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Lean-to conservatories are often known as Mediterranean conservatories or sunrooms and are a great way to add more living space when you’ve only got a small amount of room to work with. They usually have clean lines, a rectangular shape and attach to the side or rear of your home, which makes them one of the easiest conservatory types to build yourself.

So how do you build a wooden lean-to conservatory? The first step is to decide what you want it to look like. Most lean-to conservatories are constructed of glass and the wood frame, but you can choose to have dwarf walls too. Dwarf walls are low brick walls that are useful if you’re planning to plumb in radiators, have air conditioning installed or put plug sockets in the conservatory.

When you’ve decided what your wooden lean-to conservatory is going to look like, you’ll need to get the materials. You’ll need to choose a hardy wood – oak is the most expensive but also the most durable – and source glass for the windows. You’ll also need to decide on a roof material and work out the correct pitch.

The first step to building your wooden lean-to conservatory is to dig the foundations. You’ll then need to level the earth, then add concrete to the correct height, which should be lower than your property’s existing damp course. Then, you’ll build up to the damp course, which will be your conservatory’s floor level. Don’t forget to make sure it’s even.

If you’re building a dwarf wall, start it from the base and build up to no more than 1 metre high. Once the cement is dry, place external sills on top of the dwarf wall. You’ll then need to secure the frames; start with the one that secures to your property, then do the same for the rest, connecting outwards until they meet from the two sides. Then put up your doors.

Now it’s time to build the roof. This should be simple if you’ve bought your own custom-made kit. Place the roof ridge on top of the frames, then add the roof rafters between the roof ridge and hip bars. Fit your glazing sheets and guttering – it’s important that your wooden conservatory roof has guttering just like your house, otherwise your conservatory roof won’t last very long and could even cause rainwater to rot your wooden frames.

Once you’ve built your wooden lean-to conservatory, all that’s left is to decide on how you want to decorate it. But if this all sounds like too much, get in touch with specialist wooden conservatory installers who will be able to give you a quote for building you a lean-to conservatory.

After being in the shadows of conservatories for so long, Orangeries are now pulling a great comeback into the scenes. They were quite popular back in the 17th and 18th century, but went into the drawers with the advent of conservatories. In recent times, Orangeries are now becoming more and more popular with several homeowners now looking to have one constructed in their homes.

Like many other home improvements or extensions, orangery prices can vary based on a number of factors. However, you can expect to incur within the range of £15,000 to £20,000 for a basic orangery design and build. If you wish to build orangeries with more distinctive features, this price can jump up to £50,000 or more depending on your preferences. Generally, orangeries are more likely to be a bit cheaper when compared to their conventional extension counterparts and add more value to your home than a conservatory in terms of a resale.

For the best results, it’s advisable to investing good money to ensure a solid build and save money in the fittings. Do not look to cut costs by going for cheaper building materials like poor quality vines. Generally, interior design will always depreciate in value, but its the solid structure that command great value for resale purposes. Also, when the structure is solid and of a great quality, you’ll get to save a lot of repair money down the line as the cheaper frames will always give way with time. However, if you have the money, you can also consider spending huge bucks on both the structure as well as the fittings because its only through this you truly maximize the benefits from your orangery. When the fittings are of great quality, repairs won’t come often which ultimately saves you some money as well.

When people talk about finishes on a wooden conservatory, there are a few different things that they may be referring to. Some may be referring to the colour and type of wood used to build the conservatory, but they may also be talking about the type of treatment used to protect the wood from the weather. We’ll cover both bases for what finish is best on a wooden conservatory here.

When you’re thinking about the best wood type and finish for the conservatory, it’s best to go with a hardwood. There are both hardwoods and softwoods, and hardwoods are the most durable. Oak is the most expensive choice but is also the most durable, so lots of people decide to go for this option. Other good choices that are slightly cheaper are Brazilian cedar and idigbo. Softwoods like European redwood or Siberian larch are cheaper still, but they won’t last as long, so it may work out more cost-effective to spend more on a hardwood.

Wood is a natural material, so it’s important to look after your wooden conservatory to prevent it from rotting or getting attacked by bugs and pests. Your conservatory will be exposed to all weathers, so you’ll need to use a good finish to ensure that it stays in tip-top condition for years to come. Your installer should be able to tell you what’s best, but some of the best finishes for a wooden conservatory include breathable varnishes and decking oil. However, if you do use an oil, it’s best to use a preservative treatment too; oil will only repel water. Joints are particularly susceptible to water penetration, so make sure you use a good wood treatment and focus on areas where water would pool during rain. Then you can apply a decking oil afterwards.

Conservatories have long been a favourite home improvement with homeowners, and there are no signs of that trend going away. And because of that, they add value to homes.

Wooden conservatories add value to your home just as any other type would. In fact, in some cases a wooden conservatory will add more value to your property than a uPVC or aluminium one, for example if your home is a period property. A wooden conservatory will fit in keeping with the rest of an older property, so buyers will prefer a period home with a wood conservatory over a uPVC one.

It’s important to remember that wooden conservatories cost more than uPVC ones, but that does mean that they will add more value. They look more stylish than uPVC conservatories and may last just as long with the right care and maintenance, so if a wooden conservatory would complement your home much more than uPVC they’re worth looking into.

A wooden conservatory will set you back anywhere between £25,000 to £60,000, so factor this in when you’re thinking about how much value it will add to your home. It’s also worth thinking about the other things that will have an impact on the value it will add to your home, such your property’s location, whether conservatories are a common addition to houses in your area, the general look of your home and whether the conservatory would take up a large part of your garden. If you’re unsure whether a wooden conservatory will add enough value to your home, you could speak to a surveyor or valuer to give you their opinion before you start any work.

How Much To Change Roof On Conservatory?

If your existing conservatory roof is looking a bit tired and worn out, it may just be time you stopped the frequent repairs and maintenance, and start to think about getting a replacement. However, before you change the roof on your conservatory, there’s always a need to find out the cost to complete the project before you proceed so as to help you set a budget and start to plan. In this article, we’re going to give you a rough estimate of the cost of a changing a conservatory roof. Let’s take a look!

Generally, the prices of conservatory roofs varies largely on the a number of factors which includes the material used as well as the size of the conservatory.

✓ Polycarbonate conservatory roof - if you’re looking for the most affordable conservatory roof material option, then this is your material. Polycarbonate is very easy to work on and needs just a little framing skill which makes labour quite cheap. Furthermore, each panels are also relatively inexpensive when compared to glass panel or tile area. The price of this material will normally range between £200 to £300 per square metre for installation.

✓ Glass conservatory roof. This material is very energy efficient and will also add great value to your home. The price of this conservatory roof material will usually range between £300 to £360 per square metre for installation.

✓ Solid conservatory roof. This conservatory roof material possesses the best insulation properties alongside the longest lifespan. The solid tile roof the most secure which also offers the most privacy alongside many other benefits. These benefits, however, can only imply a higher cost. For a solid conservatory roof, the price per metre square normally varies between £445 to £650.

What Is A Conservatory?

A conservatory is basically a structure constructed on a property that’s usually attached to the side of a home. It’s a room as well as a greenhouse that’s constructed with the help of a wide range of materials which includes bricks, wood, glass and polycarbonate. A conservatory is typically built with a great amount of glass which enables it to offer huge amount of sun and light. During construction, the idea is always to muster sufficient sunlight for the plants while also enabling a cosy room within the structure especially during the cold months. Generally, conservatory extensions’ walls are made of over 50 percent of glass, while their roofs are usually made up of more than 75 percent glass.

Thanks to the advancement in technology, conservatories have also greatly developed over the years. They’ve significantly evolved from the usual luxury greenhouses to normal and everyday home extensions. Conservatories have also grown to become very energy-efficient while also providing super comfort to the extent that they’re now being used throughout the year. And while it’s formerly known to be an occasional room, it’s now more of a home’s extension.

Legally, conservatories are usually covered by what’s called the permitted development rights which exempts them from both planning permission and building regulations. The conditions below form the legal definition of a conservatory to differentiate it from an extension.

✓ Below 30 square metres in size

✓ Constructed at ground level

✓ Separated from the main building by external walls, doors or windows.

✓ Possesses its own stand alone heating system

✓ The glazing as well as fixed electrical fittings are in compliance with the relevant building regulations.

Generally, if you want to do a job, you can as well ensure that’s done properly. You may be considering building a small base for an orangery, but no matter how small it is, it just shouldn’t be done to any other than a compliant standard, and that’s whether or not an approval is needed. When it comes to building work which is covered by Building Regulations, you are required to comply (by the law) with the regulations and to make use of one of the two types of Building Control Service available. These includes the Building Control Service given by your local authority or the Building Control Service given by approved inspectors.

Regardless of the service you opt for, you’re going to pay but the preferred service may offer an advice before commencement of the project. The individual carrying out the building work is charged with the responsibility of ensuring total compliance with the regulations. Therefore, if you select to undertake the project by yourself, the responsibility is primarily on you. In the same vein, if you opt for a building company the responsibility would be the company’s, but you should always ensure to confirm this position before commencement of the project. You must also take note that you may be served with an enforcement notice if you fail to comply with the regulations as the owner of the building. So it’s advisable that you choose your builder very carefully.

There are a bunch of elements you may require approval for like the structural integrity, appropriate insulation levels, or the construction of a building over drainage or sewage. In cases where it’s obvious that you’d need building regulations, you can simply submit the building and planning application together at once.

Aluminium conservatories are really easy to maintain, making them a top choice for many homeowners. Unlike wooden conservatories, they don’t need regular treatment to ensure they don’t deteriorate.

The most you’ll need to do to keep your aluminium conservatory looking great is give the frames and glass an odd wipe with water and a mild detergent to get rid of any occasional dirt.