A lot of people tend to treat their conservatory as a summer investment, as they get to enjoy the airy setting and beautiful views of the garden most during bright days when all of the plants and flowers are in bloom.
However, autumn and winter are the best seasons to start planning your conservatory, particularly if you want a bespoke conservatory constructed to the highest possible standards in a traditional style.
This will allow for planning permission or permitted development rights to be clarified and for construction to be completed with plenty of time to enjoy the first flush of spring and the next summer in your new conservatory.
However, the key word in effect here is “plan”. Planning is essential in avoiding several common pitfalls that people have historically faced with conservatories that have ultimately made them less suitable, but working with experts could have stopped.
Not Thinking Big Enough
When planning a conservatory, it can be sometimes difficult to translate the dimensions of a floor plan into the actual usable furnished three-dimensional space you will have at the end of the construction process, but a common issue is creating a conservatory that is far too small to be used.
Often this is done when people do not give themselves the time to truly think about functionality and instead request a conservatory based on the minimal amount of inconvenience it will cause.
Sometimes it is worth developing a larger conservatory plan and submitting a planning application rather than relying on permitted development rights, and this is where it is important to give yourself as much time as possible.
It is exceptionally difficult and often outright impossible to expand a conservatory size once it is completed, and it is better to have room to grow than end up with a compressed space.
Stylistic Mismatch
There are so many types of conservatories out there that there is little chance of failing to find a design that suits your current home.
If you have an older Edwardian home, then a traditional conservatory design from that period would be far more suitable than a PVC prefabricated project.
Ultimately, your conservatory is a part of your home and the surrounding area, and it is essential to have a design that is sympathetic to your home and garden design.
Not Factoring Environmental Factors Into The Design
If you have a south-facing garden that gets a lot more sunlight during the summer months, your conservatory design should be designed with that in mind, which could mean investing in anti-glare windows, insulation and reflective coatings to reduce the amount of heat in the conservatory room.
Most of this will be part of discussions with an accredited builder, who will look at your current floorplan, your aims with the space and explore the right option for you to make sure you can get the most enjoyment out of your conservatory for years to come.
Sometimes this can mean installing specialist glass, sometimes this can involve a solid roof, sometimes it will involve fitting blinds and curtains.