If you’ve decided to have a conservatory installed at your home, these are no doubt exciting times. Your conservatory should bring you endless hours upon hours of relaxation, as well as providing a brand-new, multi-functional space where you, your family and your friends can get up to all sorts of fun.
But before you dive straight in and opt for the first conservatory you see as fast as you possibly can, there’s some preparation you need to do to ensure you get the best new space you possibly can.
That’s because when you buy a conservatory, there are a lot of considerations to make and failure to do your due diligence could see you left with one that fails to meet your expectations.
To avoid this, we’ve put together this guide pinpointing some common mistakes people make when having a conservatory installed. Avoid these, and you should have the conservatory of your dreams without any headaches or stress along the way!
Hiring “Cowboys”
When we say cowboys, we don’t mean the gun-slingin’, horse-ridin’ type – we mean the ones that promise to carry out high-quality building work but leave you with a shambolic mess that isn’t fit for purpose!
There are many conservatory companies out there offering high-quality services. But sadly, there are many that don’t possess the skills or expertise to deliver what you’re looking for.
Failure to hire a reputable, professional team to design and build your conservatory could be a costly mistake. As well as potentially having to have your conservatory rebuilt, shoddy workmanship could also pose a serious safety risk, putting you and your family at risk.
When searching for a team to provide your conservatory, look at reviews and customer testimonies. If you can’t find any, this is a major red flag. Also, look at past projects and you can gauge a lot about a company by looking into its history.
Miscalculating Budget
It’s not a secret that a good-quality conservatory won’t come cheap – if you want the best of the best then you’re going to have to pay for it.
Understanding the cost of what you’re looking for from the outset can help manage expectations and ensure you end up with the conservatory you’re looking for. Having a sufficient budget in place can also help you avoid cutting corners when costs start to mount.
Choosing Wrong Size
When selecting a conservatory, it’s important to get one that is suitable for the size of your home. For instance, you won’t want a huge construction if you only have a small house or garden. Likewise, if you have a massive house and plenty of outdoor space then you’ll probably want to make the most of it by having a decent-sized conservatory.
To avoid any doubt, most architects and designers work to a golden ratio of 1:1.618 as this is believed to be the most aesthetically pleasing. So for example, if the width of your home measures 28ft, which is around the average size of a house in the UK, 17ft would be the perfect size.
If this seems confusing then it needn’t be as it’s something your architect can discuss when you’re building your bespoke conservatory. This is where hiring a team of professionals that know what they’re doing comes into play!
Ignoring Building Regulations
Although most conservatories are exempt from planning permission, the same can’t be said for building regs. These are in place to ensure constructions are built to a safe standard and there are numerous considerations to make while planning and building a conservatory.
So, when you’re having a conservatory built, it’s essential that the team you’re hiring to install your new space refer to the latest Building Regulations. This once again highlights why you need to hire a team that knows what it’s doing, to ensure your conservatory is both safe and legal.
Choosing Wrong Type Of Conservatory
Taste is subjective, so this one isn’t really black and white. However, what we can all agree on is some conservatory styles probably shouldn’t be installed on some properties. For instance, most would agree that a Victorian conservatory would look a little out of place on an ultra-modern, new-build property.
This is why conservatories come in a range of styles, as it allows you to match your new space with the aesthetic of your home to ensure a seamless addition.
So while you’re free to choose pretty much any conservatory you like, if you want it to look great then you’ll need to select one that matches the style of your home.
Poor Choice Of Materials
When it comes to having your conservatory built, arguably the most important decision you’ll make is the materials you choose. Double or triple glazing? Asphalt shingle or uPVC tile roof? Tiled or wooden floor? These are all questions you’ll need to answer, and depending on the options you go for, this could all make a huge difference to your conservatory.
When choosing your options, you can go through all these with your architect or design team who’ll be able to set out the pros and cons of each to give you a clear idea of what to expect.
So those are six common mistakes to avoid when you decide to have a conservatory built on your home. As you can see, making any of these mistakes could result in some pretty disastrous consequences, so always do your research and above all else, make sure you’re hiring a reputable, reliable company to design and build your new space.
We have many years of experience delivering high-quality conservatory solutions so if you’re looking for a company to discuss your vision with, get in touch today!