C & L Windows and Conservatories Ltd: General advice and things to consider when choosing your Conservatory

Why a conservatory and why choose PVC?

Conservatories have several distinct advantages over flat roofed or tiled, brick-built home extensions and, depending on the style you choose, they can also work out to be considerably cheaper to construct.

Conservatories are;

One of the best ways to add value to your property
Ideal for those wanting to increase their living space without adversely affecting the amount of light that enters their home.
Relatively easy to install and complete
Versatile enough to offer multi-purpose room for all the family.
Arguably a more attractive and stylish way of extending and enhancing the appearance of your home.
In the majority of cases, exempt from building regulations and do not require planning permission.

PVCu is;

Very durable and won't swell, warp, crack or rot
Virtually maintenance free.
Light yet strong, with multi-chambered frame design that offers better levels of insulation in comparison to timber and aluminium
The perfect match for replacement PVCu windows and doors.
Equally as stylish as timber framed buildings.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT DESIGN

Before you go ahead and order, make sure that the design you're picking is ideally suited to match the style of your property. A well designed conservatory should complement and enhance the look of existing architecture. Most retailers can simulate how the chosen design will look with the use of specialist software, to help make your decision a little simpler. It's also worth confirming that the building materials and, in particular, the bricks match with the existing masonry in style and colour. The positioning of doors and number of opening windows is also worth giving careful consideration to. And, don't forget that you don't have to restrict yourself to the more conventional designs - conservatories can be tailor made to fit in, or on, corners of your home or anywhere else come to that.

Size Matters

As a general rule, always try and go for the biggest size your budget will stretch to, whilst bearing in mind that the building will need to look in proportion to your existing property. An area of approximately nine square metres is probably the minimum amount of room required to enjoy a conservatory and consider the possible cost savings of a lean-to over a period-style design if you need more space for your money.

North, South, East or West?

The positioning of your conservatory will influence the ambience of the room at particular times during the day. In general the following applied;

North Facing; Subjected to the colder side of our climate but enjoying some morning sun.

South Facing; The warmth of a conservatory on the sunny side of your property will be appreciated by both people and plants. Sufficient ventilation and shading will help to keep the room at a comfortable temperature during really hot spells.

East Facing; Benefits from early morning sun, making it an ideal breakfast room.

West Facing; Fairly well lit at the start of the day and benefits from warmth of the sun in the afternoons and evenings - perfect for entertaining and dinner parties or simply somewhere to relax at the end of the day.