Choosing the right conservatory for your home

It's a well-known fact that adding a conservatory to your home can dramatically increase its value. However, when it comes to selecting just the right add-on, the whole process can feel a bit daunting. Follow these simple steps to get the conservatory that you've been dreaming of.

Think about how you'll use your conservatory

In order to narrow down the options and installers, think about how you plan to use your conservatory. Are you looking for an occasional sunroom or additional year-round living space? Do you want a large room for entertaining, or a small, quiet room for working, relaxing or pursuing a hobby?

Get inspiration from the internet, from conservatories attached to homes like yours, from friends and neighbours, or from home design magazines. You can also send off for brochures from several different manufacturers to get a sense of what's available.

If you prefer a more bespoke option, you may want to consult with an architect to discuss your project.

Decide on materials

Today's conservatories are mainly built from one of three different materials:

1.       PVCu: This is the most popular – and most affordable – building option for conservatories. PVCu is a good-quality, highly insulate material that's relatively low-maintenance and easy to care for. You can choose from white or faux wood grain colours to customise the look. PVCu is typically recommended for newer homes as it doesn't go well with the traditional style of older or historic homes, listed buildings or those located in conservation areas.

2.       Hardwood: Older buildings benefit from the traditional look and flexible style of hardwood conservatories. If budget allows, hardwood is a great option for bespoke conservatories. You'll have to spend some time on maintenance to keep a hardwood conservatory looking its best, but painted finishes or stains make the process a bit easier.

3.       Aluminium: Similar to PVCu, aluminium is stronger but also pricier and doesn't insulate as well. If you need a strong frame that will stand up to the elements, aluminium is the best choice. Some builders also offer an aluminium roof on a PVCu structure, with conservatory ceiling insulation added to improve temperature regulation and energy efficiency.

Questions to ask your conservatory builder or manufacturer

When you're ready to build, bring a list of questions to the conservatory showroom to help make sure that you understand what to expect from the process, from start to finish:

1.       How much will the temperature inside the conservatory vary from season to season?

2.       What options do they offer for temperature regulation? Do they recommend that you insulate conservatory roof areas?

3.       What can you expect from the construction process? Do they employ a project manager to guide you through?

4.       Do they have proper certification and reliable suppliers?

5.       Can you see examples of other conservatories that they've built or speak with previous customers?

The more time you spend planning your new conservatory, the better equipped you'll be to enjoy it fully.

Conservatory ceiling insulation and other upgrades to consider for 2018

Many people that we hear from have 30 to 40-year-old conservatoriesthat are in desperate need of an upgrade. If you're longing for a conservatory like the oneyou imagined when you bought your home – a usable and comfortable living space to enjoy with family and friends – we've got some suggestions that will help bring your conservatory into the 21st century.

New glass

Today's conservatory glass is much less susceptible to temperature extremes than older glass. Specially formulated microscopic coatings help to deflect heat in the summer and retain heat during the winter months. This technology wasn't available even tenyears ago, so if your conservatory is older, it could be time for an upgrade. Replacing aged conservatory glass with new glass means more even temperatures inside your conservatory for a space that's liveable all through the year.

Fresh look

Back when conservatories were at their peak – more than 10,000 were constructed in 1976 alone – most were simply glass boxes attached to the back of the house, with a basic white or aluminium frame. However,tastes have changed, and now it's preferred to have a conservatory that feels more like an extension of the home.

Start by painting outdated trim in a more contemporary, on-trend colour so that it more closely matches the rest of your house. You might also install bricks at the dwarf walls around the perimeter of the conservatory so that it blends with the exterior. Consider replacing corner posts in an all-glass conservatory with pillars to give the space a more permanent, elegant look.

More permanent flooring, such ascarpet or hardwood, can instantly update the look of your conservatory. A lovely hardwood or chic carpet not only adds comfort and style but also brings the conservatory more in line with the rest of your home so that it doesn't seem such a bolt-on.

Insulation

If you want your conservatory to feel more like an extra room in your home, you may want to think about treating it like the rest of your home.

Dwarf walls around the perimeter of your conservatory can be insulated to protect against heat loss in the winter, making the space more comfortable in the colder months. Insulated flooring will do the same, helping to warm the room and hold in heat when temperatures drop.

The most effective way to update your room is to insulate conservatory ceiling spaces. Glass ceilings are a traditional choice that can still be found on many older conservatories, but too much glass can make your space unliveable. Beating sun in summer, freezing cold draughts in winter and too much noise on rainy days are all common complaints. Conservatory ceiling insulation can change all that!

An insulated conservatory ceiling gives you the best of both worlds: the comfort and energy efficiency of a real room with the openness and views of a classic conservatory.

Is your conservatory 2 hot 2 handle? We can help!

We get so many calls for help from customers who are simply fed up with the sweltering temperatures inside their conservatories during the summer months. All that glass, with the sun beating down – it's no wonder that many of us treat our conservatories as glorified storage spaces. You can't really use them as additional living space, can you?

You may be surprised to learn that it’s possible to have a conservatory that's lovely and comfortable all year round, warm in the winter and cool in the summer – the perfect place to gather with friends and loved ones or to enjoy a good book and a garden view.

If you have a conservatory that’s too hot to handle, these tips may help to keep yours cool.

Conservatory blinds or awnings

Conservatory blinds are typically installed on the interior windows to help block out sunlight, whilst awnings are installed on the conservatory exterior to help shade windows from direct rays. Conservatory blinds and awnings come in a range of styles and colours, so they can be matched to suit your décor.They provide some privacy and can even help protect your flooring and furniture from fading due to prolonged sun exposure.

As for cooling in the summer months, however, blinds or awnings will only provide minimal relief. They certainly help reduce glare and block out direct sunlight, but they do not allow for the release of heat or air circulation that will help cool the space.

Window film

Conservatory window film is a fairly affordable way to help keep your conservatory cooler in summer. These adhesive films cling to windows, helping to block out UV rays and reflecting heat away so that your conservatory won't get as hot as it would if the windows were unprotected. If you have a supplemental cooling system, window films can help air conditioning work more effectively for lower running costs.

Air conditioning

If you've got the budget for it, an air conditioning unit installed in your conservatory is perhaps the most effective way to ensure a cool room. However, glass is still a poor insulator, and even with a top-of-the-line system, you won't get the best performance unless your conservatory is properly insulated.

Conservatory roof insulation can dramatically improve the efficiency and function of air conditioning by reducing the amount of heat that enters the conservatory in the first place and preventing the escape of cool air. Your conservatory will be more comfortable and usable year-round, and your utility costs willbe much lower.

Conservatory ceiling insulation

By far the most beneficial improvement that you can make, conservatory ceiling insulation ensures maximum comfort all year long. On its own, an insulated roof blocks heat, helps cool air to circulate, and cuts down on the direct sunlight beating into the room. When used in conjunction with another cooling method, you get a conservatory that you can use comfortably all summer.

Install Insulate your conservatory: a warmer space can be yours!

A frigid conservatory is not our idea of a good time. Unfortunately, this is why many of us simply shut our conservatories in winter – it's far easier to block off the room from the rest of the house than to try to accomplish the impossible task of keeping the space warm when temperatures drop. If you're tired of having a conservatory that you can't use, especially on those long winter nights, we have some tips that can help.

Check your windows

Glass is a poor insulator, so even if your windows are double or triple glazed, there's no guarantee that they'll keep out chilly winter draughts or hold in heat. Before temperatures plummet, check the window glazing to be sure that it's in good condition. Repair cracks and plug up any noticeable gaps, this will help to maintain a more consistent temperature throughout the conservatory.

If your room has a glass roof, you may also want to consider the benefits of hiring a professional to insulate conservatory ceiling areas. This will prevent rising heat from escaping, allowing it to circulate back down into the conservatory for a more usable space.

Install underfloor heating

More effective than a space heater and more practical than hoping that the heat from the rest of your home will somehow find its way into the conservatory, underfloor heating can be a safe and beneficial way to make your space more comfortable in cold weather.

Underfloor heating systems typically employ a network of thin pipes that are installed beneath the floor. Water flows through the pipes and is warmed by the system, radiating heat that is spread evenly throughout the room. These systems should always be installed by a qualified electrician to ensure safety and proper function.

Electric space heaters

If your budget won't allow for a comprehensive conservatory heating system, you can still make the space a bit more comfortable with an electric heater. There are many different models and outputs from which to choose.

Electric heaters can be somewhat effective in a conservatory, but you'd do well to keep these important safety tips in mind:

·         Don't ever leave a space heater unattended – when you leave the room, turn it off.

·         Keep curtains, furniture, papers and other potentially flammable items away from the heater.

·         Choose a heater that's right for your room. If its output is too low, it will run longer without doing much to keep the room warm and you'll end up with a higher utility bill.

Insulate conservatory ceiling

The most efficient and cost-effective way to get a conservatory that you can use all year round is to insulate conservatory spaces. When you insulate a conservatory roof against the elements, you are left with a room that holds in heat during the colder months and prevents the heat loss that is so common in glass-roof conservatories. Your conservatory will be warm and cosy – perfect for family gatherings or a quiet night alone.