Conservatories

Conservatories are that break between home and garden but which is best for you...victorian, lean to, hardwood, PVC? The list is endless and the combinations are confusing to say the least.

So where do you start?
If you get it right it'll be planning from 'inside', calculating how you'll use it, who will use it, and how much furniture and space do you want. Having built a great number I'd suggest that you don't start with how your new conservatory will look IN the garden but imagine yourself INSIDE looking out.

The investment is for a good number of years and if you plan your conservatory correctly could be the most used room in the house. Some of the decisions you'll need to make are;

What is the 'maximum' and 'minimum' space I need?
Who will use it?
Will it need cooling from the heat?
Will it need heating, especially the floor?
What access do I need from the house?
What style of furniture shall I use?
Does it restrict access to other areas?
What type of roofing is best?
Where should doors be fitted?
Do I need planning permission or approval?

Until you build a picture of the 'purpose and pleasure' you'll get from using your conservatory, you can't begin to design this addition to the home and garden.

I know it's tempting and I've seen it happen so many times is you work out a budget and see how much you can cram in for your money!

Please don't go down this route as the moment it's built you'll justify your decisions but really you'll be regretting not having gone for something bigger, wider, higher or even a completely different shape.

Your extra room might have you re-structuring your home to give you access to the conservatory, extending your heating or better still underfloor heating, losing a treasured part of the garden or making good use of a wasted space.

And remember that you don't have to build down to the ground, it could be elevated above another room or have another room above it. The combinations are not just 3 glass walls 'stuck' to the back of your house.

For an idea of space take a dining table and chairs into the garden or a couple of armchairs and some other furniture...try it out, it's too late when it's built.

A note here! One thing that becomes apparent after building victorian conservatories in particular is that the doors are very often put at the front.
If entry is from the opposite end you have to walk a straight line to get out, so where does the conservatory furniture go?

If you're using the extra space as a dining room you'll now have to struggle around table and chairs to leave through misplaced doors. Consider instead having a single or double doors to the side allowing you easy access and room to furnish accordingly.

Your idea of what room you have, might be deceiving and better to plan now than realise too late that another few metres or yards would make the difference to comfortable living or a 'just big enough'.

Take the time to sit 'in that area' and visualise whether or not you want all or part glass, some brick, maybe a high wall to one side.
Don't follow the norm just because that's how all the others are!

A lot are built south facing which soaks up a lot of sun so make sure you get a fan fitted, you'll need it.

And don't forget to check with your local authority about whether or not you need planning permission, whatever style you're looking at, or better still let your contractor or supplier do this for you.

Mike Lyons.....Any questions! Please contact me.

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