, you will not usually need
planning permission (unless your property is listed, in a conservation
area or it has already been extended). However it is always
better to be safe than sorry. If you’re in any doubt,
check as early as you can with your local authority or your
chosen installer about this and any relevant building regulations.
|
| 10. |
Call on the professionals.
Finally, always get your conservatory professionally
designed and installed. Also be sure to use vetted installers
who offer an insurance backed guarantee. With such a major and
prized investment, it’s simply not worth taking the risk!
|
Conservatory Check List:
Consider internal size of the conservatory,
this is often much less than the external base dimensions due to
the width of any dwarf walls – in our experience the biggest
mistake when considering a conservatory is not allowing enough floor
space – our conservatory designers will be happy to produce
a quotation based on different sizes for you to compare
#The best position of the doors
is often on the side of the conservatory to allow for more usable
floor space
Is your proposed conservatory design
as energy efficient as possible?
Are the windows and doors manufactured
using the latest decorative colour fast profiles which are fully
reinforced with galvanised steel?
(If the decorative suit does not meet with your approval we do offer
a standard chamfered profile from “Deceuninck”)
Does the conservatory have suitable
roof glazing and ventilation for its position on the house?
Is the roof system BBA approved
and tested for wind loading and weather proofing for all parts of
the UK?
Have you seen detailed drawing
including a photo cad drawing of the proposed design and does your
quotation clearly cover all aspects of the proposal
Consider the glazing for the side
wall frames, our laminated glass with soft coat option provides
protection for furniture and fabric’s, better ‘U’
values than Pilkington “K” glass and high security
Do the building teams work full
time for the conservatory installer and have you seen examples of
their work?
Does the electrical company used
comply with the new building regulation Part “P” from
January 2005?
Have you seen examples of the work
we have installed on-site? This is often finished to a much higher
standard to what you see in our showroom
One of our top tip’s is to
leave the doors open between the house and the conservatory to keep
constant circulation of air – this will help maintain a constant
room temperature in the conservatory – and with our laminated
security glass you have total piece of mind
Does the conservatory come complete
with a full 10 Year insurance backed guarantee? |
