Conservatories For All

There are many issues that homeowners have to take into account when they are considering purchasing a lean to sunroom or conservatory.  Lean to conservatories are one of the most popular types of conservatories that are available from conservatory manufacturers, but even so you have to be sure that this is the correct structure to build onto your residence.

You want to look at what you intend to use the conservatory for, which manufacturers are the most reliable and honourable and also which manufacturers or suppliers are offering the best deal on a sunroom. Conservatories of any type do not come cheap and therefore it is important to know that the structure you purchase is made from quality materials that will last for a long time.

There are different uses that a sunroom can be put to and this could have a bearing on the size and quality of the structure you need to build.  Some homeowners will want to use their sunroom for plants and for gardening purposes.  Lean to conservatories would be excellent in this regard as they are recognised as being one of the simplest forms of conservatory and therefore probably one of the best value styles that you can purchase.

If you on the other hand decide that you want to use your sunroom as an extension to your home, you might like to build something with a bit more detail in the design, or some form of sunroom that ties in more with the existing style of your home.

Whatever you decide you want your conservatory for will affect the direction that you take with regard to planning, size and design.

It actually is a very good idea to start your search for a new sunroom from the comfort of your home.  Online shopping is a great way to gain information on the product you are seeking to purchase and when you are looking for a conservatory, it is no different.  You can compare prices, styles, special offers and material used in the construction of conservatories and make a shortlist of the conservatories that might suit your needs best.

There is no doubt that lean to conservatories can offer the best value on the market, be it by shopping online or by calling direct to manufacturers or suppliers showrooms.  You can purchase conservatory kits from some manufacturers and this means that you will have to assemble the structure yourself.  If you are confident at DIY then you should have no problem doing this, and especially if you select a lean to conservatory as it is the easiest type of conservatory to construct.

A lean to conservatory will comprise two, three or four walls of glazing, depending on whether the structure is free standing or attached to a residence.  You can adjust the size of the proposed conservatory to suit your existing home before it is produced or you can purchase a ready made option if the manufacturer has one that is a reasonable fit and which will not look odd.

There is no doubt that lean to conservatories will continue to be one of the most popular types of conservatories on the market as long as the manufacturers find that they are able to produce them at a keener price than most other types of conservatories.

One of the most popular conservatories for sale on the market today is the lean to conservatory.  In surveys carried out with conservatory manufacturers, they receive more enquiries and orders for this type of conservatory than for other conservatory types.

Lean to conservatories are simply-constructed structures of square or rectangular shape, which make the most use of their floor space.  A conservatory or sunroom of this type is not an elaborate structure in comparison to a Victorian conservatory for example.  Victorian structures usually have three to five front facets and elaborate décor and trim as part of the design.  These conservatory types also have a simple sloping conservatory roof that is easy to clean and maintain.

There are various reasons why homeowners might favour a lean to structured conservatory.

• In a booming or buoyant property market couple often start out on the property ladder by purchasing a small residence and as their families get bigger, they trade up to a larger property.  However, when the market is slow many of these homeowners find that they are unable to attract a sufficiently good offer on their home to be able to move.  They are then possibly in the difficult position of wanting more space for their growing family without being able to purchase a bigger home.  The answer to this problem is to build on to their existing residence.
• Per square metre conservatories are recognised as being excellent value, in comparison to a traditional builder’s extension.  Some people would assume that conservatory prices are lower because conservatories are not as strong or as energy efficient as a solid block building.  However a quality conservatory built on proper foundations can be every bit as durable and long lasting as a regular home extension and can in fact be better insulated and more energy efficient.
• Due to their no-nonsense style and simple method of construction, lean to conservatories are better value per square metre to purchase than many of their counterparts.
• If you would like to build your own conservatory, then a DIY lean to conservatory is probably the best and simplest style of conservatory to take on.  Manufacturers produce kits for DIY lean to conservatories along with detailed instructions to enable home improvement enthusiasts to complete the project.  You can purchase a kit for a uPVC conservatory or for one made from aluminium or a wooden conservatory.  Lean to conservatory roofs for example are simple sloping roofs with little complications by way of design or construction.
• Conservatories as a whole are very versatile structures and given that a lean to conservatory has a regularly shaped floor space it is more versatile than most.  Homeowners use these structures as offices, living areas, dining rooms, kitchen extensions, garden rooms, as a lean to greenhouse and even as hot tub areas.  A properly located sunroom will fit well into most house plans.

One of the main factors to give consideration to when building a conservatory is that you should not scrimp on the foundation work and site preparation.

Many people make the error of thinking that a sunroom is a light-weight structure that does not need a very deep foundation.  It is true that a sunroom comprising mainly of glazing may not have the same bulk or weight as a bricks and mortar structure, but if you want a conservatory to be structurally solid for many years, it need to be solidly supported underneath and attached firmly to the main residence.

One of the best locations to source a quality conservatory that may be very good value is on the internet.  From your own home you can compare prices and consider which manufacturer is giving you the best deal.

If you are flexible ragarding the kind of conservatory you would like you could wait until you see that a manufacturer is having a conservatory sale of certain lines.  If you want to restrict your search to a particular area or country, simply enter ‘lean to conservatories UK’ or ‘lean to conservatories Ireland’.  In this way you will be able to locate conservatory manufacturers that are reasonably close to your address.

It is said that one of the most attractive features of an Edwardian conservatory to the homeowner is that it is one of the conservatory styles that is most like an existing room space.  This may seem like an unusual accolade to receive, but when you consider its merits you can appreciate what is being said.

Edwardian conservatories are unpretentious in style, and because of this they are able to make more use of space than other conservatories fashioned differently, that perhaps put more store in looks over substance.

A typical conservatory of the Edwardian period is square and flat in their plan shape and they have a flat frontage also.  This seeming lack of artistic vision in the design of the structure overlooks the fact that the best way to optimise your floor space is to have a regular and uncluttered space, without any fancy corners removed that may look well, but cost the homeowner dearly when it comes to furniture placement.

Because of their excellent use of floor space, the use if one of these conservatories is an excellent idea if you do not have a very large garden and wish to minimise the amount of floor space or garden / patio space you take over with your new extension.

Edwardian conservatory prices are all of the more competitive also due to the fact that there are few frills involved in a conservatory of Edwardian design.  If you want a conservatory with trim and heavy décor then you would be better off to consider purchasing a Victorian style structure, as it was during this architectural period that ornate design was in fashion.

Due to its straightforward floor plan and design an Edwardian style conservatory is very adaptable and can be used for almost any home function ranging from a dining room, to living room to a playroom or office.

To advance the description of Edwardian conservatories somewhat we should mention here the existence of what are called Edwardian double-hipped conservatories.  These are of the same structure and layout as  regular Edwardian sunrooms or conservatories, with the only difference being in the conservatory roofs.  If you have a situation where a residence has windows at a height, which would be compromised by the presence of a conservatory, then you can build a structure with a double-hipped roof.  This means that while a regular Edwardian conservatory roof slopes upwards to the residence, in this case the roof is sloping downwards again at the rear and in this way it lowers the point where the conservatory is connected to the residence.

An Edwardian conservatory is accepted as being stylish and yet unpretentious and is a very practical addition to any home.  Timber conservatories were the most common types of conservatories in the past, but now you can build a aluminium, timber or uPVC conservatory in the Edwardian style, depending on your preference.  If understated elegance is your thing, then you could do a lot worse then choose this style of conservatory for your extension needs.

When it comes to selecting the type of conservatory that you want to have built onto your home, it is hard to beat the natural look of a wooden conservatory.  Wooden conservatories are a reminder of a bygone age, when most building were built of timber or were timber framed.  When you consider that you can still see many fine examples of these buildings, you realise that a properly constructed timber structure is something that will last for a very long time.

A wooden conservatory can be used as an additional living space for the home or may be used in its more traditional sense, that being a place to propagate plants and to protect them against harsh weather conditions.  There are many different styles of conservatories available in timber from the traditional Victorian type to wooden lean to conservatories and the selection of one of these types is a matter of personal taste.

A quality conservatory made of timber has various advantages over conservatories made of PVC or aluminium.  Timber is a natural product that always looks well and has a very distinctive feel.  You can always add detail to a timber conservatory such as carvings and wood panels that will further enhance the look of your conservatory.

Timber is a renewable material, which makes it different again to uPVC and aluminium and the process involved in getting timber ready for use in a conservatory is much more natural than those for the other two materials.

If the timber comes from a managed forest resource, then usage of the timber for building will not damage the environment. In fact the opposite is true, the more properly managed  forest there are on the planet, the more active will be the production of oxygen.

There are several types of timber that are most popular for using in the construction of conservatories.

• European Oak is grown in Britain and Ireland and throughout East Europe.  This was a very popular timber in earlier times due to its strength and durability.
• Meranti is a timber grown in Asia and especially in Malaysia and Indonesia.  It is again a durable timber.
• Sapele is a timber grown mainly in Ghana in Africa.
• Idigbo is a fast growing durable timber which is grown in West Africa.
• Western Red Cedar is a softer timber which is mainly sourced in North America and Canada and this timber has is moderately durable.
• Finally Scots pine is a very popular timber in Ireland, Britain and across Europe but is has a low durability.

Timbers with lower durability can be used for constructing a conservatory but these timbers will require higher maintenance and the application of stains or micro porous paints at intervals.

Decorating timber conservatories can be a pleasure and you have the option of using such blinds as coloured or white wooden blinds to match with the timber in the structure.

If you want to research wooden conservatories, a great place to start is on the internet.  If you want to narrow down a search, include your country location.  For example if in Britain you could search under ‘wooden conservatories UK’. And remember a  quality timber conservatory, which is finished to a high standard and perhaps furnished with attractive wooden conservatory furniture is hard to beat for beauty and also for living comfort.

The lean-to conservatories ares recognised under several different names, with sun lounges, Mediterranean style, garden room and sunroom conservatories all coming under the banner of the ever popular lean to conservatory.  There are various reasons why they are so in demand in the market place.  When it comes to conservatory prices, these structures can be very competitive, but practicality and versatility also come into play when homeowners favour the erection of lean to conservatories on their property.

Lean To Conservatory

In these present, economically challenging times, properties are not selling readily on the market for the prices that homeowners are expecting.  More and more of these owners have decided to take their house off the market and to renovate and refurbish it instead.  One of the main cost effective ways of extending a home is to consider erecting a conservatory, as per square foot they offer much better value than traditional bricks and mortar construction.

Lean to conservatories comprise no-nonsense constructions that have a regular rectangular shape and an appearance that is utilitarian and not fussy.  If you want a structure that is heavy with ornate trimmings, then you might be better to consider a Victorian conservatory.  That is not to say that you cannot add some decorative touches to a standard lean-to type of sunroom, in order to give it a more completed look.

Its rectangular floor is similar to that of an Edwardian conservatory and allows excellent use of floor space in these lean to structures and the fact that they are constructed with a single pitch conservatory roof means that they are not complicated to assemble and erect.  The simplicity in roof design means that a lean to sunroom can go in places that height restrictions would prohibit the erection of other types of conservatories.

A lean to conservatory is highly adaptable and can be used for many different functions within the home – including as an extra living area, a dining room, office, study or play area for children.  If you are considering constructing a DIY conservatory in order to save money, than a lean to type sunroom is one of the easiest structures to tackle.

Spacious Lean To Conservatories

Conservatories were once structures that were only used when the weather conditions were temperate and favourable, but improvements in production technology in recent years has meant much better temperature control is available in these buildings now with both extremes of hot and cold weather being able to be counteracted by the use of such products as uPVC and double glazing.  Quality uPVC conservatories and timber conservatories are used on a continuous year-round basis and as more mainstream accommodation for the home.

Lean to sunrooms were always one of the most popular conservatories and given recent sale trends of this particular style of extension, that popularity is showing little sign of changing.  Many keen gardeners construct a lean to greenhouse as an economical way to build a home for their plants.  If you want to look up lean to conservatories with regard to the country you are living in , you can narrow your search by searching under ‘lean to conservatories uk’, if you are living in the United Kingdom for example.

If you are thinking about purchasing a uPVC conservatory for your home, then you will want to read this article.  We will discuss factors that you should bear in mind when you are considering purchasing one of these structures, what to do before you commence work and how to blend your new sunroom into your existing home.  After reading this article, you will have a better idea of some of the issues that might arise when you go to build a conservatory.

•    When you are thinking about purchasing a uPVC conservatory, base your measurements on the internal measurements of the building  when you are looking at the manufacturers specifications.  Many purchasers only see the first measurements they come across and as the manufacturers are in the business of making their products seem as attractive as possible, they will usually highlight the external measurements.  Remember there could be a shortfall of around 12% of floorspace if you calculate on the external measurements.

•    We seem to say this a lot, but it does bear repeating – the cheapest PVC conservatories are not usually the best ones, in fact they rarely ever are.  If you get a quote for a sunroom or solarium that seems too good to be true, then it probably is.  There are different levels of quality available for PVCu conservatories, as with most other products on the market.  If you simply want to use your sunroom during the pleasant months of the year, and as a stand-alone structure, perhaps an inferior quality conservatory will work for you. 

But remember, if you are expecting your new extension to become an integral part of your residence, you will have to be prepared to build it to a standard of quality that befits the rest of your home.  Otherwise, the poor insulation, poor building quality and inferior finish of your conservatory will affect the insulation and thermal capacity of the entire residence. 

Conservatory prices can vary a lot but so can the quality of the building being produced.  Get a double glazing quote that fits your budget but that will also provide your conservatory with good quality glazing.  uPVC double glazing appears to be the mopst popular type of glazing on the market worldwide, but conservatories can be obviously constructed of materials such as timber or aluminum also.

•    We seem to bring up this point a lot also, but if we save one person the expense and annoyance of not having to pay a fine, or worse, because they did not have planning permission for their PVC conservatory, then it will be worth it.  You may not need planning permission to build an extension onto your residence, especially if you are going to build onto the back of the home  (out of sight from the public road). However this will depend on your local planning authorities policies and guidelines.  These are not difficult to find out.  Visit their website, or call in to your local planning office.  Write and ask for their opinion and if you get a favorable answer, keep a copy of the reply, (just in case).
•    uPVC  conservatories should compliment the residence they are attached to as much as possible.  Perhaps this cohesion may be in the style of the conservatory, (maybe it is a Victorian or an Edwardian conservatory, etc).  Alternatively, it may be the simple matching of brick-work in the dwarf wall that ties in your new structure to your existing home.  One of the best compliments you will get is when someone comments that your new extension looks as if it was always there.  Timber conservatories are sometimes preferred by planning authorities in areas where buildings may be listed or protected, but this is an issue that has to be  checked on a case by case basis.
•    If you are running central heating pipes in your new sunroom, make sure that they are ducted and easily accessible, in the event of a leak or a pressure drop in the system at some stage in the future.  Many owners of conservatories have rued the day they simply laid the heating pipes in concrete without ducting them first.  It may have seemed like a quick and good idea at the time, but if your system does develop a pin-prick leak, you may well have to start digging.

There are many benificial reasons to build a sunroom and in the present market, there are opportunities to purchase quality uPVC conservatories at very good vlaue.

Selecting a conservatory for your home should be all about you.  There is a variety of different types and styles of timber and uPVC conservatories on the market, some of which we described in ‘Selecting A Conservatory Style – Part 1‘.

Here are more of the most popular types and styles of conservatories people favour today, whether they select to build a bespoke sunroom or a sunroom that they select in a conservatories sale.

Pavilion Conservatories
The pavilion conservatory has three sides and a square or rectangular footprint.  It can also be called a gable or gable fronted conservatory. It is a simply designed structure, which most normally projects from the house at right angles.  The roof slopes at each side to a central ridge point which, when it comes to the outer side of the conservatory, it leaves a side that is similar in appearance to the gable of a house, with a vertical instead of a sloping conservatory roof.

Good use of floor space, generous ceiling height and excellent light capacity due to the large glass area to the front are features of a pavilion conservatory.  These conservatories can give a great sense of presence to a home.

Orangeries - The Ultimate In Conservatory Luxury. Image courtesy of www.marston-and-langinger.com

Gull Wing Conservatories
The gull wing style of conservatory has 3 sections normally to the front, (a centre flat section and an angled section on each side).  The centre section can be stretched to suit the size of conservatory you require.

This type is also known as a stretched front Victorian conservatory and the fact that the Victorian style is often evident in these conservatories gives them an attraction.  Also the angled corners can give a softer look to gull wing conservatories as opposed to lean-to conservatories.

P-Shaped, T-Shaped, B-Shaped and L-Shaped Conservatories
With some conservatory manufacturers you would be forgiven for thinking that there was a spelling competition in progress at times.  Simply put, the letter used to denote the type of conservatory, indicates the shape of the floor area, hence a P-shaped conservatory has a floor area shaped like the letter P, etc.

You can have a Victorian P-shaped conservatory or an Edwardian T-Shaped conservatory and so on. Other names to describe these types of conservatories would be ‘link’ or ‘combination’ conservatories.

The advantage of these types of conservatories is that they can be combined to suit your individual needs.  For example a P-shaped conservatory could consist of a lean-to conservatory with a Victorian conservatory appendage which gives you the utilitarian advantages of the lean-to section coupled with the decorative look and ornate features that the Victorian portion would bring.

Lantern Roof Conservatories.
A lantern roof conservatory adds a finish to a large conservatory.  It comprises a second roof as such, set up into the first roof, with the two roofs being separated by a row of windows.

The advantage of such a feature is that it gives height to a conservatory and allows in extra light and can let in extra ventilation also if this is incorporated into the design.

Orangeries
Orangeries are not conservatories as such, but in the present day, the name is used to evoke a type of traditional conservatory that would be from the lean-to family of design.

Bespoke Conservatories
Do not get confused. When a conservatory manufacturer tells you that you can have a bespoke conservatory, it really means that you can have whatever design you would like for your own conservatory, but if it is outside of the conservatory templates that they have in stock, then you will pay, possibly quite a lot more, for the pleasure.

This is a nice alternative to be able to have designed for your home.  Your individual tastes will be accommodated with regard to all of the design features you would like to see incorporated into your conservatory.

Hopefully these short description of the different types and styles of conservatories are of help to you in choosing the type of conservatory you might like.  You might find some more useful ideas regarding conservatories at ‘A Dozen Conservatory Tips – Part 1‘ and ‘A Dozen Conservatory Tips – Part 2‘.

Edwardian Conservatories. Image courtesy of www.suffolkconservatories.co.uk

Old Victorian Conservatories. Image courtesy of www.oakconservatories.co.uk

Victorian Style Conservatories - Interior. Image courtesy of www.pshomeimprovements.co.uk

Edwardian Conservatories. Image courtesy of www.conservatorydesign.co.uk

There are many different types of conservatories on the market today.  For a description of Victorian conservatories , Edwardian conservatories and other popular styles of conservatories, have a look at ‘Selecting A Conservatory Style‘.

Selecting a conservatory for your home should be all about you.  There is a variety of different types and styles of conservatories on the market, and by the time you add in the various construction materials that can be used, the myriad of colours that can be incorporated into the conservatory blinds, fabrics and furniture and all of the other variables involved, the conservatory you end up with on your property can be as individual as you would like it to be.

So what type of conservatory do you think that you would like.  What type of home do you live in? – is it a period or period-style property? What is your homes’ topographical aspect?  If you want your conservatory to be on the sunny facing side of the residence, then depending on whether that is the front, rear or side of the house, this may dictate a certain style of conservatory to you.   Is your home single story or a bungalow type dwelling? – there are conservatories to suit all types and it will often come down to a personal preference.  Whether you decide to build a bespoke conservatory or to purchase a sunroom at a knock down price in a conservatories sale these are all questions you will want to answer.

Below we have compiled a list of the most common types of conservatories as a launching pad for you to start considering which type of conservatory may suit you.

The Pleasure Of Eating In Conservatories - image courtesy of www.tanglewoodconseratories.com

Victorian Conservatories
These are probably one of the most popular and most versatile types of conservatories. It normally has three, or maybe, but less common, five facets (sides) at the front, a bit like a curved bay window and it has a steeply pitched roof and ornate ridge details.

One advantage of a Victorian conservatory (see image) is that the front facets give it a rounded, softer appearance and it can work equally well in a large garden or in a smaller garden or patio where space may be an issue. This attribute is what makes it one of the most frequently seen conservatories. It can also work well in a corner position of a residence, again because the rounded front helps diffuse sharp angles.

Edwardian Conservatories
Edwardian conservatories, (a.k.a. Regency and Georgian conservatories), are similar in style and ornate design to Victorian conservatories, except that they are rectangular in shape, which gives them a strong clean shape, as was preferred in the Edwardian era. The rectangular shape gives Edwardian conservatories (see image) an advantage over Victorian conservatories, with regard to better use of floor space. Confusion can arise when one removes the corner of an Edwardian conservatory to give it a Victorian look.

Victorian & Edwardian Double Hipped Conservatories are similar in style and have the same features and advantages as normal Victorian or Edwardian conservatories. The difference is to be found in the roof design of a double hippd conservatory, where in addition to being sloped at the sides, it  is also sloped at the rear.  This allows it to be incorporated into a building where a standard conservatory would have height restrictions.

Lean-to Conservatories
A Lean-to conservatory is a very uninspiring name and one  that for me evokes visions of a cattle shed rather than a conservatory style, but thankfully when your friends do ask, you can describe it as a Mediterranean style or a garden room conservatory instead.  Sunroom conservatories and sun lounges also come under the  heading lean to conservatory.

The style  of the lean to conservatory is timeless and unfussy, rectangular or square in shape and with a single roof pitch. It has been a popular style since conservatories started being used and is very used still to the present day. Decorative detail can be added to give a more substantial appearance. The lean to conservatory, due to its simple nature, is very flexible and has a modern feel. It can be used in most any situation and makes very good use of ground space.  One additional feature of this type of conservatory is that it is cost effective to build.

For more conservatory styles and types, have a look at our follow on article, ‘Selecting A Conservatory – Part 2‘.