W2D-015 Homes and gardens-2.txt
What to look for in a conservatory

NO matter what the reason for building one, there can be no doubt that the addition of a conservatory will increase the value of a home and provide a room with a difference.

It therefore pays to select carefully, warns Charlie Woods, manager of BDG Conservatories.

It is also desirable that the sun should shine in the new room. However a south facing conservatory will become stiflingly hot if not properly ventilated.

While high level opening windows are fine to air the room an opening roof vent is even more efficient. It is worth considering incorporating thermally controlled roof vents.

No longer is the conservatory a room which is used only in summer and for that reason double glazing is generally standard nowadays. In particularly sunny locations, tinted glass may be desirable as it cuts down both glare and heat.

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Glare can also be caused by very light coloured ceramic floor tiles and it is worth keeping this in mind when choosing from the wide range of floor coverings available.

The most common materials used in the framework of a conservatory are aluminium, timber and PVCU. Each of these have their advantages and disadvantages. Aluminium provides a very strong structure but may not perform as well thermally as PVCU while wood requires more maintenance than either.

Lighting can create atmosphere as well as fulfilling a practical purpose and in many dwellings the fluorescent strip has been replaced by more subtle means of ceiling and wall lighting.

A ceiling fan can help ventilation but can also incorporate lighting and be decorative.
