An orangery or a conservatory can be enjoyed throughout the year. However, as the temperatures dip and we are more tempted to stay indoors, the winter weather can sometimes be unkind to your luxury orangery.
Similarly, if there is a particularly wet June like it was not too long ago or an unfortunately rainy summer, taking care of your conservatory will help it look its best for longer.
Here are some top tips to ensuring your extension lasts as long as possible.
Keep It Clean
Cleaning your orangery is in some ways similar to cleaning the rest of your home but also can require a delicate touch in some places.
When cleaning the roof, for example, start by sweeping any debris, leaves and moss off of it before cleaning the panels. Take care not to use a power washer as in some cases it can shift the panels and cause damage, which may require calling in experts to fix.
Cleaning the windows is much like the rest of your home, using a window cleaning product or warm soapy water to clean the marks off the glass and window frames.
Finally, and most vitally for any extension, check the pipes and guttering for leaves, snow or other obstacles that can create a blockage in your draining system. Blocked gutters are a problem wherever they are found in the home but can cause leaks and other damage in an extension.
Get The Heating Right
Your orangery should be a year-round space, and with the right choice of glazing, ventilation and heating, you can create a space that is perfect no matter the weather you see outside of the window.
Double or triple glazing is a must for the winter months to help ensure the room does not lose too much heat to the elements. Modern glass is exceptionally energy-efficient and can help lower heating bills and keep your orangery comfortable in winter.
In the summer months, when the beautiful glass windows and skylights can make the room uncomfortably warm, consider looking into solar control glass, which reflects a lot of the heat away from the living space and keeps everyone inside at a comfortable temperature.
Consider as well installing automatic or solar ventilation panels which will automatically open and close depending on the weather.
Heating is a complicated issue, but the best solution when building an orangery is underfloor heating, either connected to an existing water system or installed with the flooring. This can help avoid losing wall space to radiators.
If you are using your home’s central heating system, be sure to ensure pipes are lagged and insulated to stop them from freezing and bursting over particularly cold winters.
Be sure to check the seals around windows and doors regularly, to ensure they are completely free of cracks or holes. During the winter these holes can expand as a result of bad weather, turning a small issue into an expensive fix.