Many people would like a conservatory. They’re a brilliant way to add extra value to a home and to enjoy outside living in comfort. The trouble is, when it comes to picking and installing the right conservatory, there are plenty of potential issues.
One of the biggest questions concerns whether a conservatory be used all year round.
You hear it all the time. One of the most annoying things about a poor quality conservatory is that it’ll be too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.
In the summer, the sun can pour in and quickly raise the temperature of most conservatories – even the ones with blinds. It’s too bright to read or watch TV and you can forget about dining.
By contrast, winters can be damp and depressing. Dreams of cosy nights reading a book seem way off the mark and, to make matters worse, condensation can often cause long-term damage.
So basically, despite paying a hefty fee, you’ll be left with something that is pretty much unusable for most of the year.
The reason for all of this is that conservatories always used to be built as technical structures and unfortunately, many conservatory manufacturers and suppliers haven’t embraced new building technology.
As common as temperature issues are, there are a number of ways to combat this. From using high quality solar control materials instead of traditional glazing, through to installing blinds and creating natural shading, don’t skimp on cost.
Some consumers prefer the brick look and that does seem to give a conservatory extra strength and reliability. With less opportunity for leaks or wind damage and greater control over light levels, conservatories with a brick base do tend to be more versatile.
Under floor heating and proficient radiators are great, but ensure that you’ll need to establish what kind of roof you’re going to get, or you could end up wasting money on heating the garden.
As such, the roof is a key component. A conservatory roof should be well insulated and if you can stretch the budget to include some modern technology, that’ll help too. For instance, a rain sensing thermostatically controlled electric roof vent and electric under floor heating might sound a mouthful, but they’re good.
Essentially, like all things in life, you get what you pay for. A conservatory should be viewed as an investment and that kind of investment needs to be shrewd.
