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.

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.

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‘.