The Conservatory Conversion Guide

07/4470

FIRE RESISTANT

EXT.S.AA

RATED

For technica l in format ion :

metrotile KNOWLEDGEBASE knowledgebase.metrotile.co.uk

Your complete guide to turning a conservatory into a room for year-round use

Is your conservatory achieving its potential? A great conservatory should be an asset to your home all year round, but all too often they are only usable for limited periods of the year. In summer they can be too hot, and less pleasant than simply sitting in the garden. In winter they can get cold and damp, leaving you either with a big heating bill or a serious case of the chills.

What is a conservatory for?

We all know what happens in many busy family homes - the conservatory becomes a dumping ground for old toys, rusty scooters and boxes of stuff you can’t decide what to do with. Instead of being somewhere airy and relaxing, it becomes cluttered and unwelcoming.

So what should you do to maximise the potential of your unloved conservatory? This guide contains lots of tips for how to make the space more comfortable, but the starting point should always be a vision for how you want to use the space.

Is it going to be a playroom for the kids, a games room, a dining room or a quiet spot for working from home? Perhaps you just want your conservatory to be a tranquil space where you can unwind in the evenings with a glass of wine and the latest episode of your favourite show.

When you think through your ideal use of the conservatory, you’ll be on your way to identifying the steps needed to make your dream a reality.

Conservatory or garden room?

A garden room is a next-generation conservatory, essentially. It usually has a tiled roof covering with fully or partially glazed walls and leads directly into another space within the home, making it feel like a bright and welcoming extension to the house, rather than an added-on space.

Conservatories first became popular in the UK in the 1970s, and some people now see the traditional format as a bit dated. The new concept is a garden room, which is a slightly more solid structure that moves on from the aluminium-framed or basic uPVC structures of yesteryear. Usually it uses better insulation and materials to improve temperatures and durability.

In case you were wondering, it’s called a garden room because it gives a spectacular view of your garden, surrounded by flowers but without the creepy crawlies and chilly breezes!

How can you make your conservatory more comfortable?

A well-insulated conservatory should be a great place to spend time, all year round. If your conservatory is much too cold for comfort in the winter months, the first thing to do is check for draughts. Worn seals on glazing panels, cracks and chinks around doors and windows, even dropped roof panels can all let out warm air and leave you feeling chilly. Even a few simple draught excluders can make a big difference.

For technica l in format ion :

metrotile KNOWLEDGEBASE knowledgebase.metrotile.co.uk

Thermal shutters or blinds are often a worthwhile investment to make your conservatory more comfortable. These work by trapping a layer of air against the wall or glazing, helping to keep you warm. They also keep out strong sunlight in summer months, so you can prevent the conservatory from becoming a sweltering heat trap.

Heating is another key consideration. Once you know your conservatory has decent insulation so the heat will not escape immediately, adding a heat source for colder months is the next step. This could be a plug-in heater, underfloor heating system or extension of the property’s central heating system (although beware - this could require building regulation approval).

Underfloor heating systems can be retrofitted into almost any conservatory. While there are strict rules on what conservatory walls and roofs can be made from, there is much more leeway with flooring options so you can maximise the cosy factor with thick underlay and an energy-efficient heating system.

Don’t overlook the importance of textures in your conservatory, either. In summer months you might prefer to go with a Mediterranean look, complete with tiled flooring, pretty planters and the kind of furniture you’d find on a Tuscan terrace. In winter months you can re-style the space for a more hygge feel, with lots of piled up cushions, fluffy rugs and throws. The soft furnishings will make the space more welcoming as surfaces will feel less cold to the touch.

Is it time for a new roof?

Older conservatory roofs - even those from just ten years ago - frequently have very poor insulation qualities. Double-glazed glass or polycarbonate roofs perform poorly, allowing too much heat out in winter and trapping too much in summer.

A full conservatory replacement is costly, but roof replacement is often an effective and affordable alternative. Modern conservatory tiled roofs look much more in-keeping with the rest of your property, avoiding the tacked-on look of many white uPVC conservatories.

Although tiled roofs for conservatories look from a distance like they are made from standard roofing tiles, in reality they are crafted from lightweight materials. The resulting roof is much better in terms of insulation but still light enough to be supported by almost any wall structure.

There are also hybrid roofing options that provide great insulation while keeping the roof partially transparent, for example by using skylights or glazed roofing sections.

www.metrotile.co.uk

For technica l in format ion :

metrotile KNOWLEDGEBASE knowledgebase.metrotile.co.uk

If you are opting for a root-and-branch upgrade of the conservatory, for example by replacing wall panels or doors, it’s worth considering which way the conservatory faces and perhaps adding bi-folding doors, French windows or patio doors that can be opened in the summer for an indoor-outdoor feel.

Thinking carefully about how the sun travels around your property will also let you plan how to position sun shades, furniture, lighting and plants so the conservatory looks great at any time of day or year. If you’re replacing the roof of a south-facing conservatory, you might opt to extend the line of the roof so an overhang provides a shady seating space for the baking summer months.

In terms of filling your conservatory with furniture and plants, less is generally more. Choosing pieces that suit the size and shape of your conservatory will pay off, while leaving plenty of empty space will give a feeling of calm and relaxation.

Conservatories work well when the design and plants are chosen to fit seamlessly with the garden outside. For example, if your garden has a Japanese theme you might echo this with a water feature in the conservatory, or choose plants with a colour scheme to match those outside. This attention to detail is what sets apart a run-of-the-mill conservatory from a truly stunning one.

Hiring a fancy architect or designer might not be within everyone’s budget, but with a little thought and planning you can ensure your conservatory is an attractive and highly usable space which adds value to your property.

Do you need design skills to improve your conservatory?

For technica l in format ion :

metrotile KNOWLEDGEBASE knowledgebase.metrotile.co.uk

Issues with planning permission and building regulations can be costly and create delays and frustration. If you get it wrong, the conservatory could become a liability rather than an asset when you come to sell, with lawyers seeking confirmation that it meets legal requirements.

Thankfully, most conservatories are classed as ‘non-habitable dwellings’ which are viewed as permitted development and therefore do not need planning permission. However, there are some exceptions. You might need planning permission if:

● You live somewhere special e.g. a conservation area or Area of Natural Beauty● You have a terraced property or have already extended your home● The conservatory is at a higher level than the main property● The conservatory will increase the volume of your home by more than 15% or 70 cubic metres

There is also a legal definition of a conservatory. If your conservatory strays outside this definition, you may need planning permission or building regulation consent. According to the official definition, a conservatory generally does not require building regulation approval if it:

● Is separated from your home by an external-style door● Has a floor area of less than 30m2● Has a roof which is at least 75% glazed● Has walls which are at least 50% glazed● Is a single-storey, ground level building● Is at least 1m from the boundary with other properties● Has glazing that meets the relevant British Standards

Is it better to go with a full replacement?

If you have the budget, you could opt for a full replacement of your conservatory. This could be simply replacing all wall and roofing materials to ensure they meet modern standards, or a more fundamental redesign starting from scratch. For larger properties, an orangery-style conservatory with semi-brick walls is popular.

However, it’s worth bearing in mind that a new-build conservatory can take up to a month to build, as well as all the noise and disruption involved. Depending on the design, you may also have to deal with planning permission issues, damage to your garden and the power and water systems being shut down while new installations are added to the conservatory.

For most people, the option of refreshing the conservatory with a new roof combined with thermal blinds or shutters will be enough to make the space much more comfortable and usable without breaking the bank.

When do conservatories require planning permission?

www.metrotile.co.ukTel: 01249 658514

eMail: sales@metrotile.co.ukTwitter: @metrotileuk

Metrotile UK LtdUnit 3, Sheldon Business ParkSheldon Corner, Chippenham

Wiltshire, SN14 0RQRegistration No. 2680324

Registered in England & Wales

What are your next steps?

If you’re interested in converting your conservatory into a more usable living space, why not get in touch to talk through your options?

Metrotile can recommend approved installers and provide all roofing materials needed, not just tiles. We offer a free, no-obligation quote. Get in touch on 01249 658 514 today to unlock the potential of your conservatory.