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What Is The Difference Between A Conservatory And An Orangery?

If you’re looking to build an extension for your home, one of the first things that comes to mind is the type of structure that would best suit your property. When it comes to glass extensions there are two major varieties which includes the traditional conservatory and the orangery, but there are usually a lot of confusion over the differences of these two varieties. With the growth in popularity of glazed extensions, the differences between the two structures are becoming more and more thin. However, the main difference between a conservatory and an orangery is the number of glass incorporated. Conservatories are fully glazed structures featuring a low brick base wall, meanwhile orangeries are grand brick structures with with glazed roofs. But as a result of innovations of over the years in glazing, the difference has changed a bit.

Here are some of the major differences between a conservatory and an orangery.

✓ Orangeries are generally best suited to traditional-styled homes or with older property making use of matching stone or brick in construction. Meanwhile for a more recent or modern property, a conservatory will be the better option to add the flair to your property.

✓ Conservatories tend to be larger than orangeries, therefore if you want a smaller extension, an orangery would be your best bet.

✓ Orangeries are typically rectangular in shape and is traditionally a more regular building meanwhile a conservatory can be shaped to suit your needs. With an conservatory, you can get a T-shaped, L-shaped, curved, double ended and lean-to extensions to suit your preference.

✓ An orangery usually possess a flat roof at the edges with a glazed lantern section right at the centre. You can also find more luxurious orangeries having two or more lantern sections. However, when it comes to the roofing, conservatories generally have more options. Some are gabled or pitched, others are lean-to with a plethora of choice to finish off the roof.

A good way to get rid of your conservatory is to sell it. Depending on its condition you may not make much money from it, but it’s an easy and financially viable way to get your old conservatory dismantled and out of the way. If you are replacing it, the installer can easily remove this for you completely.

Do I Need Planning Permission For A Wooden Conservatory?

The addition of a conservatory to your home is classified as a “permitted development and according to the 2008 legislation, you do not need to apply for a planning permission to add a wooden conservatory to your home so far you are within some particular limits. These regulations are summarized below:

• All extensions must not be more than one storey and the height must be lower or equal to the existing building’s roof or 4m at the maximum.

• There are multiple limitations on the extent you can extend from your existing property depending on a few factors such as the type of your house as well as the location of the extension, be it at the rear or side of the building.

• If your wooden conservatory is to be constructed at the rear, it must not go beyond 3 metres from the attached house’s original property and 4 metres in a detached house. Also, the wooden conservatory mustn’t go beyond half the space around the property.

• The wooden conservatory must not go beyond half the size of the original house. Similar conditions govern that of the space around the existing building.

• Extensions that are not covered by the permitting rights are the ones constructed in front of the property or those directly facing the main street or road.

• Listed Building content may be needed in the event whereby there’s a Listed Building proposed work.

This is just a brief of the conditions that applies, however, the fact remains most property owners can have a wooden conservatory installed without having to apply for planning permission. It is advisable to consult your local planning office before you construct an extension. In certain cases, all work may require planning permission if there’s a permitted development rights removal. Click here to learn more about wooden conservatories

Conservatories and orangeries look very similar, so it can be hard to tell what their differences are. The main thing that distinguishes the two is the amount of glazing they have.

Conservatories usually have a roof that is made up of at least 75% glass. Orangeries, on the other hand, have roofs that are generally less than 75% glass.

Conservatories also tend to have walls that are made up of at least 50% glass. However, orangeries have glass on less than 50% of the wall area.

Orangeries were originally developed to grow oranges in large stately homes. Their mixture of brick and glazing gave the oranges a combination of plenty of sunlight and shelter.

When it comes to extending your home or creating more living space, you can either construct an extension, transform a current space or add a conservatory. While all the three available options to create more living space in your home are worth giving a shot, the wooden conservatory happens to be the easiest and cheapest of them all. If you are thinking about building wooden conservatory of your own, then you’d probably want to know exactly how much its going to cost. The simple answer is that it depends on multiple factors such as the type of wood required, the size, style as well as the quality of materials to be incorporated in your final conservatory design.

The most significant determinant, however, is the type of wood required. Below is a breakdown of the prices based on this factor:

• Hardwood Conservatory

Hardwood such as elm and beech are one of best options for building conservatories due to their complex structure which helps increase the durability and stability of conservatories. The price of an average hardwood conservatory without fitting usually ranges £10,000 to £15,000.

• Oak Conservatory

Due to its popularity and high availability, oak is a very common wood type used in the construction of conservatories. And as a result, it can be gotten within a range of £9,000 to £10,000 for just the wood. Oak can also be made to be resistant to bugs and pests. The price of this type of oak wooden conservatory jumps to around £15,000 to £20,000.

• Timber Conservatory

This refers to various types of wood that’s readily available before being subjected to treatment in different plants or factories. Due to its rather rough exterior and lack of a clean finish, this type of wood is usually gotten at a giveaway price. Depending on the type of wood, the price to buy just a timber conservatory kit can vary between £10,000 to £20,000.

Click here to learn more about wooden conservatories

Are Solid Roof Conservatories Any Good?

If your old old glazed conservatory roof is starting to yield to the elements, perhaps it’s time to starting putting your money where your roof is. In recent times, most homeowners in the UK are now opting for the solid, tiled conservatory roofing alternative and for a good reason. If you’re also wondering if solid conservatories are of any good, then you’ve come to the right place! In the article, we’re going to discuss whether or not solid roof conservatories are a solid worthwhile investment and reasons for the stand.

Firstly, let’s look at what wrong with the normal conservatory roofs. Despite the fact that these are the cheaper alternative, it must however be said that they’re lacking in terms of insulation. A bad insulation can only mean discomfort all year round - winter will be cold and draughty and summer, stuffy and baking.

Solid roof conservatories, on the other hand, are made from special material that resembles traditional roof tiles but will only have a fraction of the weight. They’re able to deliver a much better insulation than a glazed roof which implies comfort all year round. What’s more? They’re very easy and quick to install, and as a result of their lightweight, you can easily transport them and use them for an underlying structure. The solid roof conservatories are a worthwhile investment which also provides the following advantages:

✓ It helps you save money. If they actually cost more, how can they save money? The solid roof conservatories provides many benefits but the most obvious one is improved insulation. And when a space is properly insulated, your heating bills will be significantly reduced. Hence, saving you some money.

✓ It also improves the safety of both you and your loved ones.

A polycarbonate conservatory roof is made using a polycarbonate which is a contemporary plastic material that features several beneficial properties which gives it a high optical clarity as well as a good durability. Visually, it’s very similar to glass but its a lot more resistant to impact  which makes it just as strong as some metals. As a result, there are a lot of cases where polycarbonate is used as a replacement for security windows and more. If you happen to possess a polycarbonate conservatory, then you’d probably like to know how you can fix it in case of any damages. In this post, we’re going to consider how to repair polycarbonate conservatory roofs. Let’s take a look!

There are a bunch of effective methods you can consider for fusing or gluing polycarbonate plastic. Glues will leave an adhesive behind, while fusing results in a chemical reaction which enables the material to melt back together. Here is a great method you can use to repair polycarbonate plastic:

• Use of methyl methacrylate. Due to the fact that this creates a strong, resilient bond, methyl methacrylate is the best way to fuse polycarbonate. According to some of the users, if they try to pull the polycarbonate apart the unaffected part will break before the bond does. During the application of methyl methacrylate, you’d have to ensure you’re in a well ventilated area or outdoor. This is because the fume generated from methyl methacrylate can be toxic if it’s inhaled in a high concentration.

uPVC is unplasticised polyvinyl chloride. It is a favourite amongst homeowners and manufacturers for its cheap production cost and excellent benefits. uPVC is used for window frames, conservatories and doors. In fact, uPVC can be three times cheaper than wooden frames and is also the most energy efficient option.As well as this, uPVC is now available in a range of colours other than the typically seen bright white finish. It can also be recycled, is durable and resistant to changing weather conditions.