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Conservatories - Letting the Sun In
Although conservatories are currently popular design
features, housing anything from kitchens to reading rooms:
they were originally designed and constructed by Dutch farmers
over 300 years ago to house plants. The farmers wanted to devise
a method which would accommodate and protect their prized plants
during the formidable European winters. The conservatory was the
basis for the modern day greenhouse and served the farmers
extremely well.
For many years the conservatory remained a functional and
practical attachment. Later conservatories could be spotted all
over Europe and North America as fashionable appendages to
stylish homes. Today the conservatory's original purpose has
given way to being used as an indoor/outdoor space. The
successful conservatory is one which is created and designed to
bring out the best elements of the home and the outdoors.
Build a conservatory!
Conservatories are stunning additions to any home, but they do
take a fair amount of planning and decision making. One of the
most important decisions is the design of the conservatory
itself. There are several points to consider when making design
decisions; the most important is that the conservatory must
compliment your main building. Victorian style conservatories
added on to über modern houses can look garish rather than
stylish and visa versa. Many conservatory companies offer a
range of styles from Victorian to Georgian and Lean-to but it is
better not to get bogged down with styles. It is
advisable that you decide, with the help of a designer, on the
rooms' purpose, position and size before you select a style.
Your conservatory must work effortlessly with your home rather
than overshadow it. Once you have chosen a conservatory company,
you will need to work closely with them to ensure that your
conservatory will be a unique and fluid extension of your home.
Planning Permission
In the UK you don't usually require planning permission as most
properties have a permitted development right to extend, though
the size of this varies according to where you live. If you have
already added on to your home, you may have used up some, or
all, of your development right, in which case you may need
planning permission for your conservatory. It is vital that you
check with your local authority when considering any building at
all, as each authority has different rules. It is always better
to be safe than sorry when to comes to planning permission.
Location/Direction
In the northern hemisphere, south facing conservatories
get the most year round sun. In summer, they can get extremely
hot so you'll need to make sure you opt for opening windows and
roof vents, which will give you excellent ventilation. Another
two options are getting tinted (anti-sun) glass and/or
air-conditioning. East facing conservatories get
wonderful early morning sun which making them ideal settings for
breakfast rooms. Easterly winds can be quite nippy so you may
have to heat an east facing conservatory. West
facing
conservatories receive good sunlight on summer afternoons and
evenings. Plants which thrive on indirect sunlight will love
this location. A west facing conservatory is an amazing place to
spend relaxing evenings, as they are pleasantly warm. North
facing conservatories are without direct sunlight during the
cold winter months and will need good heating and insulation to
make up for this. In the summer these conservatories are warm
and bright but they do not get direct sunlight.
The Main Structural Materials
The three main types of materials utilised in conservatory
construction are PVC-U, Aluminium and Timber. PVC-U is
available in many colours and is an extremely low maintenance
material. This material is generally the most affordable option
and works well with internal as well as external sealed glass
units. Aluminium is another great low-maintenance option.
It is lauded for its strength and slim sections which permit
larger glazed areas. The most traditional material is
timber which is a good insulator, but will need to be
maintained. When making glazing decisions there are two main
options, Polycarbonate and Glass. The former is a
lightweight material which provides good insulation and is
cheaper than glass but not as transparent or sound resistant.
Glass is the preferred option as it is strong and
transparent. There are several types of glass to choose from.
Double glazed units will improve insulation but combining them
with Low-E products and argon filling can improve this still
further. Solar control products (tints or coatings) are most
effective at controlling heat from the sun, internal heating and
condensation. Another growing favourite amongst those who go for
glass is the revolutionary self-cleaning glass which is making
the lives of conservatory owners that much easier. This glass
uses natural light and rainwater to keep glass cleaner and
clearer and doesn't require any daredevil stunts with a ladder
and soapy water to keep your glass ceiling transparent and
looking great.
There are a host of other decisions you will have to make about
your conservatory including: ventilation, heating and décor but
the initial decisions discussed here will prove invaluable to
anyone thinking about building a conservatory.
A conservatory is a wonderful and aesthetically enhancing
extension to any home providing that you take care when
planning. There is nothing nicer than soaking up warm rays of
sunshine in the total comfort of an indoor setting with stunning
outdoor views.
About the author:
Many conservatory companies recommend Pilkington
when it comes to glass. Having been in the glass industry for
179 years, Pilkington is recognised as the world's technological
leader in glass. Out of all of their innovative products,
Pilkington Activ™ - the world's first self-cleaning glass is one
of their greatest products and an ideal glass for conservatory
construction.
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