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:
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:
The more time you spend planning your new conservatory, the better equipped you'll be to enjoy it fully.
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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. Conservatories look lovely but for many of us they're just not practical. Too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter and too noisy when it's raining. It's not uncommon for a conservatory to function merely as a nice-looking storage cupboard or a place to grow seedlings. If this sounds familiar, then it's high time to take back your conservatory, and we have just the solution.
Extreme temperatures By some estimates, a south-facing conservatory is only comfortably habitable for two hours a day – regardless of the season – unless you use some kind of artificial heating or cooling system. Even then, with a glazed roof, it can be very difficult to properly regulate the temperature. The truth is that both glass and polycarbonate are just not a good insulating materials. The laws of science tell us that warm air rises, which means that the majority of heat loss in a conservatory occurs through the roof. In winter, this leaves the space freezing and riddled with draughts, as any warm air moves up to the ceiling and is replaced by frigid air moving down to the floor. In the summer, the sun beats down on a conservatory roof and hot, stuffy air becomes trapped inside giving us that dreaded greenhouse effect. So, what's to be done? Conservatory roof insulation can dramatically improve the comfort and functionality of your conservatory, and there are plenty of options to choose from. Conservatory roof blinds Installing conservatory roof blinds makes it easier to control how much sunlight enters the room and can help prevent a small amount of heat loss in colder weather. Conservatory blinds are very decorative and are available in many different styles and materials but they are relatively expensive, as well as given less than optimum insulation. Solar film If you like the aesthetics of a glass conservatory ceiling, you might consider installing solar control film. These adhesive sheets fit over windows to help block selective wave lengths of the sunlight that makes your conservatory too hot but they won’t help when temperatures plummet. 19 layers used in the best Conservatory Roof Insulations Why is Conservatory roof insulation such an effective, cost-efficient solution for your conservatory? Multiple layers of aluminium foil and insulation material prevents heat from escaping in cold weather and both reflects it back out and prevents it from entering the conservatory in summer. A properly installed thermal ceiling will retain the unique lines and contours of your conservatory roof adding to its character and beauty whilst significantly adding to your comfort. 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. If you're lucky enough to have a conservatory, we think you should be able to use it all year round. Unwind with a good book in the winter, enjoy a garden view in the spring, listen to your favourite music in the autumn or entertain friends in the summer. Sound ideal? We agree. But with a glass or poly carbonate roof, you may never have a functional, comfortable conservatory.
It's time to use your conservatory for more than just storage. Read on for more information about how conservatory roof insulation can transform this space into the most favoured room in the house – all year round. Do you really need conservatory roof insulation? This is a valid question. Perhaps you're worried about the expense of hiring a professional to insulate your conservatory ceiling, or maybe you think insulating the roof will change the look and layout of your conservatory. Before making a decision, consider the following:
If you answered yes to any of these questions, conservatory roof insulation is the solution you have been looking for. How can an insulated conservatory roof help? There are significant benefits to conservatory roof insulation. First, you'll get immediate temperature regulation. Insulation prevents heat loss during the winter and in the summer. An insulated conservatory ceiling also means no more greenhouse effect when the sun beats down on the roof. You will have a comfortable, usable living space at any time of year. Conservatory roof insulation can help reduce your energy costs significantly. An insulated ceiling cuts down on drafts and maintains a more consistent temperature in the room, which means you will no longer need to adjust your thermostat to compensate for the conservatory’s effect on the rest of the house. Sound insulation is another key benefit. Ever try sitting in a glass roof conservatory on a rainy day? The sound of the rain pounding on the ceiling can be deafening. An insulated conservatory roof absorbs noise much better than glass, so you can enjoy your room no matter the weather. In terms of looks, an insulated conservatory roof makes the room feel like a true extension of your home. You can paint or plaster it, and the ceiling will be much easier to clean and maintain than a traditional glass roof. As you can see, it makes good sense to consider conservatory roof insulation. From cost savings to energy efficiency to aesthetics, there really is no comparison! |
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January 2018
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