Conservatory Lighting

When you are planning and designing a conservatory there are so many different things to think about. There are the frames and the style of conservatory you want, there’s the glazing and the roof to consider and of course, once built, the conservatory must be furnished. The lighting is an important, but often overlooked, contributor to the overall ambience and feel of your finished conservatory.

Although a conservatory is essentially designed to capture the daylight, once the sun has gone down, the room will need some lighting if you intend to use it in the evening. There are many different ways to light a conservatory and plenty of ways to use lighting to enhance the look of the conservatory. Rather than just being a function, conservatory lighting can play a big part in the design.

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Conservatory Heaters

A conservatory can be a great addition to your home giving you much needed extra space. But if you intend to use this space throughout the year, you will have to consider some way of heating your conservatory.

There are a number of different ways to heat a conservatory, and most of the common heating methods are covered below. It is worth mentioning that if you are going to heat the room, you should also pay attention to the amount of heat that is lost from the conservatory. Energy efficient glazing and good insulation will help to reduce heat loss and lower heating bills.

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Conservatory Glass

One of the main benefits of a conservatory, and one of the more common reasons for building one, is the opportunity to enjoy more of the sun; despite the unpredictability of the British weather. The type of glazing used for the conservatory can have a big impact on the amount of heat and light, which is allowed into the room as well as the aesthetics, the insulation and the energy efficiency of the conservatory.

The choice of glass or polycarbonate for your conservatory may depend on the eventual use of the conservatory; if it is to be used throughout the year and heated during the winter months, glass may be the best option for both windows and roof. If the conservatory is being built purely to house plants, polycarbonate would usually suffice.

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Conservatory Flooring

Along with the frames, the furniture, the blinds and the lighting, the conservatory flooring is an important part of the overall design. It will have a huge impact on the aesthetics inside the room, yet must be functional and hardwearing at the same time.

When you plan the conservatory and start to consider what type of floor to have, it is worth thinking about what the conservatory will be used for. If the conservatory is an extension from the kitchen, the floor will need to be resistant to moisture and easy to wipe clean.

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Conservatory Doors

If you are planning and designing a conservatory, there are several different parts of the building to think about to achieve the final style you are aiming for. Even if you have chosen a standard design from a conservatory company, or are having a bespoke conservatory designed for you, there are likely to be many decisions to make on the types of material and the finish.

The types of door you choose, both for internal and external doors, will have a major impact on the usability of your conservatory, the look of it and practical issues such as furniture placement.

It is also worth remembering that building regulations state that any doors to the house should be of the same insulating standards as an external house door. For external conservatory doors, there are a number of different styles you can go for, some of the most common are listed below.

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Conservatory Windows

One of the key parts of the planning stage when you are building a conservatory is selecting the windows. Much of the ‘wall’ space in a conservatory will consist of glazing and it is important to choose the right materials as the windows will affect the look of the finished building, they will affect the feeling of comfort within the conservatory and they will affect energy efficiency.

Double glazing is now more or less standard throughout the industry, while single glazing or polycarbonate windows are generally only used in exceptional circumstances. It is essential to make sure the windows are supplied and installed by a FENSA registered company to ensure the materials meet building regulations.

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Choosing the Right Conservatory Roof

There are several reasons to add a conservatory to your property; it can give you much-needed extra space, it can open up the house to the garden, it can act as a pleasant sunroom or a playroom for children and it should increase the value of your house.

To achieve the best possible building however and one that meets your expectations, it is important to select the right materials to suit your requirements.

The conservatory roof may be the single most important part of the construction. A cheap roofing system or a poorly installed roof can cause a variety of problems and could result in a room, which is not pleasant to use.

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