Conservatories For All

If you are giving thought to building a conservatory onto your home, whether you intend to build you own conservatory or get a builder to construct it for you, it certainly will pay you to plan thoroughly before you commence to build, or to even commit to a purchase.  There are many aspects to a conservatory structure that need consideration.  The size shape and style of the sunroom you choose will all depend on your individual needs and desires.  One of the aspects of sunrooms that require special thought are conservatory roofs.

There are several reasons why choosing the correct conservatory roof is important and most of them are weather related.  No matter whether you live in a location that gets a lot of rain or one that gets plenty of sunshine, your conservatory roof will have to be up to its job if you are to have a comfortable living extension.

In actual fact most locations get a mixture of all types of weather, so your roof has to be able to withstand huge variations in temperature as well as heavy rain, frost, snow and plenty of hot sunshine during the summer months.

There are various types of roofs available for conservatories.  You can build a solid roofed structure if you wish – that would be a structure with glazed sidewalls and a slated or felted roof.  This is sometimes more appealing to homeowners that like to feel that they are sitting in a more solid structure, especially in the wintertime.  In this regard a conservatory with such a roof will appear more like a traditional extension and if constructed to a high standard and with proper guttering should cause no problems with regard to weather.

Conservatories that have glazed roofs require a different approach.  The advantage to these buildings is that they allow in tremendous amounts of light in both winter and summer and give the occupant the feeling of being in an outdoor room and closer to nature.  However planning for such a roof will need special care and attention as these roofs need to firstly be properly sealed so that they do not leak and secondly be constructed of materials that will provide protection to the inhabitants from the sun’s rays.

U.V. rays from the sun can be very damaging to both humans and to furniture if they are exposed to them for long periods.  By not having proper roofing materials that reflect the sun’s rays will also mean that the heat levels in a conservatory can build up to uncomfortable or even unbearable levels on hot days.  Homeowners that build conservatories do not want them to be unusable due to excessive heat on the best days of the summer.  A roof such as a polycarbonate conservatory roof is built to ensure the proper protection from the sun and even though roofs such as these may come at a higher price than ordinary glazed roofs, they will help protect humans from excessive exposure to harmful sunlight.

There are also solutions available to homeowners who have conservatories that were built without the benefit of such products as polycarbonate roofing.  Products such as conservatory roof insets are available and consist of inserts that can be fitted into existing roof panels to protect the conservatory interior from glare, heat and harmful rays.

What style you might select for your conservatory and its roof may depend on several factors.  If you have a home built during a certain period, you may decide to extend this style to your conservatory and you may choose a Victorian or Edwardian conservatory type.  However if you are working from a tight budget, you may elect to go for one of the lean to conservatories on the market, which are recognised to be of the most cost competitive sunroom types available.

In addition to erecting a quality roof with protective glazing a homeowner may choose to add further protection in the form of conservatory roof blinds.  Even the best roofing glazing cannot keep light from a room and there are times that you might like the daylight in your conservatory to be muted.  In addition to allowing better light control, proper blinds will also help to provide further protection against UV rays.  By entering such terms as ‘blinds conservatory ‘ into a search engine, you can get excellent advice on what types of blinds are best suited to the style of conservatory roof you have.

Conservatory roofs are perhaps the most important part of any sunroom structure, whether you are building a simple lean to greenhouse or a much more elaborate structure .  When you sit down to plan your sunroom, ensure that you are aware of all of the roofing options available to you.  Conservatories prices vary and be prepared to pay for quality roofing materials because materials that appear to be excellent value today may simply not perform well when they are installed in your roof.

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.

There are various reasons why homeowners who have a conservatory built onto their home would want to consider fitting conservatory roof blinds.  Both window and roof blinds give conservatories a completed appearance, and when decorating conservatories blinds will transform structures from newly built, unfinished rooms into comfortable living areas.  Conservatory blinds offer excellent protection to furniture and other belongings from the glare of the sun. Window blinds in particular are also good at helping to protect a homeowner’s privacy, if the conservatory is overlooked by other properties.  But one of the main reasons for fitting conservatory roof blinds in particular, is to help stop the interior of the conservatory suffering from extreme temperature fluctuations.

People that do not have a conservatory onto their home perhaps find it hard to imagine how the temperature values can fluctuate so much during a 24-hour period.  Consider the fact that the majority of the walls and roof of a conservatory comprise of glazing of some kind.  As we know in a normal home, up to 80% of the heat can be lost through the windows if it is unchecked, so just imagine what this would mean to a conservatory.  Conversely, unless action is taken such to stop the heat and glare from the sun from entering into a conservatory during the hottest part of the day, heat levels can build up to unbearable levels quite quickly.

Quality Conservatory Roof Blinds.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to meet homeowners who paid very good money to have the conservatory they always wanted constructed onto their home, but due to inadequate protection to prevent excessive temperature fluctuations, they find that they have to limit the hours they can spend in the structure.  Their dream of having a sunroom that they would be able to use year round and in all types of weather simply has not worked out for them.  However, with the fitting of conservatory roof blinds in particular, this situation can be dramatically improved.

Finding proper blinds for sale that suit your conservatory can be a challenge as it is more difficult to get roof blinds to fit properly than window blinds.  For example it is much easier to find white Venetian blinds for your windows than to fnd a roof blind that compliments it.  This is due to the fact that roof windows are often wedge-shaped and also because gravity presents a challenge to ensure that the blinds do not droop or sag when fitted.   Unless a blind is very well fitted, heat that builds up between the glazing and the blind will be able to escape through the gaps around the blind and enter into the living area.  Solar blinds, which are a specialist blinds for conservatory roofs, are available, but the purchase price may be prohibitive.

Examples of popular styles of blinds that can be used for roofs would be conservatory roof roller blinds, which are operated by using a pulley system, are easy to install and do an excellent job in blocking out the glare from the sun and pleated blinds which are harder to fit but offer excellent protection from glare. Another types of popular blinds include pleated blinds and pinoleum blinds, which comprise wood slats which are constructed in a colonial style. If you are confident at home improvement tasks, DIY conservatory roof blinds can certainly save you money.

Roof blinds for conservatories alone are not the answer to all of the problems that may arise with regard to temperature fluctuation in a conservatory.  Other solutions include window blinds, roof vents, solar insets, a glazing window film that can be applied to the interior of the glazing, air conditioning and more.  However, given that the sun is directly above a conservatory roof during the hottest hours of the hottest days of a summer, there is no doubt that conservatory roof blinds have a major part to play in helping make your conservatory a comfortable living area.

Whether you undertake to build your own conservatory or to purchase one from a supplier, you want it to be constructed to a high standard for your own living comfort.  One of the most important parts of any conservatory or solarium is the conservatory roof.  This is because the roof will be facing full into the extreme heat of the sun’s rays in those hottest of months.  This is when you will most want your conservatory, and this unfortunately is also when a lot of homeowners find that their conservatory is too hot and stuffy for them to enjoy properly.

There are many products used to construct conservatory roofs and in many cases it comes down to what you are willing to pay for materials, be they uPVC, glazing or metal roofing materials.  Actual erection costs of a roof structure should not vary too much, so if you want a conservatory roof that repels the sun’s rays and thereby helps to keep you cooler, then you will have to consider good quality materials.

A Quality Conservatory Roof.

Many homeowners choose a material called polycarbonate to glaze roofs for conservatories , mainly because it offers a good compromise between heat reflective capabilities and cost competitiveness. Recent improvements in the production technology have produced a product called Heatguard polycarbonate and this involves putting a reflective coat on the polycarbonate, which allows for the deflection of the radiation from the sun with excellent results.

In older times all roofs for conservatories were constructed from glass.  In actual fact glass is an excellent form of glazing as it offers much better soundproofing than polycarbonate glazing and also has better insulation properties.  Again, more modern production capabilities with regard to conservatory roofing can produce such products as a solar control glass roof, which helps to keep the conservatories cooler, can come with self or easy-clean glass coatings and has the ability to reflect solar radiation.

There are various other ways of cutting down on glare and heat gain in your conservatory through your roof.  One way is to install specialist conservatory roof blinds such as solar blinds inside the glazed roof area.  Another is to install solar inserts, (these are only available for polycarbonate roofs) and yet a different option is to apply a reflective roof film to the inside of the glass or polycarbonate.  These roof films give excellent results in that they can stop over 75% of the glare and heat from the sun and over 95% of the UV rays from entering through conservatory roofs.

In addition to the above, ensure that your conservatory roof has adequate and easy to operate roof vents that allow you to regulate airflow to the conservatory.  With proper glazing in your roof and quality roof ventilation you will be well on your way to having a conservatory that will give you year round 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.

Choosing the correct conservatory blinds for sale that will suit you home is very important, as quality blinds offer protection from the heat and rays of the sun.  This guards both the occupant and the furnishings of the conservatory from the damage that excessive sun can cause and from the glare of harsh sunlight.  Options such as blackout roller blinds will be able to provide your room with complete protection from light infiltration if that is what you wish for.  Conservatory blinds also decorate the living space and can add to the style and décor theme of the room.

Conservatories can differ from the other rooms of the home as, in addition to  fitting blinds to the windows, you may have to deal with a glass / perspex ceiling also.  Whether you require blinds for just the windows or perhaps you also require conservatory roof blinds for your conservatory roof, there is no doubt that once your blinds are selected and fitted, you will not want to have to change them again in the short or medium term.  For this reason you should select your conservatory blinds with care.

For health reasons it is important to have a quality conservatory blind.  Some homeowners install glazing that is coated to protect from harmful UV rays, but it is best to back this protection up with a blind that will further block these rays.  This will give you and your family peace of mind if you are living in the conservatory for long periods, especially during the summer time.

Conversely, a quality blind will also help retain the heat in your sunroom during the winter months.  This can be very helpful if you want to use the area as an all year round living space and not just a s a summer room.   A blind that has good reflective properties will assist the double-glazing of your sunroom to insulate your home and further reduce your heating bills.

Bottom up blinds are becoming very popular on the market as they allow for excellent light control in a conservatory and additional privacy if required.

If you are using the conservatory as a proper extension to the home, then it follows that you will have it furnished to the same high standard as the rest of the residence.  But whereas the other rooms of the home are not subjected to harsh sunlight, the furnishings in your sunroom will suffer and fade if they do not have adequate shade protection.  There are many different types and styles of window and roof blinds including roller, vertical, pinoleum and pleated blinds.  Which style you choose in many ways is a matter of personal choice.

Look for blinds that are dirt-resistant as blinds that get dusty will eventually become marked and stained.  Similarly it does pay to consider blinds that are moisture resistant, because as you know conservatories can attract moisture either through humidity or possibly leaks.  If  blinds become moisture stained they can lose their shape and become unsightly.  In many instances homeowners favour blinds such as white Venetian blinds for bathroom and kitchen areas, as aluminium Venetian blinds are good to repel moisture and white is a clean colour.

Above all, select blinds that are in keeping with the style of your conservatory and in keeping with the ambiance that you want to create in the room.  When decorating conservatories, designers will ask homeowners if they are using the conservatory as a casual living space for their family and pets, then and if so would probably select different a different style of conservatory blinds than if the family hope to use the space for more formal gatherings, such as a guest reception area.

If you would like to find out more about different types of conservatory window blinds and how to select a suitable blind for your conservatroy, you can read ‘Conservatory Blinds – Find Ones that you Will love!’.  If you live in a particular country and want to find out more online, why not search under a term such as ‘conservatory blinds UK’ for example,  and this will help narrow down your search somewhat.

If you are considering building a conservatory onto your home, then there are a variety of factors that you want to take into account.  When you are finished you want to have a quality conservatory that will bring a new dimension to your existing residence.  In order to do this homeowners have to plan ahead and make decisions with regard to the style and shape of the conservatories they want, the size they require and the materials that they want it to be made of.

Above all you need to choose a supplier and installer that is trustworthy and reliable.  The glazing that you select for your sunroom is also important and  you should get a double glazing quote for the structure that you propose to build.

In this article we will discuss these aspects of building conservatories and help you through the decision process.

One of the most important items that you have to consider when you are intending building a conservatory is whether or not you need planning permission.  As a rough guide you can look around at your neighbours and if some of them have a conservatory built onto their property, then the chances are that you will have no difficulties with the planning department.

Do not take anything for granted and it is also advisable that you do not leave this aspect of the project to your supplier / installer.  If you are in doubt about the necessity of getting planning, contact your local council and ask.

There are many different styles of conservatories, and Victorian Conservatories and lean to conservatories are just two types, albeit two of the most popular types on the market.  Each conservatory style has advantages that may suit your residence or way of living.  An Edwardian conservatory for example, makes better use of floor space than a Victorian conservatory.  You can consider the shape of the conservatory you desire under this heading also.

Conservatories come in many different sizes.  They can be added on to the rear of your residence, or may be wrapped around a corner to the side and rear of the home.  The size is whatever you want it to be, but obviously planning permission again raises its head.  The bigger the project you are contemplating the more likely it is that you will require planning.

You can construct a conservatory from many different materials.  Traditional types of conservatories were constructed from metal and timber and these products are still in use today, with a hardwood conservatory being a quality option, but in more recent times uPVC conservatories are more popular, due to their durability, thermal capacity and the fact that uPVC conservatories are relatively inexpensive to construct.

The materials that your conservatory and particularly your conservatory roof, is constructed from will be terribly important, as you will be hoping to be able to use the conservatory in the colder winter months and for this reason it will need to be properly insulated.

One of the most important factors that you have to get right is the choice of supplier and installer that you are going to select.  Ask any neighbours and friends that have and a conservatory added to there property if they would recommend their installer.  Create a short list of suppliers and installers that you have heard good reports about.

Go online and know your facts before you start dealing with conservatory salespeople. And do not rush into deciding who will get your business.  If you have building experience , or are a seasoned home improvement enthusiast, you may consider a DIY conservatory, however you really do need to have some idea of what you are about.

All of the above points are very relevant when you are considering building a conservatory.  There are plenty of self build conservatories out there if you are into home improvement and feel you have the ability to construct your own.  There are also many quality conservatories to be purchased – you just have to find the one that is suitable for your needs.

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‘.