Conservatory Design

The single most important thing when adding conservatories to homes is careful planning and in particular, making sure that the appearance of the finished installation is in keeping with the property.

Conservatories should not be so big that they look out of place on the property to which they are attached, they should be in proportion to look just right. Similarly, a conservatory should not be too small to be of practical use for the purpose for which it was intended.

The first thing to consider is what you want to use your conservatory for. With this in mind, decide how big the conservatory will need to be and where it will need to be installed on your home.

Depending on position, the style of your property and subject to none-moveable obstructions, you then need to decide which style conservatory will be most suitable and look best.

For bungalows, flat roof extensions and other height restricted situations, simple traditional lean-to conservatories often provide the best solution, however if a Victorian or Edwardian design is preferred, these can also be installed by having the conservatory roof manufactured with a hipped back which normally joins to the fascia board.

Subject to individual preference, conservatories can be manufactured with full height frames with glass to the ground, PVCu panels around the bottom or have shorter frames to sit on a dwarf wall, typically 600mm in height.

Then there’s the colour. Modern PVCu conservatories are normally available in white, rosewood and golden oak woodgrain finishes and with the recent introduction of cream PVCu profiles there is a colour to compliment any property.

Consider the environment and your heating bills. Advances in technology now means that there is an excellent range of energy efficient glazing options, both for the frames and the roof.

Another thing to consider is keeping conservatories at a comfortable temperature during the summer months, particularly if they are south facing. A great range of solar control roof glazing products are now available including polycarbonate fitted with reflective foil inserts and solar reflective tinted glass.

This article covers the main issues to be considered when designing great conservatories.