Turning an unused conservatory into the heart of the home

Adding a conservatory is one of the top 10 home improvements carried out within the UK, adding space to the property and increasing its value. With 11 out of 13 regions currently experiencing falling house prices, increasing the value of our homes is becoming ever more important.

When choosing a new conservatory, many people opt for the supplier with the cheapest price or with the glossiest brochure. The most important factors to consider are the design of the conservatory, how it will be used as part of your home, the quality of the fitting and it’s year round suitability.

Badly fitted conservatories are prone to leaks and drafts, always choose a supplier who seems knowledgeable in how the conservatory will blend with your own home and is able to identify any potential problems. Ask to visit a conservatory that the company fitted recently and one that was fitted a couple of years before, this way you can be sure that your new conservatory will stand the test of time and be fitted by a company with consistent standards.

There are currently four million homes in the UK with conservatories, many of which are unused due to various problems. One of the main issues is conservatories fitted with polycarbonate roofs instead of glass. Glass roofs, although more expensive, are 3.5 times more effective in keeping the room cool in the summer and 58% more thermally efficient at keeping the space warm in the winter. Conservatories fitted with planitherm glass and warm edged spacers will make your new room as energy efficient as possible.

Other problems include drafts due to poorly fitted windows and doors, leaks caused by insufficient lead flashings and condensation from a lack of opening windows in the conservatory.

Replacing your current conservatory is obviously a large expense that many people wish to avoid. There are many companies who specialise in repairs, upgrades and replacing polycarbonate roofs for more energy efficient glass roofs, such as Inspire Windows Ltd, based in Cardiff. For less than half of the cost of your original conservatory, the space could be turned into a functional and welcoming room to be used all year round.