WHAT KIND OF CONSERVATORY DO YOU NEED?
Before you start leafing through the glossy brochures there
are a few things you need to take into consideration,
options such as the type of material, uPVC plastic, Aluminium,
the types of wood, hardwood or Timber (softwood) and
whether you are looking for more of a bespoke conservatory:
Where will the conservatory be sited? This could make
a great deal of difference to the size. You may need to
consider a bespoke conservatory.
What do you want to use it for? Conservatories have any
number of uses - from a sunny room to relax in and enjoy
the garden, to an office, dining room, living room extension,
play room… so you need to have some idea of the use
to have an idea of the size.
What materials should the frame be made of? A great deal
of this is down to personal choice and the style of your
home.
One of the most popular materials is uPVC (sometimes called
PVCu or even plastic). It is cost-effective, versatile,
hardwearing and often needs little or no maintenance. The
most popular colour is white, although wood effects are
available in choices such as mahogany or oak.
Hardwood framed conservatories often appeal to people
with more traditional tastes, owners of listed buildings
or those who live in areas where planners will only allow
wood. These do require some maintenance to keep the timber
sound. The choices of colours include staining the wood
- or painting with white, cream, green or brown are often
favourites.
Aluminium. Once a very popular choice but not seen often
nowadays. The plus side is the strength of the frames.
The downside is often the appearance, and the fact that
aluminium’s insulation properties are not as good
as uPVC.
Glass. All modern conservatories should be double-glazed
to give all-year-round use. Look for the use of toughened
glass to ensure higher levels of safety. And stained of
bevelled panels can give a conservatory a unique look.
What Style? This is where the fun begins. But one tip
is to look closely at the style of your home. Study what
other people with similar homes have chosen - do you like
the styles, would they enhance your home or just look our
of place? A well-chosen conservatory should add monetary
value, as will as valuable living space, to your home.
One that looks out-of-place will not help the saleable
value.
Quality - As with most things, often you get the quality
you pay for. Check out cross-sections of PVCu frame. You
may be surprised to find it has an aluminium core. This
helps with the strength of the wall. Specially made panels
will be much better quality and usually thicker than those
used by companies who just substitute window frames for
proper panels. Good quality uPVC panels should have a British
standard award to show that they are fit for the job.
Service - How good is the service the company offers?
Will it help with gaining planning permission if it is
necessary? How good is the base the conservatory is to
be built on - are the footings to be installed to a good
depth? Will a qualified surveyor take measurements? How
long is the guarantee for? Is the company part of a recognised
trade body which will honour the guarantee if the company
ceases trading? Do you know anyone who will tell you about
their experiences with the company?
Choosing - Visit several conservatory specialists. Check
what they have to offer, prices, length of time before
installation will commence, length of time of the installation,
are surveyors and installers qualified?
What security features does the conservatory have. How
good are locks, is glass toughened, do sliding doors have
anti-jack features to help prevent being forced by a tool
like a crowbar?
Will there be adequate ventilation to allow you to use
the conservatory all-year-round?
A conservatory is an expensive home improvement, ensure
someone visits your home to give advice.
For further information, you can request a brochure or
a quotation from our online quote services, giving you
information from up to 3 companies in your area.
Click here for a quotation
request.
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