Deciding to install a conservatory is a major commitment but it’s also a choice that can seriously change your home life for the better.
Let’s face it, the UK weather isn’t exactly consistent and there are days where we’d love to be sunning ourselves in the garden but the perpetual threat of rain keeps us from being able to fully indulge ourselves.
That’s why conservatories are so popular – they allow us to enjoy the sun and create a new living space that can be used as anything from a dining room to a gym and there’s no chance it’ll get wet.
However, perhaps the one drawback of a conservatory is that you’ll invariably have to end up losing a piece of your garden to make room for it.
That’s why we’ve put together this guide to ensure your garden and your home is prepared for a conservatory.
Step 1 – Visualise your space
Deciding to install a conservatory is a major commitment that means sacrificing a certain area of your garden. That means the first thing you’ll want to do is ensure you’re getting rid of a part of the garden nobody is going to miss.
Step outside and view your home from the back – visualise not only how the conservatory would look but where it would fit. Will it be extending from the living or the kitchen? And how far back is it going to settle into the garden? Before going any further, you need to have a solid idea in your mind how your conservatory is going to sit in your garden.
Step 2 – Measure up
Now that you know where your conservatory will go, get your tape measure out and start working on the logistics.
A conservatory is rarely a cookie-cutter affair as very few gardens and very few homes are exactly alike. This means you’ll most likely be getting a bespoke conservatory to suit your requirements.
Of course, the contractors will measure up themselves before installation begins but you need a rough idea of the dimensions before you start thinking about what is possible.
Step 3 – Make your choice
There are so many different kinds of conservatory to choose from. A classic Victorian style with a ridged roof and multifaceted end walls might suit a more traditional home, whilst a more Edwardian or modern design might suit a contemporary abode.
Then there’s the roof to consider, which can either be glass with a reflective coating to stop the room from getting too warm in the summer or tiled/polycarbonate roofs that are more energy efficient.
It will all depend on your budget, your preference and what kind of space you have available.
Step 4 – Clear the space
Ideally, any conservatory should have a clear space of at least 18 feet on all sides and this space should be cleared completely of anything that could cause a problem.
The foundations for the conservatory will then need to be dug and the earth will need to be levelled before the concrete is added and the real construction work can begin.
Step 5 – Enjoy
As long as your conservatory builders know what they are doing, the build itself should take no longer than 12 weeks from order to installation (allow about 3 or 4 weeks for actual building time).
Once it’s all finished, however, you’ll be left with not only an extra room in your home but a room that’s unlike any other and a room that you’ll probably find yourself spending more time in than anywhere else!