AdminA conservatory is a sunroom or greenhouse, usually built in a garden and used as a recreation space. Typically it is attached to a conventional building such as a home but can also be found in botanical gardens and parks. In the UK a conservatory can often refer to a glass-walled building in a Victorian style.
There are many ways to improve your existing conservatory and add value to your property, as well as adding a new room to enjoy all year round. The main thing to bear in mind when choosing a design is how you plan to use the conservatory. This will help determine the type of doors and windows you install as well as the roof structure and lining.
Traditionally a conservatory was a glass room added to the side of a house and it became popular after 19th century Victorian architect Sir Joseph Paxton designed his Crystal Palace in a similar design. However the construction of conservatories came to a halt during World War II as they were seen as unnecessary and expensive. It was only after the war that they became more popular again as the development of steel as a frame material made it cheaper and easier to create these rooms.
The modern version of a conservatory is much more energy efficient and it is possible to get solar control on your roof so you can control the amount of sunlight that enters the room. This is important because too much sunlight can make the room too hot to use in summer and the light can fade furniture or carpets.
Modern UPVC conservatories are very good at keeping heat in and this will reduce the need to use your central heating in winter or the air conditioning in summer. This will save you money on power bills and also reduce your carbon footprint.
Conservatories can be prone to condensation problems, as the glass tends to let in more moisture than other parts of your home. This moisture will condense when it cools in the conservatory and can lead to mould or mildew problems. The best way to prevent this is to make sure there is adequate ventilation in the conservatory and to have good quality double or triple glazing.
Another option for improving the thermal efficiency of your conservatory is to install a solid or tiled roof. This will not only offer more insulation but it will look very good as well.
Modern UPVC conservatories can also be fitted with self-tinting glass that will darken as it gets warmer during the day and then lighten as it becomes cooler, this can be useful to control the brightness of your conservatory. There are also a number of other technologies that can be applied to the glass in your conservatory to improve its performance such as argon impregnated glass, easy clean coatings and thermal breaks, which are hollow sections of glass that intercept heat. You can also choose to have your glazed conservatory fitted with a high level of solar control which will prevent the glare from too much sunshine. conservatories bridgend