Add more space to your home with a conservatory
In an era of austerity, when mortgages are less easy to come by, homeowners are choosing to stay put. Rather than spending money trying to move home, they’re extending their homes instead. Naturally, there’s still some disruption and expense involved, but repurposing outdoor space is a good way to make your existing home last longer.
Conservatories offer a great balance between cost and expense, and they’re usually fairly hassle-free in terms of installation. If your family has outgrown the house you’re in, maybe a conservatory is the solution.
Location, Location, Location
Practically any home can have a conservatory without planning permission. However, it’s critical that you get the Hamiltons team round to check out your garden space first.
If you have any manholes in your garden, that’s the first potential obstacle to work around. Planning rules dictate that you can’t erect a conservatory within 3 metres of a manhole cover. Moving a manhole is possible, but it can be expensive, so contact your local water authority to make enquiries.
You cannot use up more than half of your land when building a conservatory; the land is considered to be the original land, before any extensions or additions were built. You can’t extend forwards from the house, and you can’t go higher than the existing roof. You also won’t be allowed to place any balconies or verandas on it.
There are some additional planning rules around size and position, but the vast majority of conservatories fall well within the limits. We’ll get a feel for your ideas and help you to rework anything that may conflict with the rules.
Typical Construction
Conservatories come in many different styles and finishes, and the style and size needs to be fitting for the age and size of your property.
You can opt for blue glass to keep out excessive heat if your conservatory is south facing. We can also offer a solid roof, or a glazed one, according to your preferences.
One thing to consider is the need to keep heat constant, because your conservatory needs to be usable all year round if it’s to offer you that vital extra living space. We recommend high windows for ventilation, and an air conditioning unit that can blow cool or warm air. If you don’t want to install air conditioning, then underfloor heating helps to keep the room toasty.
It’s also possible to put a radiator in a conservatory, but this won’t be allowed by building regulations unless it has its own temperature controls. Again, this can be a complex area, but we’ll talk you through it when you’re ready to order.
Getting More Information
Any kind of extension needs to be carefully planned in order to serve the intended purpose: giving you more space, and letting your family spread out. Hamiltons are the experts in conservatories and glass roof extensions: let us lead the way. Get help with your conservatory planning when you give us a call today.
