Enjoying the Winter sun - conservatory style

Whilst many homeowners think of advances in insulation and energy efficiency in upvc double glazed windows as now standard features, many are still surprised to learn that the same advances have also been applied to upvc conservatories.

Upvc conservatories have been with us for a few years now and most people's experiences of them are often older, first-generation models.

If their 'cold feel' and harsh light intrusion has put you off having your own conservatory, then prepare to be pleasantly surprised.

Today's modern designs not only incorporate the latest frame design features of their window and door counterparts, ensuring maximum thermal efficiency, the glazing itself can also be specified with 'a' rated energy efficiency.

And the advances don't stop there. Construction methods and glass coatings now mean your new conservatory can be used in comfort and security all year round.

It might also surprise you to learn that there is a healthy trade in new conservatories throughout the year - especially around this time, as homeowners, wishing to continue enjoying their garden, without being exposed to the falling temperatures and failing light, bring the outside - inside with full glass panel designs.

It's even possible to incorporate bi-folding doors into some designs. These doors are made up of a series of door width panels, each hinged, forming a concertina style mechanism that means an entire wall / walls can be opened up. More flexible than fixed walls or a single door, and with the fine sunny weather we're experiencing this Autumn, a real opportunity to enjoy the warm weather.

Upvc is a fantastically energy efficient material - multi-pocketed chambers ensure heat from inside doesn't reach the outside. But if hardwood or aluminium is your preference, then there are still companies offering full design and installation services. Depending on span and height, it may be possible to specify bi-folding doors in Aluminium. Because of strength issues, we're not aware of any company offering exterior bi-folding doors in hardwood.

Finally, for those homes lacking in interior space, a conservatory, which can be used for everything from a kitchen extension to an office, makes a lot of financial sense compared to the thousands of pounds more it can cost to convert a loft or garage or even build an extension.

There's also the time issue - a conversion or extension can take months where as a conservatory can be up and ready to us in a  week. Groundworks are usually minimal and don't usually extend beyond the space the actual conservatory will occupy.

You'll also find building your conservatory considerably easier as many conservatories won't require planning permission. Your chosen conservatory installer will be able to advise you more, including any conservatory construction which will incorporate exterior manhole covers into the flooring etc. Yes - it is possible to build 'over' an inspection manhole and incorporate a sealed inspection hatch in the floor of your conservatory. Recent changes to the adoption of previously private drains to public by local water authorities means special licence by the contractors may now be required.

The bigger the Conservatory the better

When planning a new conservatory, it's always tempting to be led purely by cost and plan the size of your conservatory accordingly.

However, our experience shows there's nothing worse than paying thousands for the benefit of the extra room a conservatory can add to your home, only to find you can't fit anything larger than a couple of wicker chairs into the finished project.

Different styles can make the 'usable floor space' in a conservatory seem more or less - a Victorian design with it's hexagonal end leaves you with lots of corners that nothing will fit into, whilst a square ended Edwardian conservatory design will fill out those 'wasted' corners.

However, traditionally, the problem with considering different designs and overall sizes meant being laid siege to by an army of different conservatory salesmen.

Luckily, homeowners who want to explore all their size and design options can now do all the leg-work of getting a rough idea of cost, simply and easily, online using our newly re-vamped Window Quoter website.

A free online resource, populated with real prices from the conservatory industry themselves; by using Window Quoter, you can enter different dimensions and select different options as many times as you like.

Once you've narrowed your choices down, the next step is to get 2 or 3 conservatory companies round to discuss your ideas in more details and give you their best price, including any promotions that they may be running.

Again, Window Quoter comes to your rescue. To save you inviting the 'wrong' companies round, we can recommend up to 3 local companies to you and provide you with direct access to feedback on them left by previous homeowners, so you can choose a company with added confidence.

Many companies offer free design services and can produce finished drawings of how your choices will look on your property, before you part with your deposit. It's a great touch as it can really provide you with an insight into how the finished conservatory would look.

What's more, our companies may be able to offer their own suggestions on suitable styles and preferable sizes, based on the building style of your home and what you intend to use your conservatory for. Who knows, maybe they'll be able to provide a couple of ideas that you hadn't though of?

And the difference in price may not be as great as you'd thought, and it certainly won't cost you anything to find out before you part with your hard-earned money.

This article first appeared in our weekly homeowner newsletter dated 31st May 2011. Click here to read the full newsletter now.

Conservatories - not just a 'box' on the back of your house.

A conservatory doesn't have to be some featureless white framed 'box' on the back of your home.

With a little imagination and forethought, you can have something that not only looks fantastic, but becomes a useful everyday space, you'll want to live in.

Let's think about the look. Looks are everything and if your conservatory is to have that wow factor, then you need to think about such things as the balance of space between indoors and what's left of your garden, the colour of the conservatory frame and even it's height.

'use a higher roof'

For example, choosing a design with a higher roof might help the conservatory to blend in with existing dormer windows - especially if you choose a similar / same colour for the finish.

Don't be tempted to go big on the conservatory at the expense of leaving you with no garden.

There are lots of ways you can get this 'balance' right on the inside too. Use same/similar floor coverings or colours so that the seam from house to conservatory is as seamless as possible. You can also try opening up as much of the old wall as possible and if you have the opportunity and budget for a conservatory that takes in an entire corner of your home, then the added work in opening up both walls will be well worth it.

Remember, with the easy availability of bi-folding doors (concertina like operation of individual door panels to create a large opening space), it's possible to open up larger expanses beyond the usual patio doors, yet still be able to make the join between conservatory and house secure, or open up more of the conservatory to the outside.

Vaulted roofs are another trend that's becoming very popular as more and more companies start offering Orangery designs. A vaulted roof will add extra height to your design and become a talking feature with guests in its own right. A vaulted roof can also make a narrow design seem much wider.

'solid walls'

If you're planning on using your conservatory as a sitting room or kitchen, then you might want to consider adding a solid wall to the design. Kitchen units and appliances can butt up against a wall without any unsightly cables or pipes on display from the outside. You'll also provide the perfect platform to attach outside extractor hoods and fans too.

If you're planning a sitting room, then again, a solid wall gives you the ability to hang large flat screen tv's and provide an exhaust point for fireplaces etc. not to mention making cabling easier to hide.

There's loads more ideas and ways of designing a conservatory so that it becomes anything but a box on the back of your house. Discuss your ideas and wish list with your conservatory company.

Conservatories are a great alternative to a traditional extension - especially if you've got a 'dead' outside corner of your property that you want to turn into valuable living space.

*This story first appeared in our January 18th homeowner newsletter. Click here to read the full newsletter.

picture credit: Better Homes

Planning a conservatory? Things you might forget to ask.

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.

Better to Ask Forgiveness?

You might have thought that you would need planning permission to add a conservatory to your house, and until October 1st 2008 you would have been absolutely right. Since then, however, planning regulations have been altered so that you no longer need to secure planning permission before building a conservatory.

The new rules are subject to some limitations, however. You’ll still need to check with your local planning authority before adding a conservatory to a listed building or one in a conservation area. What’s more, there are a few rules concerning the size and construction of the conservatory.

You may need to seek planning permission if your planned conservatory will be taller than the tallest part of your house. It also cannot be built on the front face of a house which faces a highway without permission.

A single storey conservatory must be less than 4 metres deep and 4 metres tall to be built without requiring permission. A two storey conservatory should extend no further than 3 metres from the rear of the house

The conservatory must also not take up more than half of the area of land around the original house. One thing to be careful of is that if your house has been extended since it was built (or since 1948 , if it was built before then), then this refers to the house as it was originally built. Be sure to check the records for your house to make sure it hasn’t been extended recently, you don’t want to get caught out.

- - -

The great thing about conservatories is how flexible they are. They have many of the advantages of garage conversions or extensions, and they also let a lot of light into your house whether in summer or winter.

Conservatories make great spaces in which to a host party or barbecue, to watch the birds in the garden, or just relax and put your feet up.

With a few well chosen plants and other decorations they could even become an indoor extension of your garden.

The new planning rules make it quicker, easier and cheaper to plan and build a conservatory, and with the summer on its way there has never been a better time to get an instant online quote from WindowQuoter.co.uk.

5 Tips to consider before you begin planning a Garage Conversion

How to……………Get a Garage Conversion

A garage conversion could be the easiest and cheapest way to add a new room to your house, and increase the value of your property. If you are considering getting work done, here are five tips you must consider before you begin:

1 – Explore the possibilities
Even if you hadn’t considered a garage conversion before, think to yourself “how much do I actually use my garage?” If you think you could live without it, then there’s a huge amount of potential space in your house that isn’t being maximised. If your garage has just become a storage space for old wine bottles and bags of cement or lawnmowers, you could be wasting a great opportunity to extend the living space of your property and significantly increase its value. When it comes to deciding what you want the new room to be, the possibilities are enormous: a kitchen, a dining room, a bedroom, a home office, a TV/home cinema room, a playroom, or even a new bathroom. And remember, you can convert single, double, tandem, or detached garages into new rooms for your property.

2 – Check for permission
Make sure you contact your local council to find out if you need any permissions before work begins. Generally speaking, planning permission will not be required for a garage conversion as long as no additional volume is being added to the property, but some local councils (mostly in London) have different interpretations of regulations so it’s definitely worth checking!


3 – House deeds
Another potential stumbling block might be the deeds of your house. It’s sometimes the case – particularly on new housing estates – that developers put clauses into the sale of your house that prevent you from altering its appearance. This is basically so that they can sell the rest of the houses in your estate, so normally these restrictions are lifted once the selling process on the estate is over.

4 – Don’t forget insulation
Remember that your garage didn’t have any insulation, so the walls, floor and ceiling of the new room will need to be upgraded thermally. The company you choose to do the work will be able to achieve this to the required standards, but may not have included it in their original quote, so make sure you ask them about it first! If you are planning to turn your garage into a bathroom or kitchen, don’t forget to factor in the water or gas points into your budget, and remember that there are regulations concerning the placement of these points as well.

5 – Blend the new room in for maximum return
To add the maximum value onto your property, potential buyers need to think that the new room was always there, and it doesn’t look like a garage conversion. There are several methods you can use to achieve this: firstly, make sure the entrance to the new room goes onto the hallway in the same way as the rest of the house. Secondly, try to ensure the floor and ceiling of the new room is at the same level as the rest of your house – this can be tricky as many garages are set a step below. Finally, the room needs to look good from the outside too, so ensure the brickwork and window(s) you choose are consistent with the rest of the house.


When looking for firms to carry out work for you, the universal rule for all home improvement companies applies: make sure that you employ a reputable firm with a proven track record! http://www.garageconversionquoter.co.uk can help you choose your supplier.

Building a conservatory - a timeline guide

Timeline – conservatories

Did you know it can take only six to ten weeks to build a new conservatory? Here’s how you do it in six easy stages – from start to finish:

Stage 1 – How to choose a conservatory company
Easier said than done you might think. Look for firms that allow you to see examples of their previous constructions on their website or even visit if nearby, and that offer high quality workmanship – most companies will offer a ten-year guarantee. Check installation arrangements, and point out inconvenient dates for work to be done on your property – timing issues can discount a supplier. Most importantly however, get quotes from at least three different companies – you don’t want too many quotes to become confusing, but you need enough to compare prices. We reckon three is about the right number which is why we always give our customers a choice of three.

Stage 2 – Design: make sure you have enough choice
The company you have selected will send round a surveyor to gauge the specifications for manufacturing your new conservatory. Bear in mind that there is a huge range of conservatory designs available (Victorian, T-shape, Lantern), so make sure the designers provide you with plenty of options to suit your property.

Stage 3 – Planning permission: know the rules
Most companies deal directly with the local authorities on your behalf regarding planning permission, but it is important to make sure you are aware of any breaches of building regulations that the work may incur before the work is started. Generally speaking, you won’t need to get planning permission unless your house has already been extended, the construction takes up more than 30sq meters, or you intend to add sanitary or draining facilities within the conservatory.

Stage 4 – Manufacturing
With design and permissions confirmed, it’s now time for your firm to manufacture the new conservatory. Most firms will build the entire structure in a factory before delivering it to your house, whilst other firms may have different processes and may build the conservatory on site. Make sure you know what is happening and when, so you can check progress.

Stage 5 – Good foundations
Now it’s time for the real work to be done! A foundation will need to be prepared before any work is done on the site, which will normally be done at a depth of 650mm. The base of the conservatory will then be built up, as well as the base wall (if chosen), which will involve brickwork and installing cavity insulation.

Stage 6 – Installation
Finally, the conservatory itself will be installed. Your chosen company will send round a specialist team to set up the unit, and ensure all weatherproofing and glasswork is fitted correctly. This stage of the process will always cause a certain level of disruption to your household, so bear in mind the times when workers will be at your property.

The conservatory is now yours to furnish and decorate as you like. Enjoy!

For an instant online quote for your conservatory, click here to visit Windowquoter - the UK's premier online quotation website for conservatories, double glazed windows and doors.