Things to Consider When Owning a Conservatory

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Posted: December 18, 2014

Of course deciding of putting up a self build conservatory does not happen overnight. You may have thought well about your needs for space for gatherings, relaxation, or simply to move freely.

But there are things that you need to know before even finding a builder.

1. You may not be able to use always

If you are in a limited budget and you plan on just using ordinary materials for the construction, there is a big chance that you may not be able to use your conservatory always.

Conservatories can be very hot in summer or cold in winter. This distinguishes it from a normal house extension. But some homeowners want to use it all-year-round, which means employing quite expensive building materials and building approval at the same time.

2. You may need to have a building approval

Regulations from one area to another vary. You should know the factors that would exempt you from getting a building approval if you don’t want to pay charges. It is best to do this before even start planning.

3. Construction may be longer than expected

And last, you may encounter issues with drains, wirings, and steelworks as you go along the construction. Expect delays when you have these. Also expect that building control will visit you more than three times for this.

No one has to be blamed for such issue especially if you don’t have the history or blueprint of your house’s construction.

As you prepare yourself for this big project by setting the right expectations and getting as much information as you can, you will be able to adjust the features of your self build conservatory without having to waste a lot of time. This will also definitely save you from getting confused or stressed as you go along the process.

Posted in DIY Conservatories

Things to Consider When Housing Plants in Conservatories

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Posted: December 18, 2014

You don’t need to be a horticulturist to love plants or even grow plants in your self build conservatory. You just need to have the right structure to house your plants, and that is mainly to have good drainage and enough sunlight.

Whether you are working with people who already have experiences in housing indoor plants for conservatories or not, it is essential that you know what factors are important even during the planning stage so you can ask the right questions.

1. Roofing material

Getting good amount of sunlight is critical for plants to survive. Getting too much could wilt them. You might want to have one side of your conservatory have clear glass and the other tiled or tinted.

This might be helpful especially at times when the sun is really hot. You could always move your plants to shady parts.

2. Glasses everywhere?

Would you consider using glass both for roofing and the walls of you conservatory just to have good amount of sunlight? Your plants might be happy, and so are burglars.

Discuss with your builder the best ways to provide enough sunlight for your plants as well as safety for your property; especially if your conservatory is connected to your house.

3. Flooring

Having a good drainage system will make it easier for you to take care of your plants, especially if they need lots of water. Using spray bottles does not always work on all plants.

Your flooring needs to be designed in such a way that could accommodate water drainage without flooding the entire room.

Self build conservatories are exciting additions to your home and housing your plants for space and even protection during winter is really helpful. Build it in a way that you could happily use it without having to redo it every time.

Posted in DIY Conservatories

The Best Functions for Your DIY Conservatory

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Posted: December 18, 2014

A conservatory can only be fully functional during the winter months. At least that’s what many people believe. In a traditional sense, that’s the main function of a DIY conservatory – to serve as a hang-out place for the household when they cannot get outdoors because of the biting cold. However, there are other uses for a conservatory. In fact, it can be fully functional even in the summer or spring seasons.

 1. Family gymnasium

Even without a gym membership, your family can stay fit and healthy even within the premises of your home. You can turn your conservatory into a mini gym. You can practice your yoga meditation here during the late afternoons or early mornings. Without actually going outside, you will feel the sun seeping through the glass windows and panels.

 2. Cozy dining area

There are times when the family gets together; everybody’s home and the only way to celebrate it is over a good homemade dinner. Set the table and chairs in your conservatory under the clear night sky and share good food, laughter and stories with the whole family. Spending dinner outside of the kitchen will give a feeling that you are outside in a fancy restaurant when in fact you are having dinner in your multi-functional conservatory.

 3. Children’s play area

When you have little kids at home, you want them to explore but at the same time be safe from harm which is commonly met outside the house. Turning your conservatory into a play area for your kids is a good idea. They can see the plants and sky outside but they are still within the safety of your home. Just make sure that the doors are locked so they will not have any chance of wandering outside. Do not let them reach the glass windows and panels too. And also make sure that they cannot get their hands into something hard that they could throw at the glass. Child proof your DIY conservatory before making it into a play area.

Posted in DIY Conservatories

Self Build Conservatories Can Get You Closer to Nature

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Posted: December 17, 2014

Visiting attractions is probably one of the best ways to spend holidays. Attractions which cater more of nature give a refreshing feeling that is perfect for those who are drowned with the noise and pollution of every day environment; specifically if you are living in a highly-urbanised community. But why not have a little version of natural attractions in your very home? Have you ever considered having a self build conservatory?

Conservatories have been long used by many homeowners in the past, who were highly inclined in holding social gatherings such as charity dinners. These days they have already evolved into merely an extension of the house as a place to receive visitors and read the morning papers.

Using your own conservatory as a place to relax and get closer to nature can actually exceed most of the previous functions of having one. Because it is mostly made of glass which makes the sunlight pass through it, housing flowers and indoor plants becomes possible.

Plants in planters are easier to tend than having them directly planted in the soil. You won’t have to spend a lot of time cultivating an array of flowers, sitting on your heels and hurting your back under the heat of the sun. With a conservatory, you can attend to your little green friends comfortably anytime of the day, especially if you are using insulating glass for your roof.

Your self build conservatory also serves as your little hide out where you can enjoy your hobby with greenery around you. It is also a place where you can focus on tight projects, or even self-meditation with minimal distractions. You can enjoy an environment with less or even no pressure at all especially with the presence of plants and flowers that gives you a positive feeling about what you’re doing.

 

Posted in DIY Conservatories

Ready to Build Your Conservatory

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Posted: December 16, 2014

A lean to conservatory is one of the most popular types among others, especially when the purpose is only to expand a home’s space. It is typically built as if leaning to the original side wall of the house with slanted roofing. But there is more to building one.

Using the sidewall of your house as part of the entire structure seems to save you a lot of money but its actual construction can really be complicated. The first thing that you should look into is the strength of your house’s wall. Ask these questions:

• How long has it been since it was built?
• Are there cracks that may cause future problems with your conservatory?
• Is it fit to receive pressure from a leaning structure?

Surprisingly, you also should deal with those underground:

• Are there cable lines buried next to the side wall?
• Will the laying of your conservatories foundation disturb your water supply?

Other than the things that you have to consider about the side wall, you should also not forget about legalities:

• How big would your conservatory be?
• How far is it from the road?
• Do you need to work on permits?

These points are not unusual for anyone who wants to upgrade the value of their homes and for those who want to have additional space. Some of these points might be overwhelming for first timers but local conservatory builders surely know how to deal with those. So it is always important to work with experts.

While everything may seem to be in a long list, the most important thing is you know what to prepare for when dealing with lean to conservatories and other types. After all, constructing one does not happen every day; sometimes just one for a lifetime, but certainly you want everything to go smoothly.

Posted in DIY Conservatories

Practical Tips for Constructing a Conservatory

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Posted: December 15, 2014

Having a successful construction of self build conservatories does not just happen. There are details that have to be planned out and some preparations that require a lot of effort on your part regardless of your background or expertise.

But if you want to have a smoother experience, you may want to follow these practical tips on how to do it:

1. List down your preferences

You may have been in different conservatories and for sure you have found some things that you liked about each one. List all of those down and reference to them as you plan your own construction. Include the kind of materials used and how they were installed.

 If you don’t write them down, you will probably forget about the details, or worst forget about everything. Also, familiarize yourself with the list and do some reviews about the items you have written. It will save you from being quoted with impractical materials as you pursue the construction.

 2. Talk with experts

There are free surveys done by builders. Talk with them and compare notes. Use your list and discuss with them. They would be able to adjust the type of materials to accommodate your budget. Go for those who are recommended by people you know well.

3. Compare quotations

If possible, talk with several respected builders and then compare the quotations that each has given to you. There’s nothing wrong with making sure you are getting the best deal, right?

By doing the things above and by choosing the right people to work with, constructing a self build conservatory will become a good experience rather than a frustrating one. Invest enough time on planning and preparing and be really engaged. There is nothing more rewarding than to reap good results from all your hard work.

Posted in DIY Conservatories

Planning Essentials in Building Conservatories

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Posted: December 15, 2014

With enough planning, issues on self build conservatories can be resolved even when construction has not started yet. As a homeowner, you should always be updated with what’s happening and changes that might need to be done.

You don’t always have every day to meet your builders, so take the planning stage seriously. Below are some of its essentials:

1. What furniture goes there?

What kind of furniture do you want to house in your conservatory? Are they mostly made of wood, leather, or fabric? Do you need to have smoother flooring so as not to damage those?

It might look like the type of materials that will be used for you conservatory should be independent of things that go there, but issues will really arise. One of them would be discoloration of wooden units due to excessive sunlight exposure.

2. How long would it take?

Of course, you don’t want to have a construction going on during birthdays and other important dates where you meet friends or go somewhere.

Get an estimate of how long the construction would go, and add few days as allowance. This way, you won’t have to cancel reservations invitations.

3. Is your area calamity-free?

Calamities could happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime. But it is best if you know whether your area is mostly safe. If your location is more prone to even small tornadoes or earthquakes, having a conservatory made mostly of glass might not be a sound idea.

If you have just bought your home, you might want to do your own research about the place’s history. Remember, no broker would say anything bad to a buyer.

Taking precautions and expecting things to happen according to your circumstance can always save you from too much disappointment. As you carefully plan ahead, your self build conservatory will indeed become a good investment.

Posted in DIY Conservatories

Perks of Owning a Conservatory

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Posted: December 14, 2014

So you just bought a one-storey home which is located in a good neighbourhood, with easy access to school, hospital, and police assistance. Everything seemed perfect until you realize you want a bigger space but adding an additional floor is not possible due to the house’s structure restriction. Worry not. Lean to conservatories is the answer to your problem. Building a conservatory is very practical; that in fact these days, it becomes a trend mainly because it is not that expensive. You will be surprised to even discover more benefits when you build one, just like the following:

 1. Versatile function

Gone are the days when conservatories were primarily used to enjoy spring and winter and to be abandoned during summer. You can actually use your conservatory as your visitor’s area, study room, or a simple hideout for late afternoon naps. Because you get enough sunlight, it is also a great place for some of your planters. And a place where toddlers could get enough sun exposure at the same time, being safe. Your conservatory can be just anything you want.

 2. Investment

Whether you go on a DIY conservatory or ask a servicing company to do it, surely it is a good investment. Why? Conservatories actually make your property look better and price higher when it comes to real estate valuation. This is a good advantage when you are looking into selling your home in the next 10 years or so. Potential buyers would easily go for homes that have something ‘extra’, and your conservatory would do it for you.

 3. Transform your environment

When you build your own conservatory, you instantly create a good feel not just for your family, even to your neighbours. It transforms your environment. Psychologically, seeing something beautiful makes you feel better. And who doesn’t want to have that?

Posted in DIY Conservatories

How to Prepare Your Home for a Big Construction

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Posted: December 14, 2014

You are probably thrilled with your biggest project for the year?a self build conservatory. Most of your time may have already been spent on finding the best builders in town, as well as sampling materials from suppliers that would best fit your taste of a dream conservatory. It feels like you are building an entirely new home, only that it doesn’t take that long and you don’t have to do a big move out.

But how prepared are you for the big construction that is going to happen? Consider the following guidelines as you anticipate this new change:

1. Remove carpets where dusts are most likely to concentrate at

Dust particles build up anywhere. Surely you can see them even within sound-proofed walls. They have their own special way of creeping into your home and you don’t want to spend a lot of time cleaning after your conservatory is done.

2. Remove hangings on the wall

There will be a lot of pounding that is going to happen when building. Even if your frames and other wall embellishments are securely hanged, remove them from the wall. Pounding always has an impact on fragile materials.

3. Secure everything fragile in one room

After you have removed your wall embellishments, especially the fragile ones, secure them in one room? away from much physical movement like running children.

4. Keep kids away from the construction area

And the most important thing of all is to make sure your kids are away from construction hazards. Even if everything looks okay, kids are always kids and they can instantly become fascinated with everything new to them.

Those are little things that you can even start now before the actual day of construction. As you carefully prepare, your self build conservatory can turn out to be a good change and not a burden.

Posted in DIY Conservatories

Important Things You Need to Know About Conservatories

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Posted: December 13, 2014

DIY conservatories are deemed to be a cheaper option compared to constructing an extension to a house. This is the reason why most homeowners would go for it apart from the aesthetic value that it can add to their property.

However, technicalities should not be taken for granted, and it could challenge those who are constructing it for the first time. Below are some of those:

1. It must be a separate structure from your house

Did you know that your conservatory should be a separate structure from your house as much as possible? This is when you want to qualify for a permit-free construction.

Temperature changes during summer and winter can be extreme and having two adjoined structure can experience beyond normal.

2. You can only use plugged in heating system

There is no way that you can install a fixed heating system in a conservatory if you want to exempted from getting building approval. Thus, you have to purchase a plugged in one for use during the winter season.

3. You need to meet with building control

And the most time-consuming of all is meeting with the building control. You may not need to worry about this if your builder takes care of it.

But if not, you should contact building control yourself since they are the ones who will determine whether you need to seek building permit or not. This is crucial especially if you have a plan of selling your property in the future. Securing legal papers for every construction you employ will save you from future difficulties.

It is best to be informed first of the regulations set by building control in your area before you jump into more details of your DIY conservatory. This will save you more time and help you evaluate more whether you really need to build one or not.

Posted in DIY Conservatories

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