A conservatory is a great addition to any home, it can add some much-needed space whilst filling your home in glorious natural sunlight. Although, committing to a conservatory installation can feel like a huge deal and it’s only understandable you’d have plenty of questions, which is why we’ve compiled this list of our most frequently asked questions about conservatories.
In many cases, you won’t be required to apply for planning permission however, if you’re hoping to build an extension in a conservation or protected area there will likely be further restrictions in place and you can discuss these with both us and your local council for more guidance. If you’re living in a standard residential area you won’t be required to apply for planning permission as long as your conservatory abides by these restrictions:
These restrictions were set to expire in May 2019 but the UK government decided to make them permanent.
Read more: What do I need when building an extension?
Here at Reddish Joinery, we offer a range of conservatory styles to suit your home. Every conservatory we offer is made bespoke in line with your personal preferences and dream design. With this being said we offer five styles of conservatory for you to choose from.
The Victorian-style conservatory is one of the most popular choices among British homeowners. They feature a ridged roof and a multi-faceted end wall which creates a rounded effect.
An Edwardian conservatory is the perfect choice for homeowners who love the style of a Victorian conservatory but require more space. They also feature a ridged roof but sit on a rectangular base instead.
Lean-to conservatories feature a single-sloped roof with the longer wall adjoined to your house. A lean-to conservatory is a great choice as it’s suitable for almost all property styles and sizes.
A P-shaped conservatory is a combination of a lean-to and either a Victorian or Edwardian conservatory, creating that classicly recognisable ‘P’ shape.
A gable conservatory is instantly recognisable by its rectangular roof plan and triangular front. A gable roof is great for creating the illusion of more space thanks to the large front windows that extend to meet the roof.
Read more: What shapes and sizes are orangeries & conservatories available in?
Here at Reddish Joinery, we offer timber and uPVC conservatories both of which are excellent choices for conservatories in the UK. Whichever you choose you’re guaranteed to receive exceptional energy efficiency, security, and aesthetics.
We’ve created this helpful table to help you make your decision:
| Accoya (timber) | uPVC |
| Able to last for 80+ years & come with a 50-year warranty | Lasts between 25-30 years |
| Requires much less maintenance than traditional timber | Virtually maintenance-free |
| Double glazed | Double glazed |
| Naturally thermally insulating | Feature ultra-efficient low-e glass |
| Classic and contemporary colours available | Huge selection of colours including timber effect |
| Colour matching available | Colour matching available |
| Rot, warp & UV resistant design | Durable weather protection |
| Incredibly sustainable | Environmentally responsible |
Read more: The top benefits of uPVC and timber orangeries
Of course! Every conservatory we install is bespoke to the customer’s needs, wants and preferences. The size and shape of your conservatory are completely down to you and our team is happy to discuss your options with you after your first consultation. As we’ve been an installer for over 50 years we’re able to advise you on the most suitable conservatory based on your needs and the purpose of the room.
You’ll also be able to decide on a bespoke colour for your conservatory, we’re able to colour match your conservatory to your existing window and door colours. We also offer a great selection of colours in our own range, offering opaque stains for our timber conservatories.
It’s no secret that a conservatory is a sizable investment, after all you’re extending your home but did you know that by adding a conservatory to your home you could increase its value by up to 15%, making it a great return on investment. We don’t advertise the price of our conservatories as each of our conservatories is bespoke to the customer. There are a number of factors that will affect the final cost of your conservatory.
Read more: What does a conservatory or orangery cost?
If you’ve noticed your existing conservatory is overheating in the summer and becoming too cold to use in the winter you might be wondering what you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your conservatory and make it comfortable to use all year round. You’re able to replace your existing conservatory roof with a modern alternative that is certain to improve both the thermal performance and security of your conservatory. Here at Reddish Joinery, we will always send an expert member of our team out to assess the structural integrity of your conservatory before beginning any work.
We offer three different replacement conservatory roof options, each with their own benefits and aesthetics.
Read more: Supalite vs Lantern Roofs: which replacement conservatory roof is best?
An orangery is another type of glazed extension that has grown increasingly popular with British homeowners, they’re often confused with conservatories as they’re both single-storey glazed extensions. An orangery features more brickwork and are often considered a more traditional extension, because of the reduced amount of glazing and solid or atrium style roof. Orangeries are considered a more premium option as they often have a higher price point but of course, this is dependent on the design choices you make.
Read more: Conservatories vs Orangeries: which is better for extending my home?
