Building Your Own Conservatory
Home owners often face the decision between moving to a bigger home and improving the present home. Many choose to improve their home rather than move, and a conservatory is seen as one of the best ways of making the most of your existing house. Why build a conservatory? There are a number of reasons why. If you have the luxury of time and spare budget, it's nice to build a conservatory so you can enjoy the sun no matter the weather conditions. It's also a good investment that will last a lifetime. It will definitely add value to your property should you decide to sell it someday. More and more home owners now realize the increased value of this improvement considering how little the investment would be. There's no question about it. One way of dramatically increasing the size of your home and its value is to add a conservatory.
So where do you start? You can choose between building your own conservatory and buy one of those conservatory kits or DIY conservatory. But if you are really looking to save the most money, why not choose a self build or DIY conservatory? A self build conservatory (or DIY Conservatory as they are sometimes known) gives you lots of extra space and at the fraction of the price of an installed conservatory. But if you don't have the luxury of time and the basic skills for this type of task, then an installed conservatory is the best choice for you. Whatever you choose, it's best to follow these tips.
Buy from a reputable conservatory company.
Talk to the experts and always buy from a reputable company. Purchasing your DIY conservatory from a trusted company will not only ensure that you're getting quality product but also the customer service that comes with it. The conservatory manufacturers and suppliers are more than willing to do that bit extra.
Check the dimensions and regulations.
Check dimensions and regulations and make sure they meet the new regulations that were commissioned in October of 2008. Your conservatory must be no higher than your original house roof and the maximum depth for a semi-detached property is 3 metres and for a detached property it is 4 metres. Your conservatory supplier should be able to provide you with this information so make sure you ask about the new regulations.
Choose the conservatory colour and style.
Self build conservatories come in a range of styles with the most popular being the Edwardian, Lean To and Victorian styles. They come in a range of colours but the most popular ones are Rosewood, Caramel and of course, White. So what style and colour would you choose for your conservatory? The colour you choose should match the colour of your windows. White is still a popular colour mainly because the windows in most houses are white. It's the best match because it creates continuity and coordination in the overall design. However, don't feel restricted by the colour of your windows. When it comes to style, it should complement the style of your house. Don't choose a modern-looking conservatory if your house is Victorian. But if your intention is to be different and "unsafe", then a totally different style from your house would be a stunning statement. Just one word of advice when buying wood grain DIY conservatory, always make sure that the manufacturer or supplier provides a guarantee on its colour-fastness. Some products fade quickly.
Choose the suitable roof for your DIY conservatory.
When choosing a roof for your DIY conservatory whether the more expensive glass roof or the versatile polycarbonate ones, always consider the solar control and thermal insulation properties. Solar control means you can determine how much sunlight enters you self build conservatory. For instance, on a hot summer day you may want to regulate the amount of sunlight entering your conservatory so it does not get too hot. Alternately during winter, you definitely want to let as much sunlight through your conservatory to help warm the space. Thermal insulation is just as important especially when you choose an energy efficient glass on your DIY conservatory. It will dramatically reduce your heating bills. Talk to your supplier. They know best and would be able to advise you on the best glass specification. Your choice of material for the conservatory can really make a difference in the long run.
Choose your Conservatory base or flooring.
You can choose from laminates, tiles, and natural stones. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. Laminates can bring the look of traditional wood floor while maintaining its hard wearing property. It also comes in many styles and it costs less than hard wood floors. Laminate floors are also less likely to fade in direct sunlight, unlike hard wood floors when they age.
Some laminate floor manufacturers claim that their laminate floors are now 10 to 20 times harder than laminate counter tops. It is also easy to install with its click together system. Tiles are also easy to clean and maintain. It's the most popular choice among conservatory owners. They are best for indoors because they tend to be slippery. They are also available in a variety of colours, shapes, sizes and even textures. Natural stone tiles can be very expensive being natural and all. If ever you choose this for your flooring, make sure you purchase the thick-cut ones.
Set aside budget for conservatory accessories.
Based on the above factors, it is more than likely that you will want to start evaluating conservatory prices and your budget. Just be sure to set aside money for accessories like under floor heating, air conditioning, fans, garden table and chairs and whatever you decide to put inside your conservatory.
"modern conservatory design can look good with older houses, and need not match window colour - an architect with conservation experience......."
FRANK READHEAD