When it comes to home renovation and improvement, there are often two concepts being considered: functionality and beauty. It is usual for these two concepts to work together in a home, such as a home office where it is more important for it to be attractive than a workspace sited in an office building. The same goes for a conservatory, which is not only a sunny space tacked onto your home, but also a place that can be functional as well as beautiful, depending on how you want to use it. Whatever your intention, there is usually only one successful way of building a conservatory.
Why build a conservatory?
You may be thinking of building a conservatory for several reasons. Probably, you want to extend the available space in your home. Possibly, you want to add value to your home and increase its appeal should the time come when you want to move out. Or, perhaps, you simply want to have a room that captures and maximizes the sun without having to go outside when it is cold.
What to consider
Once you have decided that you would like a conservatory added to your home, you need to work out what type would suit you best. There are two types of conservatory: the lean-to and the pitched roof conservatory. The former features a sloping roof coming off the back of the house and is built relatively low, making it an ideal choice for bungalows. A pitched roof conservatory is like attaching an extra room to the back of the house, sits higher, and can be a variety of shapes, such as the standard rectangle or square, or a P-shape, T-shape or round-shape. In terms of budget, a lean-to is less expensive than a pitched roof conservatory.
Plan on paper
Plan out your conservatory fully on paper before committing to a type. You will need to measure exactly the internal and external dimensions of the intended construction, because this will tell you what size of materials you need to buy and should help you to understand the language about products that the supplier uses. Planning on paper will also help you to work out where to put the door and what type of door to have.
Work out what it will cost
Planning will also help you to calculate the cost of your conservatory. Remember that your budget should cover the materials needed to build the conservatory and also other essentials, such as flooring, heating and window dressings. As it is a room in which you want to maximize light, you may have to spend more to get the most appropriate window dressings and not just go for the cheapest. Your best choice is to install window shutters as they give you the best of both worlds; letting in light but also giving you the option to regulate the light. Though a conservatory is designed to be heated by the sun, there will be overcast days when you will need additional heat, so remember to choose a radiator suitable for the look and shape of your conservatory.
Material choices
There are three choices when it comes to what your conservatory is made from: PVC, hardwood, and aluminum. PVC is the cheapest option, but if yours is a period home, a PVC conservatory may look out of place and hardwood is a better choice. Aluminum-framed conservatories are something of a compromise option because they are cheaper than hardwood, but unlike PVC, they can be powder coated to blend in more harmoniously with the rest of the house. Then there is the choice of polycarbonate “glass” or real glass. The former can become marked and gradually turn opaque, while real glass lasts a long time. All you need to do is choose the most energy-efficient glass.
Getting down to work
When you have bought your conservatory, ensure that you have all the parts before you begin building, and have a thorough read of the instruction manual so that you know what kind of tools you are going to need and how much work you are likely to have to put in. This kind of preparation should ensure that you do not encounter any, at least foreseeable, problems.
Building a conservatory is a great way to create another room in your home that attracts sunlight and so brightens up not only your home but also your mood. Just ensure that you plan carefully to avoid making any unnecessary and expensive mistakes.