Eleven Critical Things You Must Know About UPVC Conservatories...

Introduction

PVCu stands for Poly Vinyl Chloride unplasticised, which is a chemical compound of Chlorine, Carbon and Hydrogen. The 'u' for unplasticised means the material has not been softened by plasticisers. The benefits of Extruded PVCu in the manufacture of modern conservatories are:

1. High insulation value
2. Clean slim lines
3. Low maintenance
4. When kept clean it stays in pristine condition
5. Will not deteriorate
6. Economical. Initially and low maintenance thereafter
7. Self-extinguishing when exposed to flame.
8. Available in simulated wood grain finishes such as oak and mahogany
9. Extruded with hollow chambers for full metal reinforcement
10. An ability to be heat welded at corners and joints
11. Snap in glazing breads for ease of construction and replacing glass

With this many benefits it is no wonder that PVCu is the most popular material used for building conservatories.

As with most things the successful outcome of your conservatory starts at the planning stage. Your first step is to decide what you want your new conservatory to give you. You may choose to use it as a sun lounge, dining room, hobby room, play room, gym, music room, utility room or may be a garden room. Your options are endless, but your needs and expectations must stay in the forefront of your mind from planning through to completion to ensure you obtain the conservatory you originally desired.

You should then consider the following:

1. Location

North facing: You will receive no direct sunlight in the winter months so efficient heating during this period may he needed. However it can be warm and bright during the summer.

South facing: With sun all year round good ventilation will be needed and also some shading from the summer sun.

East facing: the early morning sun will make this an ideal breakfast room.

West facing: brings good sunlight, particularly on summer afternoons and evenings. Consider carefully the location of your conservatory and its use for it could affect the finished cost i.e. Sun blinds, climate control, heating or extra lighting.

2. Size and Design

It is obviously important for the conservatory to be large enough for your needs. To determine the size, outline the shape and size on the ground with some canes or rope and this will represent your internal floor area. You will then need to add on the wall thickness to obtain the exterior size.

Once you have considered the internal layout check the following:

Is there enough room for your furniture or equipment?

Do you need a door to the garden?

Where is the best place for a door?

Tip: If space is limited then the door is better near to the house wall as possible, and opening outwards, this makes maximum use of the available space.

The design may depend on the location but the right conservatory should compliment your home and therefore have a sympathetic design to match the property. Be very careful to avoid the dreadful 'stuck on' look.

In some situations final design will depend on the versatility of the conservatory roofing system. Help from your specialist conservatory installer will be needed here but don't worry there is usually an answer to the most difficult of situations.

3. Planning Permission

In England and Wales you will not usually require Planning Permission providing you do not exceed the permitted development limit for your property this is 50-70 cubic metres depending on where you live. Past extensions will be taken into account and if when added to the proposed conservatory our permitted development limit is exceeded Planning Permission will be needed.

An exception is if the property is a listed building or in a conservation area. It is advisable to check the deeds of your property as in some cases covenants or other restrictions in the title of your property imposed by the original builder of the site may be in place. So although you may not need planning permission you may require permission from another body or the builder.

4. Building Regulations

A conservatory on a residential property is usually exempt from building regulations providing all of the following requirements are met:

• The conservatory is solely for domestic purposes.
• The conservatory is built at ground level.
• The conservatory contains no sleeping accommodation.
• The roof and walls are glazed with translucent materials - 75% of roof area and 50% of wall area.
• The internal floor area is less than 30m2.
• The existing drainage system is not affected and there are no sinks or toilets.
• The conservatory will be separated from the existing property by a wall, door or glazed screen.
• The glazing in the conservatory meets the requirements for safety glazing in critical areas.
• Any radiator in the conservatory is controllable.
• This exemption has been in force since 1985 but it’s quite possible it could come under building control again in the future.

If planning permission is required your conservatory supplier should be able to arrange this for you. A local authority fee is levied. It normally takes approximately 6 weeks for permission to be granted or denied.

5. Foundations

The foundations are of paramount importance to building a good conservatory that will give years of trouble free service. In general, because conservatories are not required to be built under building regulations you do not receive inspections from the local Building Control Office, therefore inadequate foundations will not be detected until a problem occurs and it is then a major problem to correct.

Strip foundations, which most conservatories are built on, should be of adequate depth and width to suit the site conditions. A reputable company offering a 10-year guarantee will give good advice on this.

6. Brick Walls and PVCu Framing

You have a variety of choices for your walls and should consider carefully many aspects. If your conservatory is on level ground and you want to see out onto the garden when seated, make sure if you have a dwarf wall that it is not too high!

In the situation where the garden slopes away, you may find that glass to the ground is what is required for maximum effect.

If you choose a Victorian style conservatory with angled facets (corners) make sure angled bricks (known as squints) are used for the best appearance. They can be in a matching or contrasting brick and although they cost more, the finish is well worth it compared to alternate methods.

The inside wall can be face brickwork like outside, or plastered. If you are plastering then a skirting board will be required. Where there is a dwarf wall an internal window board or cill will be fitted. Usually the popular and stable laminated boards which are available in different finishes are used, but some people choose quarry or ceramic tiles. Softwood or hard wood window boards are unsuitable for conservatories.

A step or steps may be needed to step down into the garden from the conservatory and is worth considering at the design stage as they can be made into a wonderful feature.

7. Flooring

There are several types of flooring available including ceramic tiles, laminated timber floor, carpet and vinyl. Each one will offer a different 'mood' or 'feel' to your conservatory but your original requirements for your conservatory should be carefully considered here.

8. Superstructure

The PVCu frames can be almost any design.

Points to bear in mind are:

• Windows opening at low level can be a hazard to small children running around outside.
• Fanlight windows require a horizontal transom (bar) to close on to, and these are normally about 1.7 metres above floor level and may obstruct your eye-line.
• You could have a combination of full glass windows and windows with fanlights.
• Select your door (if one is required) from single or double doors, with or without waist rails or sliding patio doors.
• For security you should insist on multi-point locks to the doors and opening lights.
• All glass should be glazed from inside, again for security.

9. Glazing

All the glass in the conservatory in my opinion should be safety glass, not just the glass in critical areas. There are two types used; toughened glass and laminated glass.
Toughened glass costs less, is usually 4mm thick and if broken shatters into small pieces of relatively harmless glass as oppose tolethal shards of (un-toughened) glass.

Laminated glass is actually 2 pieces of 3mm thick glass separated by an interlayer giving an overall thickness of 6.4mm. When broken the glass will crack but not shatter. The interlayer holds the cracked glass in position. Laminated glass will therefore also make an ideal security glass.

You can also combine toughened and laminated glass to make a double glazed sealed unit.

Low Emissivity (Low E) glass such as Pilkington 'k' glass is an option worth considering, initially it is more expensive but it makes a double glazed unit 30% more energy efficient than ordinary double-glazing and will therefore provide greater comfort and long term savings on heating.

There is also a great choice of decorative glass available such as leaded lights or Georgian grille effect. Stained and raised bevelled glass is a popular feature in fan lights. Curved Georgian grilles set in the cavity of the sealed unit and positioned below the transom bar of the window can also enhance the appearance.

10. Ventilation, Heating and Lighting

All of these contribute to the successful performance of your conservatory.
Trickle ventilation is usually built into the ridge, the eaves or the windows and provides a flow of air without compromising security. This facility is important especially if you are away and the conservatory is locked up for any length of time. For warmer days roof vents, which can he operated manually by a pole or remote control are essential for releasing the rising hot air.

There are several forms of heating that can he used. If your existing central heating system has the capacity then one or two radiators could simply be added. However, they must have the facility to he turned off from the original system. Under floor heating is becoming more popular and is worthy of consideration or simply choose efficient electrical radiators which are available in different sizes.

The amount of power points and their positioning will need to he decided and you can never have enough!

The amount of lighting you will need in your conservatory when the natural light fails will depend on the time of day you intend to use it and as the seasons change. Choose wisely from the many lighting options: centre light or lights, light and fan combination, wall lights, table lamps, standard lamps, down lighters or strip lights.

11. The Conservatory Roof

Just as the flooring affects the internal mood of the conservatory so does the roof. The appearance of Polycarbonate or glass has a dramatic effect on the overall appearance of the conservatory. Before considering the merits of both, bear in mind the location of your new conservatory and its intended use.

Poly carbonate has very good insulation properties. Unfortunately rainfall on Poly carbonate is noisier than glass. It is available in varying thickness and has a wide choice of types including clear bronze tint or opal (which is not translucent).

Glass sealed units are also very good insulators especially when the Low E coating is applied and for further insulation Argon Gas can be pumped into the cavity. Tinted or anti-sun glass can be used in conjunction with Low E glass to cut down the brightness.

Glass is heavier than Polycarbonate and consequently tie bars will be needed in almost every case to stop the roof sagging and distorting the conservatory walling. A glass roof will also cost approximately 2 1/2 times more than Polycarbonate.

All roofs have gutters that are usually PVCu or Aluminium. They are designed not to have a fall. This means that quite often rain water will lie in a gutter for some time but eventually it will evaporate. This is quite normal and has no adverse effect on the gutter.

Unless the gutters can drain into the existing drainage system a new soakaway may have to be formed. This consists of digging a hole of one cubic metre. 4-5 metres away from the building and connecting the down pipe with an underground pipe. The hole is then filled with rubble and capped with concrete before reinstating the ground above.

When fitting a conservatory roof to a fascia, for example onto a bungalow, the condition of the roofing felt just above the gutter needs to be checked. Quite often this has perished or split and is no longer directing any rain water into the gutter. The rainwater then drips into the soffits, and down the outside of the bungalow. If this is the case and the felt is not renewed, rainwater will begin to drip into your new conservatory. Reputable companies will check this as a matter of course, and unless it is a new roof or has been recently replaced, they will fit new rot resistant felt to be on the safe side.

Additional thoughts to consider are the windows, fascias, soffits and gutters above the proposed conservatory. Do they need to be replaced? If so, now is the time to do it while access is easy. Replacement windows can be fitted with easy clean hinges which make cleaning the window exteriors easy from the inside.

You may be wondering how pipes and outlets from your house will be dealt with should your new conservatory cover their existing position. Most are easily dealt with but a few are sometimes more tricky. This is rarely a problem if you are dealing with an experienced reputable company who will have seen and solved most problems in the past.

Clearly there is a lot to consider and absorb when selecting a new conservatory, so choose an expert to guide you, and you will obtain the conservatory you desire.

I hope this has been informative and interesting, and like our customers you too will discover the enjoyment a new conservatory brings.

If you would like to discuss any aspects of this guide further or would like a personal consultation without any obligation whatsoever, please feel free to ring me on 01903 692122.

Thank you for your interest.

Keith Mockford
Maple Leaf Insulations Ltd