Our bespoke roof system allows us to provide a wide range of conservatories and roofs tailored for your individual requirements. A conservatory can offer the luxury of an additional room within the home and compared to the costs of an extension, a conservatory would be available to you at a fraction of the cost!
There’s no disguising the fact that choosing a conservatory is a major decision. We pride ourselves in advising you with the best solution regarding style and design. It is vital that we get it right, to ensure years of enjoyment from what could be the perfect investment to your home and lifestyle.
Conservatory styles -
Victorian -
Thanks to its impressive versatility and its ability to complement most types of property, the Victorian is one of the most frequently seen styles of conservatory. It can be distinguished by its steeply pitched roof and its use of ornate detailing along the roof's centre apex (called the ridge). Typically, Victorian conservatories have 3 or 5 panel facets.
Edwardian -
The Edwardian conservatory is similar to the Victorian. The main difference is that they are flat fronted where as the Victorian has an angular front. Representing a perfect marriage of form and function, they also tend to be more understated - making them the ideal choice if you do not wish to detract from the visual impact of the main property.
Lean-to -
Lean-to conservatories are usually rectangular with a roof that leans on to the main property (hence their name). They have clean, simple lines giving them a modern, uncomplicated look and making them suitable for a wide range of house styles. In particular, they are the ideal choice for bungalows or other homes where the roof has low eaves. Lean-to conservatories are also known as sunrooms and studio rooms.
P-Shaped/Combination -
Combination and P-shaped conservatories are everything their titles suggest. They offer you more space and greater levels of flexibility by combining two styles - such as the Georgian and the Lean-to - or by adapting an existing style so that it can be used in the shape of a 'P'. Should you find that a P-Shape or Combination still does not provide the unique design solution you are looking for, we can also create a totally bespoke conservatory tailored to your own specific needs.
Roof Glazing –
- Glass is the superior option for glazing roofs. We can offer wide range of climate glasses that will provide year round temperature control – reducing the passage of the sun’s heat in the summer and insulate thermally in the winter whilst maximising the daylight! In addition our climate glass has the added benefit of being crystal clear, toughened safety as standard and we can incorporate self – cleaning!
- Polycarbonate is a special type of translucent plastic that is used in most conservatory roofs. It has been developed to provide a light, inexpensive and easy to install alternative to glass, whilst still offering similar levels of heat insulation and light transmission to standard double-glazing.
Planning Permission?
If you live in England or Wales, you do not usually require planning permission for a new conservatory unless you live in a conservation area or a listed property. Another case where you might need planning permission is if your property has already been extended in some way. Most properties have a development limit of 50 - 70 cubic metres (depending on where you live). If the original property has been added to, some of this 'permitted development' area may have been used up.
It is also worth noting that occasionally 'permitted development' rights may have been withdrawn from a property and any extension no matter how small needs permission. If you have any doubts at all, check with your local authority.
Building Regulations -
Again if you live in England and Wales, conservatories are usually exempt from building regulations. As a general rule to qualify for this exemption, your conservatory should meet the following criteria laid out under the 1991 Building Regulations:
- The extension has a completely transparent or translucent roof.
- The extension's walls are substantially glazed (no more than 25% of its wall area should be brickwork).
- The extension has a floor area not exceeding 30m2.
If you have any doubts at all, check with your local authority.