There’s no denying that when you go into someone else’s home and you notice a conservatory, it instantly gives it the ‘wow’ factor. Now that summer is approaching, it tends to be the time many people start to think of innovative ways to transform the home – and a conservatory is usually one of the top options.
Conservatories are useful additions to the home, and also look visually appealing. They let you have that extra space in the home to relax, enjoy the weather, and admire the views of the garden from the comfort of your home without stepping outside.
You can also use a conservatory to act as an aesthetically pleasing additional room to the home. Perhaps a study, an extra lounge, a TV or playroom for the children, or even a place for gatherings.
With a wide range of conservatory types available, careful thought and planning can help you decide on the one that fits best with your home and suits the needs of everyone who will be using it.
Here are a few things you may wish to consider.
What will be its purpose in your home?
It’s worth asking yourself what you wish to use the conservatory for, and have a solid understanding of how you will benefit from having one before taking the first steps. Conservatories can be expensive, so there’s no point investing in one if you’re not going to use it very often.
You may decide it will be perfect for a storage room, or bright and airy office. Whichever route you go down, remember that they are made from glass, so consider security and ways to shielding your belongings. This means looking at whether you will choose to have blinds or shutters, or just to keep the window completely clear.
PVC, tile and glass composition
What your conservatory will be made from is another important factor. PVC is a popular one and is great if you’re on a budget as this tends to keep costs down slightly. Those who will spend a little more tend to opt for hardwood, and especially if you have a period home.
Then there are conservatory roofs to consider. A glass roof isn’t the only option available, although people tend to look at these first. You can actually get tiled roofs which are more secure, safe and sturdy, as well as providing quality insulation.
Have a think about the best one to suit you and your home. Tiled roofs are becoming much more popular, as they help with both glare and temperature control.
Check with neighbours
As conservatories tend to take up space in your garden and on your land, without coming up too high, they don’t tend to need planning permission. However, do the right thing and check with your neighbours first. It may be that it could cast shadow to their garden, and it’s best to cover this off before you begin.
Sunlight and positioning
The positioning of your conservatory is a really important factor to consider that people sometimes overlook. For example, if your conservatory is positioned in a north-facing direction, it will tend to be quite a cold space in the winter. Therefore the room will always need heating.
As for south-facing, your conservatory will lap up the midday sun. This is great for the summer, meaning it will be an ideal space to enjoy the heat. However, blinds and shutters would be appreciated as you’ll face a high amount of sun glare through the glass.
It also means that certain specifications of glazing are more appropriate than others because of the impact of solar heat gain from the sun.
What size would you go for?
It’s common that people make their conservatories too small, especially when budgeting. You want to make sure you’ll have enough space to enjoy it.
A good tip is that before you start to look at options out there, mark out your planned dimensions that you have in your living room, and assess what furniture etc fits in that specific room. Then, look at what will be able to fit into a conservatory that will possibly have smaller dimensions.
Find an approved installer
Finding the right company to install your new conservatory is vital for getting the best results. Research local businesses and read reviews before getting a range of quotes to make a comparison. Reputable conservatory installers will be happy to answer questions and show you previous successful installations. Check here to find approved installers for your conservatory project.
What glazing will you need?
The most popular and recommended form of glazing is double glazing. This tends to be the best due to using low emissivity (Low-E) glass, which can cut heat loss and also provide sound diffusion from the outside.
However, it is an option to consider solar panels too, so have a look at the full list of options and assess what will work for your home.
The added value to your home
When you ask the majority of people why they opted to have a conservatory at home, most will say that one of the key reasons was due to value it will add to their home. If this is important to you, then it could be worth asking three estate agents to come to your home before you start the work. It may be that other additions, such as another bedroom or full extension, would be better in terms of adding value.
Overall, adding a conservatory to your existing property is quite a vital thing to consider and may require you to think and discuss many elements before starting the project. It has to suit the taste of every member of your family and should cater to a range of needs.
If you ensure you fully research beforehand and look into every area involved, you should be on your way to owning a conservatory that is going to add value to not just your home, but your life too.
Image credit: Pixabay
