Conservatory Buying Guide

The base is the first part of the build. It takes the weight of the finished structure to ensure that there is no future subsidence. It also creates a watertight barrier between the ground and the inside of the new structure to guarantee there will be no problems with damp or water ingress. The depth of the footings will depend upon a number of factors, including the size of the finished conservatory and its proximity to trees.

First, the area where the new structure is to be located will be levelled, then footings will be dug and filled with concrete. Next, a waterproof membrane will be laid across the whole base area, with a block of insulation material on top of that. Then concrete will be poured and tamped, to create a smooth, strong and completely watertight base.

uPVC
uPVC is the most common choice of conservatory material, and the most cost-effective. uPVC conservatories are durable, low-maintenance and hold strong for many years. uPVC frames have developed over the last decade, with enhanced temperature control and insulation performance, as well as slowing down heat transfer to keep the conservatory cooler in the summer. There’s a wider choice when it comes to colour schemes, including wood effect conservatory frames, allowing us to offer an elegant design that will be consistent with the look of your property.

Aluminium
Aluminium frames offer strong structural design and require very little maintenance. The intrinsic strength of aluminium gives the frame greater durability over long periods of time. In coastal conditions, it’s a good option to withstand the elements. If you’re conscious of the environmental impact, aluminium is a fantastic choice. It’s widely accessible and can be recycled over and over again.

Timber
A well-constructed timber conservatory not only looks fantastic but also offers great efficiency and durability over long periods of time. Upkeep requires slightly more maintenance than the other options, but nothing to be overly concerned by. The timber needs to be re-treated every couple of years to ensure the wood sustains its colour. Timber frames generally cost more, but are competitive on performance and give a traditional character. For those with environmental considerations, timber solutions are eco-friendly as the wood comes from sustainable forests and can easily be adapted to fit any property.

Glazing technology has developed considerably with a new generation of glass offering industry-leading performances. We use SMARTGLASS because it offers a completely tailored solution, whatever your colour preference, location and design.

Here’s an overview of how glazing performance is measured.

U-Value measures heat loss through the glazed unit in winter months. The lower the U-Value, the warmer the room will be in winter.

G-Value shows the percentage of the sun’s heat able to pass through the unit. A G-Value of 40% means that 60% of the sun’s heat is reflected or absorbed by the glass, reducing heat build-up in the summer months.

Light Transmittance is the percentage of visible light able to pass through the unit. The lower the light transmittance, the lower the glare within the room.

True Self Clean does exactly that; it cleans itself. Using a specially coated glass, a chemical reaction physically breaks down and washes away dirt.

Warm Edge Technology – Using a spacer bar that’s up to 950 times less conductive than aluminium, this increases internal temperatures around the edges and vastly reduces condensation.

Which glass is best for me?

This depends entirely upon a number of factors, including your property’s orientation to the sun and the size of the structures. Our SMARTGLASS range offers a number of products with different G and Light Transmittance values to suit specific needs.

The glass we use in the walls of our conservatories blocks over 50% of the summer sun’s radiant heat, whilst being 20% better at retaining warmth in winter than ‘A-rated’ glazing. Available in a three-tier structure, it also increases security, reduces external noises and blocks damaging UV light.

For the conservatory roof, you have three choices.  The first is polycarbonate, which is light and easy to install. These days the material has excellent thermal efficiency properties, whilst being the most cost-effective option.

The second is a glass roof. State of the art glazing technology means that you can choose the glass depending on your conservatory’s orientation to the sun. This means the amount of light and heat energy from the sun can be controlled, to give you the most comfortable environment inside. What’s more, you’ll be able to see the sky during the day and the stars at night.

The final choice is a solid conservatory roof, offering exceptional insulation and weather-resistance. They can be finished with tiles that will match your existing property.