Double Glazing On The Web

So Christmas is over and somehow you managed to shoehorn the entire family; pets, granny, uncles and aunts and the cousins into the one room again to open their presents and watch the Queen’s speech…  but wouldn’t it have been lovely to have had some extra space?  With the credit crunch still looming, the ‘improve or move’ question is larger than ever and a conservatory can often be the best solution.

If you decide to take the ‘improve’ route then read on!  A UPVC conservatory is always high up on people’s wish list and you can be almost certain that you will add instant value to your much loved property.  Virtually maintenance free, double glazing only needs a wipe clean every now and then to keep it looking nearly new. 

Imagine all that extra space!  With various conservatory styles to choose from, you could improve your home both inside and out.  Just think, this Christmas you could be enjoying a mince pie and sherry in the warm new conservatory.  Leaving the kids to play in the lounge if you like!

What does your HIP say about you?  Are you really as energy efficient as you think….or more importantly need to be to get a buyer?  The UK housing market has been hit so hard in this current economic crisis, with house prices at an all-time low; you can’t help but ask yourself whether you bought at the right time?  Or more importantly, when is the best time for me to SELL!

Regardless of which wrung of the ladder you are on….if you are on it, you want to stay on it.  However during a credit-crunch, how can we make low cost home improvements that add value to our property for its approaching sale? 

Research shows that simple changes such as a new double glazed front door, a modest and simple conservatory or a fresh new bathroom window can increase the value of your property, by more than the amount that it cost to install these improvements.   Surprisingly, the simpler things are actually higher up on people’s wish lists when buying a new home. 

If you are considering low cost home improvements, be sure to research well and select reputable suppliers and skilled professionals to ensure you are investing wisely in real opportunities that your property has to offer.  Improved energy efficiency is the absolute key, so go on….unlock that potential!

Finally!  After what seems like dozens of brochures, telephone calls and sales pitches, you have reached a decision on how your dream new conservatory will look and who will bring your vision to life.  But hang on….. have you organised for a surveyor to come in?  If you haven’t… make sure you read on!

 
Most double glazing orders are manufactured specifically to individual requirements; every millimetre matters!  Not only will the surveyor confirm precise measurements, there are essential safety checks to be carried out.  Your new conservatory will soon be the pride and joy of your home, but before work can get underway you need to be sure that the ground itself is suitable for the structure.   You must also identify whether your project is classified as exempt from Building Regulations.  Your conservatory may need to conform to the latest building regulations including provision for drainage and water run-off which often requires re-routing of existing pipe-work.

Planning permission may also be required for your installation to go ahead, be sure to check with your local council before giving the green light for any work to commence.  If your surveyor is local, they may be able to assist you with this. 

Now for the easy part: picking your surveyor couldn’t be easier – with various databases online to choose from, you are sure to get a price that’s right. Alternatively many double glazing firms and conservatory suppliers will have a reliable, specialist surveyor in-house, making the whole process even easier.

September 22nd marks the Equinox and the first day of Autumn. So folks, it’s official, the evenings are drawing in, the mornings are getting darker and pretty soon we’ll be getting up in the dark, going to work in the dark, coming home in the dark and going to bed in the dark…. Depressing? Not really. Personally I can’t wait;  I love the warm cozy evenings in front of the fire, with the rain lashing on the double glazing and hammering out a tattoo on the conservatory roof, while I’m all snug and warm indoors!

We are always reading about how beneficial double glazing, insulation and efficient boilers can be for our properties, our utility bills and the environment, so much so that many of us take it completely for granted. However, for me it’s always the first few days of autumn, when I first detect that fresh damp chill in air and notice that I can see my own breath on the air, that I really appreciate just how wonderful double glazing and all my creature comforts truly are.

The conservatory is a longstanding British tradition which really came into its own in the 1800’s and with the great British climate being what it is; it’s easy to see why.

When considering buying a conservatory you will quite often hear cynical advice such as ‘they get far too hot in the summer you know…’ Well yes, they do, I agree – a glass box which is in effect a green house, pegged onto the side of your property is bound to get a little heated in direct sunlight. In fact I don’t sit in mine at the moment (mid-August) partly because it’s really hot in there, but more importantly, because it is one of those rare moments in the British calendar when it is actually possible to sit in the garden!

However, at all other times of the year, my favourite place in the house is the conservatory. There I can soak up precious rays of sunshine whilst smugly sheltered from the ravages of the bitter wind, pouring rain, drizzle, sleet… whatever the great British weather chooses to throw at us. In answer to the question ‘is it too hot to sit in the conservatory in the summer?’ I would say ‘yes it is’ - but when the summer only lasts about 2 weeks, I consider it a terrific investment for the remaining 50 weeks of the year.

If you’re thinking about investing in a conservatory now that, for most of us anyway, moving home is out of the question, you might be wondering what sort of plants you can grow there.  Even if you are using the conservatory mainly as an extra room in the house, you will still be able to grow plants that wouldn’t survive a British winter.  Here are some ideas:

1. Tropical and subtropical plants, as big as you have room for, along with climbers can be trained onto wires that will eventually cover walls and ceilings.
2. Think about perfume as well as looks, with the door open something like jasmine will scent the whole ground floor of your home.
3. In winter months, when the conservatory has cooled down a little, consider growing spring bulbs such as narcissi and hyacinths. Some hyacinths are wonderfully scented so you’d be killling two birds with one stone.
4. If you have room for just one plant, what about a small peach tree? Grow it in a pot and then, in the summer, you can move it out onto the patio.
5. As the weather cools bring patio plants in and they will continue to flower.

More next time.

Considering that we British are hailed as being a nation of gardeners, its extraordinary that we seem to have forgotten the original reason for building a conservatory - to grow exotic plants.  Nowadays, we tend to buy conservatories to provide an extra room so if you intend to keep plants in your conservatory, you need to let the supplier know.

The first thing that must be considered is ventilation.  Conservatories can get hot; very hot.  The best advice is to have ventilation vents in the apex of your conservatory, however, leaving the connecting door between the conservatory and the house open during the summertime will allow for air circulation.  If you choose to do this, ensure that your conservatory door is securely locked.

The ideal temperature for a plant-conservatory is a winter minimum of between  7C and 10C, so slightly cooler than for a conservatory used as an extra room.

Temperatures in this range will allow you to overwinter summer garden plants, such as pelargonium, and grow flowering winter plants - cyclamen and azalea spring to mind.  A conservatory is far more stylish than a window sill!

Ensure that your conservatory plants receive enough water by checking them daily; if the top soil feels dry, water the plant. And remember that just wetting the surface is not good enough, the soil should be moist right down to the bottom of the pot.

In the spring and summer months, your conservatory plants should be fed weekly, reducing to once or twice a month in the winter months.  Make sure that you use the correct feed too - for instance, citrus trees do best if they are given a specific fruit and citrus food.

As winter comes to an end, check all your plants to see if they need repotting - which is best done in spring or summer.  And if your plants are taking over or are not growing straight - prune them!  The best time to prune is after flowering or in later winter/early spring.

Finally - think about pests.  Winter fungal diseases can be a major problem in cool conservatories but can be kept at bay by using a small dehumidifying unit.

Next time, we’ll take a look at specific conservatory plants and how to get the best out of them.

If you frequently look at your neighbours’ conservatories and wonder why; why do they go through all the hassle, upheaval, and expense of having a conservatory added to their house, read on:

Conservatories - The Pros

• Adding a conservatory to your home will increase the footprint size of your home.
• Adding a conservatory to your home is far cheaper than moving to a larger property.

• Adding a conservatory to your home will increase the amount of natural light that your home enjoys.

• A conservatory has the effect of ‘bringing the garden into the home.’

• What could be more cosy and comfortable than sitting in the warm and watching the rain?

Conservatories: The Cons

• The initial outlay for a conservatory can be high.
• You will have to lose some of your garden to the conservatory.

• A conservatory is just another room to heat in the winter months.

• A conservatory has to be furnished - otherwise you won’t use it.

• A south facing conservatory will need blinds.

• Conservatories are not particularly child friendly.

Conservatories: The Summary

In terms of adding extra space when you can’t really afford to move, a conservatory can’t be beat.  Even if you move at a later date, the conservatory will have increased the value of your home.  In terms of whether it’s worth you investing in one, it all depends on how much you will use it - and you are more likely to get a lot of use out of it if its comfortable.

Conservatories: The Conclusion

Probably the best advice is to budget carefully.  If you can afford to furnish a new conservatory and install blinds, that is promising. If you can also afford to heat your conservatory in the winter - you should go for it!