Perhaps the most important point when planning the sort of conservatory is to ensure that it is in keeping with the rest of the house. Ornate conservatories can look wrong on a plain Georgian or 1960s house, for instance, and modern materials do not complement period buildings. Although it is wise to make the most of your new space, make sure that it does not dwarf the original house by making it too big. Similarly, do not lose too much of your garden by being over-ambitious with your conservatory plans.
When planning your dimensions it is a good idea to mark the area out with string and place some garden furniture in it, to get an idea of how much room you need. If you are planning to use it as a dining room, make sure that you have enough room for a dining table and chairs.
Think carefully about the positioning of French doors. Having them at the front of the conservatory is good when they are open leading on to the lawn but it can give a corridor feel and restrict where you put your furniture. It may therefore be better to have them at the side, leading on to the patio or garden path.
There is little consistency within the industry as to what constitutes a Victorian, Edwardian or Georgian conservatory. Even the humble "lean-to" design is often referred to as a Home Extender. There are brochures galore, however, showing every possible variation, and the Internet is an excellent starting point.
If you do not feel up to going it totally alone, you can always pay for a bricklayer to build the base or get a carpenter to erect the conservatory. By doing the work yourself you have control over the finish, you are not going to rush and take shortcuts which may in the long run be problematical and, if you are a perfectionist, you only have yourself to blame for any parts of the job that are less than perfect.
If you are employing a building company to do the work, be aware that much of it may be subcontracted out. Make sure that you are happy with the professionalism of everyone working on the project and do not be afraid of asking questions, such as who is responsible for disposing of the rubbish generated. By all means negotiate your price but it rarely pays to take the cheapest quote. Unfortunately it is usually the less professional companies that can afford to be beaten down on price. Although this is obviously a more expensive option than a DIY job, you may not have the skills or time necessary for the job, in which case it will be money well spent.
When planning your dimensions it is a good idea to mark the area out with string and place some garden furniture in it, to get an idea of how much room you need. If you are planning to use it as a dining room, make sure that you have enough room for a dining table and chairs.
Think carefully about the positioning of French doors. Having them at the front of the conservatory is good when they are open leading on to the lawn but it can give a corridor feel and restrict where you put your furniture. It may therefore be better to have them at the side, leading on to the patio or garden path.
There is little consistency within the industry as to what constitutes a Victorian, Edwardian or Georgian conservatory. Even the humble "lean-to" design is often referred to as a Home Extender. There are brochures galore, however, showing every possible variation, and the Internet is an excellent starting point.
DIY or builder
Much will of course depend on your level of expertise but if you are on a limited budget and keen on DIY then it is well worth exploring the "kits" available. They come with full instructions and most suppliers will be happy to advise on particular problems. It is fair to say that you only get what you pay for so buy the best that you can afford. The "kit" does not include the materials for the base so remember to take this into account when budgeting.If you do not feel up to going it totally alone, you can always pay for a bricklayer to build the base or get a carpenter to erect the conservatory. By doing the work yourself you have control over the finish, you are not going to rush and take shortcuts which may in the long run be problematical and, if you are a perfectionist, you only have yourself to blame for any parts of the job that are less than perfect.
If you are employing a building company to do the work, be aware that much of it may be subcontracted out. Make sure that you are happy with the professionalism of everyone working on the project and do not be afraid of asking questions, such as who is responsible for disposing of the rubbish generated. By all means negotiate your price but it rarely pays to take the cheapest quote. Unfortunately it is usually the less professional companies that can afford to be beaten down on price. Although this is obviously a more expensive option than a DIY job, you may not have the skills or time necessary for the job, in which case it will be money well spent.
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