With a little forward planning, your conservatory really can be the extra room you've always dreamed of. Even at the quoting stage and certainly whilst your discussing your conservatory with your local companies, there are one or two things you'll want to discuss.
Door position - Although largely dependent on the shape and position of your conservatory in relation to the house and garden, boundaries and walls etc, it's best to avoid positioning the door directly ahead of the entrance to the conservatory from the house. Doing so can encourage a 'walking corridor' which effectively means wherever you position furniture, it'll be in the way.
Go for a doorway on one side to encourage people to 'walk round' rather than 'through'.
Glazing - slim frames and smaller gaps between panes may save you a little money but they could make a big difference to your comfort and how much you use your conservatory in the winter. A little more spend on wider profiles or larger air gaps between panes is a sensible choice if you're looking for something more than just a summer room.
When deciding on which windows you want to open, don't forget that it is possible to specify openers for the larger panes - it doesn't have to be just the small panels that open.
Want to really open up your conservatory to the garden? Then how about bi-folding doors rather than the usual patio doors?
Roof - Your choices of roof material will be either the more expensive glass or the cheaper polycarbonate panels. Polycarbonate roofing comes in different thicknesses - the thinner, the more noise from rain and the less insulating efficient they are.
Glass roofs can be specified with heat saving and self cleaning coating technology, but overall the extra cost may well be worth it for the comfort and year-round use you'll enjoy. Not to mention the saving on your energy bills heating this new room.
Heating - Incorporating some form of heating into your conservatory is a must if you hope to use it for more than just a few months a year. The construction and design may rule out some options so think carefully about your choices. You should be able to choose from incorporating the heating into your existing central heating by adding further radiators (check your boiler and system are capable), or a stand alone electric heater / underfloor heating system etc.
If you want to include renewable energy, then a ground source heat pump powering underfloor heating is a popular option. It will add to the cost considerably but you'll have free heating for your conservatory thereafter.
Privacy - It's possible to specify 'blank' upvc wall panels in place of glass to give you some privacy from neighbours or how about choosing a dwarf wall style but making one wall all brick? Sometimes, blinds are enough so think about your own situation and if any extra privacy is required.
Size - Think about what you want to use your conservatory for. Whilst size may depend on your budget, choosing one style over another may provide more internal floor space for your money.
Victorian designs are popular but their hexagonal end means a lot of corners with the potential for wasted space. Squarer designs like Edwardian or Gable Ended may be a better option.
When you've got a size in mind, it's worthwhile pegging the area out in your garden to get an idea of how much garden you'll loose. Many conservatory companies provide drawings and sketches of how your new conservatory will look on your home as part of their service.
After all, a conservatory is a major purchase you're only likely to make once so it's important to be completely happy with your choices, before it's too late.
WindowQuoter can help by giving you the opportunity to try different styles and sizes, including the number of opening windows etc and providing an instant online price guide for each selection. You can use it as many times as you like - it's a completely free online resource.
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