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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.

The main features of a lean to conservatory is a flat angled roof which is backward sloping. This type of conservatory is best added to houses which do not have height or possesses only a small space. If you’re looking to install a lean to conservatory in your home or property, one of the first things you’d have to consider is the cost of getting it done so you can set a budget and start planning. In this article, we’ll give you an idea of how much a lean to conservatory price is, so you can have a rough estimate for your conservatory requirements.

Generally, the average cost of conservatory can be within the range of £5000 to £20000 and of course this depends on both the design and home. There are a number of influencing factors that can play a key role when it comes to determining how much you’ll be paying for your conservatory. Some of these factors include the size, style, material, colour as well as the roof type. All of these factors can greatly determine the overall price of your lean to conservatory, so you’d most likely have to approach the acquisition process as a multi-staged concept so as to get the perfect fit for your home in every level.

So with these factors in mind, a lean to conservatory style with a polycarbonate roof material will range between £8100 to £11900. A lean to conservatory style with a glass roof material will range between £9000 to £13200. Overall, the lean to style prices usually ranges from £3900 to £20000 depending on the size of the structure.

What Is The Best Material For A Conservatory Roof?

In the past, conservatories normally have just a single roof material option - polycarbonate. However, there are a number of problems that was faced by some of the older models such as overheating, leaking roof, cold spots as well as poor sound insulation. With the great improvement in conservatory roof technology, better models have been developed which have completely eradicated these issues.

In recent times, we now have a wider varieties of materials that are incorporated to make conservatory roofs which are able to perform much better for a longer period of time. While tiled roof are incredibly useful to minimize heat loss, glass roof make use of clever reflective coating to keep the space at a comfortable temperature and modern polycarbonate roofs are now more energy efficient than it has ever been. So picking the best material for your conservatory roof is now a matter of preference.

✓ Glass conservatory roofs. This type of conservatory roof material is the perfect choice if you want a sleek, architectural finish for your conservatory. Not only are they available indifferent shapes and sizes, but you can also choose a large atrium style roof. They are made using solid aluminium frames that works to support the glass units which are thermally efficient and designed to retain natural heat while reflecting the sun’s glare.

✓ Tiled conservatory roof. Tiles roof are able to fit both the shape and size of your conservatory which provides you with a sloping or vaulted ceiling. They come in varying tiled finishes to match any style home like Marley clay, slate grey, pale shingles amongst others. Tiled roof are also called “warm roofs due to their particularly high levels of thermal insulation. They can also be installed quite easily and as quickly as any other conservatory roof options.

Does A Conservatory Add Value?

if you’re looking to get a new conservatory built in your home or you’re moving into a new home that features a conservatory, it’s understandable if you’re wondering whether or not a conservatory adds value to a property.

Adding a conservatory to your home will not only create additional space, but it’ll also add value to it. When the right style, fit and shape is chosen, your conservatory can become an asset that’ll be well worth the investment when you want to dispose your home or property. Generally, a conservatory is estimated to add about 7 percent value to a home as stated by a popular property personality Phil Spencer. However, the correct level of the value it adds will be based on how well your conservatory is built as well as well it matches with its surroundings. As a result, when building your conservatory, it’s crucial to make sure that the new living space fits your home perfectly well in such a way that it showcases your property’s style of interior in order to create continuity.

When building your new living space, the first thing to do is to determine the best place for the structure to be placed. This should be given your total consideration because conservatories that look out of place can actually end up causing more harm than good like reducing the value of your property, as the potential investor may see it as more of a burden pr something that needs to be fixed.

If you choose a conservatory that perfectly suits the rest of your home and also creates value by allowing you derive maximum benefits from your garden, it’s likely to be a hot cake amongst potential buyers.

The roof is the place that your conservatory is most likely to get grubby, but cleaning it is easy. You shouldn’t need to use any powerful cleaners – just warm water and a mild detergent.

The best tool to use to access your conservatory roof is a telescopic brush. This will help you get into corners and high areas without needing to work from height. You can use a ladder to help you clean your conservatory roof, but you should be very careful to avoid leaning it against any glazing

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Consider investing in a telescopic cleaner with squeegee, brush and mop attachments to help you achieve a great finish on your aluminium conservatory.

Getting its name from it’s original use and commonly mistaken for conservatories, orangeries were developed about four hundred years ago to help protect citrus fruits from the winter frosts. An orangery is basically a room extension featuring a flat perimeter roof, brick base as well as a central roof lantern including doors and windows. Even though it originates from Italy and made more modern by Holland’s architectural development, orangeries have grown to become an ubiquitous phenomenon within the British society with thousands of the extension being built every year. They’re built in a similar way to conservatories, however, orangeries are typically developed from a brick base and usually making use of a stone or brick pillars to provide support to a flat roof perimeter. Also, the common choice for an orangery is a central roof lantern including glass panels or vent windows. Unlike conservatories which usually make use of patio doors, orangeries are more likely to have more complex bi-folding door system - enhancing the visual appeal of the extension in a more unique and stylish way.

Orangeries typically incorporates less glass when compared to a conservatory - thereby, allowing a moderate amount of natural light into the space. This way, you would not have to go outdoors to enjoy the sunlight during the summer months. Generally, the extension also offers a atrium-style ceiling height while also protecting your space from excessive sunlight and adding character to your home.

In conclusion, orangeries are an excellent choice when it comes to extending your home - be it to make a room larger or adding a new room all together. Ultimately, they go a long way to add incredible value to your home for resale purposes. Orangeries are best installed by seasoned professionals in order to ensure the best outcome.

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.

When you build a new wood-constructed conservatory, or any type of conservatory, you’ll need to dig a trench for the footings. You’ll need to dig to a minimum depth of 600mm and at least 300mm below your property’s damp proof course. When you dig down, you might expose obstacles such as underground pipes.

If this happens, you’ll need lintels for your wood-constructed conservatory. These are usually concrete and protect the pipes or obstructions from being crushed. You may also want to use steel mesh for additional support.

Building Regulations state that if an opening is formed in a wall, the structure above the opening needs to be supported. This will be especially relevant if you’re building a wooden lean-to conservatory. It says that there are two ways that you can use lintels to provide support.

The first way involves using a steel lintel to support both the inner and outer leaf of a cavity wall. It can then serve as a cavity tray that directs moisture from the cavity through the outer skin of the wall as well.

The second way to use lintels is to use two steel or concrete lintels. They support each leaf of a cavity wall construction. You’ll need separate thermal insulation and a cavity tray as well.

Whatever type of lintel you use, it should have a suitable bearing onto the wall at each side. If you’re not sure, speak to the manufacturer of your wood-constructed conservatory, or ask a reputable company to install it for you.