Conservatories are a wonderful way to add extra living space and natural light to your home, among a plethora of other benefits. However, if you’re considering adding a conservatory to your home, there are a few things you need to consider before you start designing it.
In this article, we'll give you our top tips for choosing the perfect design for your needs. We'll cover everything from ventilation and space to materials and design details. So, whether you're looking for a traditional or contemporary conservatory, we've got you covered. Keep reading for our expert insight and guidance.
Why Have a Conservatory Installation?
If you’re looking for more from your existing property but also don’t want to make the large commitment of moving home completely, then adding a conservatory to your property is an excellent solution. But why?
Well, for starters,
conservatories offer you additional space in your home that can be utilised to suit your needs. For example, if you’re in need of extra living space, a playroom or even a family dining room, then a conservatory can easily be used for all of these purposes.
Compared to a traditional extension, conservatories are also cheaper to install. Of course, there are still certain factors that will affect its overall price, such as its size, materials and any special features, but overall they still tend to cost significantly less than an extension. Speaking of money, adding a conservatory to your home also increases its property value, should you consider selling in the future.
At the same time, they also offer some unique benefits, such as inviting more light into your home, seamlessly bridging the interior of your property to your garden and creating an overall peaceful ambience.
Ultimately, conservatories can be enjoyed all year round (thanks to modern thermal-efficient materials) - whether you want to bask in the sun in the summer months or feel connected to the outdoors in the winter months without being exposed to the chilly weather.
Key Considerations for Your Conservatory
Ventilation
Being made of glass, there are two key variables that need to be properly controlled when it comes to conservatories - temperature and moisture.
Conservatories can get extremely hot in the summer due to a lack of protection from the sun, whilst in the winter they can feel very cold due to the lack of insulation. As such, adequate ventilation is important, since it helps to regulate the temperature and maintain a comfortable environment.
As for moisture, windows are known to encounter condensation buildup. This is due to the temperature of the glass being cooler than the air, causing it to condense, which can go on to cause further issues such as mould growth. Ensuring proper ventilation is key for reducing the chances of condensation forming in your conservatory, as it removes moisture from the air before it can condense on cold surfaces.
Before having your conservatory installed, make sure that there will be adequate ventilation in place. This could be in the form of roof vents, trickle vents on windows and doors, ceiling fans or even an extractor fan.
Space
It’s important to think about both your existing space and your space requirements before having a conservatory installed. It’s all very well having visions for how you’ll use your conservatory space, but is the physical space you have available to build on large enough to meet these requirements?
Equally, don’t forget about the outdoor space that the conservatory will be taking up. Will you need to reimagine parts of your garden layout after your conservatory has been installed? If so, how do you plan on doing this and will it involve any additional costs?
This is a crucial consideration you don’t want to miss!
Materials
Whilst a lot of glass goes into the construction of a conservatory, this isn’t the only material that goes into its construction. There’s also the material used as the actual framing for the conservatory.
There are three materials that are traditionally used in conservatory frames. These are:
● uPVC
● Aluminium
● Timber
As such, you’ll want to think about which will be best for your conservatory. In order to do so, you’ll want to compare the three in terms of:
● Price
● Functionality
● Aesthetics
● Durability
Tips to Start Designing Your Conservatory
Purpose
When it comes to designing your conservatory, one of the first things you’ll want to consider is the purpose it will serve. For example, do you want it to work as a kitchen or dining room extension, or are you looking to create a leisurely sunroom?
Once you’ve decided what your conservatory will be used for, then it will be easier to design it according to the purpose it will serve. A kitchen, for example, will require an intuitive layout as well as plumbing and electrical work incorporated. Meanwhile, a sunroom can simply be designed as an open space, with there being more versatility in how furniture is arranged within it post-construction.
Design
There are various styles of conservatory that have been popular throughout the years - so much so that these conservatory designs have been named after the era their popularity is associated with. Some common styles of conservatory design include:
● Victorian - This style of conservatory is known for being elaborate and elegant. They tend to be semi-octagonal and feature ornate finials, pilistars and eaves.
● Georgian -
Georgian conservatories are typically symmetrical, being square or rectangular in shape, with flat fronts, a pitched roof and decorated glass panels.
● Edwardian -
Very similar to the Georgian design, Edwardian conservatories are also symmetrical and angular in shape, with high-pitched roofs. The main difference is that they tend to feature larger, clear panes of glass.
● Orangery - Whilst not technically the same as a conservatory, orangeries offer a similar aesthetic and purpose. They tend to involve more brickwork, yet still feature glass roofs and large window expanses.
● Lean-to - A more contemporary style of conservatory, lean-to designs are named as such because the roof pitches down from the wall of your existing property, giving the illusion of leaning against it.
Think about which style most speaks to your taste, as well as which perhaps suits your property the best!
Details
While the broader picture is important, it’s equally important to consider and plan the finer details of your conservatories design. Make sure to think about aspects such as:
● Lighting
● Socket placement
● Floorplan
● Furniture
● Temperature control
Planning the design of your conservatory with these things in mind can make your life much easier when it comes to decorating the interior of your conservatory after it’s been constructed.
Glass Conservatory Specialists
After taking all of these considerations into account, if you now feel ready to have a conservatory installed at your property, then we can help here at Grassmoor Glass.
We custom build and design each conservatory that we install, from the foundations to the door installation, working with you to ensure your personal preferences are taken into account throughout. The result? A conservatory that’s the perfect fit for you and your home.
If you’d like to discuss your requirements with us, then don’t hesitate to
get in touch with us today.
