Breckenridgeconservatories.co.uk's Articles in Home

  • Furniture and Accessories for your Orangery
    The orangery became popular in the 17th century with the arrival of citrus plants to the UK. Originally, the orangery was a privilege for wealthy families with larger homes, and furniture was usually just moved out from the main house itself to the area. However, with the increasing popularity of the orangery in many homes, there are numerous furniture options and accessories that go wonderfully well with the room.
  • Windows and Doors - Small Touches That Make All the Difference
    Just like anything in life, it's the small things that make the difference and that's why a little extra here and there can make your conservatory stand out.
  • What Not to Do When Buying a Conservatory
    Buying a conservatory is a serious decision that you have to keep an eye on even before you lay the first brick, insert the first pane of glass, or even make the first mark and so there is much to be avoided when building a conservatory.
  • How an Orangery Can Add Value to Your Home
    An orangery is not only an attractive addition to a home, it's also a one that can increase the value of your property as well as serve a very practical purpose. Essentially, an orangery can significantly increase your home’s value on the market, as well as its desirability – which is always a good thing during such hard times in the property market.
  • Using Natural Light to Create the Illusion of Space in a Conservatory
    The conservatory is a very conducive area for creating the illusion of space. This glass room lets in light from most angles, including the whole ceiling and so has the abilities to create the illusion of space somewhat perfected. However, creating the illusion of space in the room can be aided even more-so with a few simple tips.
  • What Type of Orangery would suit you?
    Our individual requirements mean that, like anything, a variety of orangery designs are required to meet everyone’s needs. Orangery styles vary widely, meaning that whether you’re a mother, child, professional who works from home, or an elderly person, there’s an orangery for you.
  • Storage and Cleaning Solutions for your Conservatory
    Conservatories are beautiful, open spaces. However, everyday life can get in the way, especially in the shape of clutter and untidiness. This can mean you end up with an often unclean and messy conservatory.
  • Building Regulations for Conservatories
    Conservatories can add a lot of space to your home – essentially acting like another room. But you must ask yourself, what are the building regulations they must adhere to and are they different in any manner from other buildings?
  • Heating a Conservatory During the Winter Months
    When investing in a conservatory, you do so with the thought of enjoying it in both the depths of winter, as well as on those long summer evenings.
  • Which Materials to Choose From When Buying a Conservatory
    Though there are a number of materials from which conservatories can be made, many companies only use one, or the other. However, each material has its own individual attributes. We all understand that specific styles don't suit our homes and so being able to choose a certain material is a necessity in order for your house to look good.
  • How to Make a Conservatory Cosier for Winter
    Though the winter months you’re wriggling around underneath your two pairs of socks, looking for that extra bit of heat, you can always ensure that you're that little bit more cosy having added some sumptuous and warm decor and additions to your new conservatory. So, how can you make your conservatory cosy this winter?
  • Consider a Garden House Instead of an Extension
    If you like the idea of the extra space a conservatory can bring but don't want to extend your home then a garden house is worth considering. There are many reasons why some of us can't have or don't want a conservatory, yet we could all do with some extra space. Many of us want that space to either utilise a large back garden or allow us to enjoy it more.
  • Garden Rooms as a Good Alternative to Conservatories
    Conservatories have become one of the most popular ways to extend our homes. The high cost of moving and the more relaxed legislation on planning permission are some of the reasons why many people choose to extend, and a conservatory offers the added benefit of natural light. If you're extending a north-facing property then light is a real concern as any extension would darken the existing room.
  • Extending versus Moving Your Home: Comparing the Costs
    As the economic woes of the world fill our news screens it can all seem very far away, but the new decade has brought the economic crises much closer to home. Whilst the UK is not a member of the Euro-zone the UK banking industry is very much tied to the rest of Europe and the wider world economy. Mortgage lending is still a problem and as the banks tighten their purse strings further this isn't likely to get much easier in the next few years.
  • Why Choose Glass for your New Conservatory?
    The most attractive feature of a new conservatory or orangery is the light it will bring into your home. Unlike a standard extension, which will inevitably darken the room it extends, conservatories and orangeries capture natural light by the use of glass – particularly in their roofs. Yet many conservatories have polycarbonate or plastic roofs, with the aim of saving on cost being the main reason for this choice.
  • Conservatory Builds – Cost Considerations
    If you're thinking of having a new conservatory built, or you would like to upgrade your existing one to a higher standard, one of the first considerations will likely be cost. This article takes a brief look at what to consider when planning your build to find the cost that suits you best.
  • Conservatory Design – Thinking of Winter
    When planning and designing your conservatory it's easy for your imagination to dwell in the summer months. Long days of sunshine where the only consideration is how you will keep the conservatory cool. But conservatories are not only for the summer they're for Christmas and the rest of the year too.
  • Choosing Your New Conservatory: Substance and Form
    Cost is the overriding factor for most people when they decide what kind of conservatory they want. And that's why most conservatories you see nowadays are made from PVC, because it is affordable to most people. Yet a conservatory is not like buying a new TV.
  • Designing Your Conservatory: The Efficiency of Underfloor Heating
    When designing your new conservatory it's easy to overlook the question of how you will heat it after it's built. Yet this consideration should be among the first on your checklist as you go through your requirements with your conservatory builder. In fact, a reputable builder will ask you what your plans are for heating, because as construction progresses your options will become more and more limited.
  • Orangeries are Not Only for Fruit
    It's surprising how the subject of orangeries can cause arguments. First there's the question of what is the difference between a conservatory and an orangery? Then there are the arguments over the origins and history of the orangery. This article will explore these questions and why the orangery deserves to be a topic for conversation in the 21st century.
  • Conservatories as Pool Enclosures
    As the weather seems to improve in the UK, many people are building swimming pools to enjoy their home to the full whenever they can. But when the British climate of old reasserts itself, this investment can seem like a wash-out. To protect the investment and, more importantly, allow you to use your swimming pool all-year-round, the concept of using a conservatory as a pool enclosure is a welcome solution.
  • Finish Touches to your Conservatory
    So you've decided to have a conservatory built. The next step is budget and design. Yet there are so many more layers to the design that can be easily overlooked. The last step for most people is the decoration of the interior, the finishing touches, and so people expect to consider this when the conservatory is finished.
  • Basic Elements to Consider before you Choose a Builder for your Conservatory
    Shopping around for a builder is always a difficult task and when it comes to a conservatory, this task is no easier. As the law has relaxed for the building of many extensions there are even greater possibilities for the cowboy builder to offer what seems like a great quote and then build you a conservatory that is not fit for purpose.
  • Extending your Home: Why Choose an Orangery?
    Conservatories have become a very popular choice as a way of extending your home without losing any natural light. Many of us want to move up to a larger home, but without the actual moving. Now, there is a growing trend for more bespoke designs. Instead of looking to buy a new property, many of us want to build onto our current home to create a new space that fits specifically to our lifestyle.
  • Lighting your Conservatory
    The choice to extend your home with a conservatory is often driven by the desire for more light – that is natural light. But as we all know, living in the UK means winters with short days and long nights of darkness. For many people, it is not until their first winter living with a new conservatory that they realise how dark and cold a conservatory can feel at night.
  • Wraparound Conservatories and Natural Light
    Conservatories have conventionally extended directly out from the rear of a property, either at the same width of the property or more usually at a reduced width. This meant that the conservatory drew most of its natural light from whatever direction the rear of the existing property faced.
  • Want a Cool Conservatory? Consider Air Conditioning
    One factor that can dissuade someone from extending their home with a conservatory is the 'hothouse' effect in the summer. Glass magnifies the sunlight, and whilst this can be a wonderful feature in the winter, come the summer the conservatory can become unbearably hot. This is particularly relevant if your conservatory is to be built facing south-west (in the UK), where it will have sun shining on it for most of the day.
  • Considering Natural Light in Locating your Conservatory
    A conservatory or orangery is a beautiful way to extend your home. The cost is reasonable and also flexible, with a vast array of design possibilities to fit your budget and needs. But perhaps one of the most compelling reasons for choosing a conservatory as a way to extend your home is the ability to hold on to the light.
  • Practical and Decorative Benefits of Conservatory Blinds
    An important consideration that is sometimes overlooked in the decision to have a conservatory built is how to shade the windows. Rather than as an afterthought, the choice of blinds should really be part of the overall conservatory design process. There are both practical and decorative reasons for this and here we'll take a brief look at these, as well as the different types of blinds available along the way.
  • Conservatories: First Thoughts - Building Regulations and the Party Wall Act
    The aim of this article is to give a brief, easy-to-understand overview of what to consider if you’re thinking about having a conservatory built in England.
  • How to choose a professional conservatory or orangery company
    Before setting out on your conservatory or orangery purchase it pays to do some homework. There are a vast array of companies selling conservatories, orangeries contemporary buildings, garden rooms, but are these companies able to offer you a choice of design and materials?
  • What to Expect When They Say It’s Free Conservatory Design Consultation!
    With any free design consultation it’s fair to assume that some companies will provide a very good service, whilst others will of course use the ‘free’ word to entice you in and then provide the most basic of service, once they have you ‘hooked’.
  • Know About Different Types of Conservatories
    Conservatories are very popular amongst home owners today, though they have been around for quite a few centuries. These ‘home extensions’ increase the living space and add value to the home. Conservatories are cost effective too, compared to traditional modes of home building using bricks, rods and cement.
  • Why choose a Hardwood Orangery?
    There now are three core materials for the manufacture of orangeries, these are hardwood, aluminium and plastic. Each has unique properties, but only one can create a style and look that’s unique and that’s hardwood.
  • Verandas Components
    Choosing the style of your Veranda will normally be based on a budget and of course the design of the finished Veranda. Whilst setting a budget may be easy, choosing a Veranda that both complements your home and creates a visual signature may be slightly harder and for some people quite a daunting task.
  • Positioning Your Conservatory or Orangery
    Where you position your conservatory or orangery in respect to your property can have quite an effect on how you use it. Two key criteria need to be considered before you agree the designs, 1) the position of your conservatory in relation to the sun, and 2) the position of your conservatory in relation to your property. We will explore both now.
  • VAT Exempt Conservatories and Orangeries
    There can be quite a bit of confusion around the application of VAT to the construction of conservatories and orangeries. In some circumstances it is exempt and at other times a reduced amount can be applied.
  • Choosing Conservatory Heating Option
    Conservatories have come a long way since they first became popular, but historically there has always been the issue of your room becoming too hot in summer and then too cold in winter. To get around this problem and to ensure you can use your conservatory or orangery all year round, you need to think about heating.
  • Problem Conservatories
    Buying a conservatory is fraught with worry and potential problems. Part of this worry is down to the industry’s reputation for certain cowboy builders who are known for aggressive sales techniques, broken promises, poor quality work and occasionally going bust leaving the customer with no-one to turn to.
  • The Materials and Detailing of Conservatory Roofs
    Choosing a conservatory roof is one thing, but on every roof there are details that need to be considered. Crestings and finials are architectural features that are used to make the roof more decorative.
  • Choosing a conservatory roof
    Picking the right roof for your conservatory needs some thought and consideration. Designers often concern themselves with the actual design or look of the building while builders are focused on the construction itself or how familiar there are with certain materials, e.g. tiles.
  • Understanding How Ground Conditions Affect Your Conservatory or Orangery Build
    When building a conservatory or orangery you will need an understanding of the soil and ground conditions before any work can be undertaken on the building foundations. Most conservatory or orangery companies do not provide ground work as part of their service so ideally you should find a company that does because the work can then be included within both the cost and guarantee.
  • Conservatory Flooring
    When you choose a conservatory you must also think about the type of flooring you want and need. There are lots of things to consider and lots of options too. If the conservatory or orangery will form part of the kitchen then the flooring must be both moisture and spill resistant. You also need to think about the type of wear and tear it will receive and whether you need the flooring to be skid resistant.
  • Orangeries Explained
    Orangeries date back to 1545 where the first recorded one was built in Padua, Italy. Initially they were sparse, practical and not ornate but were later developed to be exotic greenhouses for large country houses.
  • Does my conservatory or orangery need planning permission?
    A well designed conservatory or orangery can be a great addition to your home and can genuinely enrich your living space and lifestyle. For example, folding sliding doors can open up your home allowing a seamless flow from your home to your new conservatory to your garden, while solar controlled glass now allows you to be able use this comfortably all year round.
  • Hardwood, Aluminium and Glass Provide the Natural Answer to Conservatories
    Adding a beautiful conservatory or orangery of your dreams to your home not only increases its desirability and value, but is the perfect answer to expanding your living area and opening up your home to let light flood in. Unlike most conservatory companies, look for the ones that offer you more than just one choice of material.
  • How to choose a professional conservatory or orangery builder?
    From conservatories to orangeries, garden rooms to contemporary glass spaces there has never been more choice when it comes to choosing the correct installation for your property. However, it pays to do some research and choose a company that offers not only design and installation capabilities but also the widest choice of materials. Timber, aluminium and PVC are all available but only a few companies give you the entire choice.
  • Most of a Conservatory is Glass! Here is what you need to know.
    Your new conservatory or orangery will incorporate large areas of glass and your choice of glazing type is very important – the following will guide you through the different options and explain how the various choices will affect the way in which you use the new space you have created.