Top Quality Conservatories And Orangeries.

In terms of design, orangeries have a lot more brickwork than conservatories. You can expect to see structures such as stone pillars, flat roofs and glass lantern roofs. This makes them far better insulated, as the stone is better at retaining heat than glass. On top of this, the windows are usually double or triple glazing to further block heat escaping through the windows, and roof panels that do the same for the roof. To further increase insulation, you can have heating/ventilation systems installed in the walls, and also in the floor. Because of these features, Orangeries are typically more expensive than conservatories.

Conservatories, on the other hand, have traditionally been made up almost entirely of glass. This has made them more difficult spaces to regulate heat in both the colder and warmer months. Conservatories are generally smaller and designed with a more contemporary look.

In some instances, a conservatory and an orangery can be constructed with a flat roof as opposed to a glazed roof, although people are increasingly choosing to add roof lanterns to their existing flat roof in order to allow more natural light into their space.

Building regulations do not require planning permission to be sought in most cases for conservatories and orangeries as they are considered as permitted development. There are a few conditions that must be met in order for planning permission not to be required including the following:

• The property must not have already been extended
• The conservatory or orangery must not extended over more than 50% of the garden area
• The roof must not reach any higher that the existing property roof (and must not exceed 4 metres, or 3 metres if within 2 metres of a boundary)
• The conservatory/orangery should not include any elevated platforms

Your installers will be able to advise you on whether your proposed conservatory or installer is likely to require planning permission. If you are unsure, you can contact your local planning authority.

In an orangery, you can use conventional means to block natural light, such as curtains or blinds. With conservatories and the mass of windows it’s made up of, these methods are much harder.

An easy method for ensuring privacy post-construction. These can cover most of the wall, blocking the view from the outside to whatever extent you wish. If you still want to enjoy the sunlight, then you could opt for sheer curtains or even blinds. This will allow for light to filter through whilst ensuring your privacy.

Another way to add privacy to your conservatory can only be done during construction or during the reconstruction of your conservatory. This method is to change the type of glass on your windows. Both frosted and tinted glass would be perfect for those who want a private conservatory, but do not want to have reduced light.

There is also another option to add window films to your already existing windows. Window films are thin, self-adhesive sheets that are applied directly to the surface of the glass. They’re made of polyester, vinyl and/or polypropylene. Be careful which type you want to add, however, as some film can greatly enhance the heat coming in from the sun, which may end up being particularly undesirable in the summer.

The last option we recommend for you is to add greenery to your conservatory. As previously mentioned, conservatories were often used to house exotic plants and host social gatherings, so you can actually plant these inside your home. If you care for the view of your garden, you can strategically place plants in areas that will obscure the view, such as near a low fence.

When hot, moist air comes into contact with colder surfaces, condensation occurs Condensation is much more common in conservatories than Orangeries because the latter usually have solid roofs, which can help keep the temperature consistent within the building. Also, the abundance of windows in a conservatory vastly outnumbers that within an Orangery. As a result, condensation can be very severe and widespread, and there have to be greater efforts taken in equalising temperature.

The best way to handle condensation within a conservatory is to improve ventilation. There are simple ways to do this, like leaving doors or windows open. Alternatively, you can have vents and extractor fans installed.

Alternatively, you can add more insulation to the building. For example, double or triple glazing. This will keep the building cooler during summer, and hotter during the summer.

You could always entirely kill the moisture in the air by having a dehumidifier. This will pull in the moisture from the air and fill a tank with it. Of course, these humidifiers run on power and will have to be emptied regularly.

Conservatories in Scotland are often built with additional insulation options to account for the colder weather.

Yes, you can. Homeshield Scotland’s orangeries have often been used as both kitchens and dining areas. Obviously, in the case of using it as a kitchen, you must also install the necessary plumbing and electrical connections for a kitchen as well as make sure the ventilation you install is suitable. This is because, with the addition of a kitchen, you will add a lot of heat and moisture-producing equipment.