absolute brighton

ABSOLUTE INTERIORS
conservatory is a long term investment in
A your home, so choosing the right one for you
is vital. It adds space and value to your property,
and should encroach into your garden area in a
way that enhances all parts of your home.
Depending on your taste, and the style of your
property, is a modern style or a traditional
arrangement the best choice? Contemporary
conservatories have clean lines and unfussy
frames. They can have pitched, fl at or lean-to style
roofs. They’re usually simple square or rectangular
structures. Traditional structures take their
inspiration from history - a beautiful Victorian
conservatory is more ornate, and incorporates
more shapes and detail, ideal for the older
property.
How will you be using your new
conservatory?
Will be it a playroom, a dining area, an offi ce,
a second living room or an all-year-round, allweather
extension to the garden? Its purpose
doesn’t have to fi t exclusively into one of these
categories, but your conservatory’s ultimate dayto-day
use will determine how large it needs to
be as well as which style, layout and materials will
work best.
The position
Bear in mind the aspect of your new
conservatory. Conservatories that face south
receive more sun than those facing north and as
such, the need for adequate ventilation and blinds
is of uppermost importance. To help you regulate
the temperature in a south facing conservatory,
you might also want to think about using Celsius
performance glass in the roof.
Size matters
Once you’ve decided on the design and size of
your new conservatory, get a second opinion
from a friend or family member. Make sure your
choice complements your home and has enough
internal fl oor space to meet your requirements.
In short, treat it as a fl uid extension to your
home rather than just an add-on.
26 ABSOLUTE
Call on the professionals
Always get your conservatory professionally
designed and installed. Also be sure to use
vetted installers who offer an insurance backed
guarantee. With such a major and prized
investment, it’s simply not worth taking the risk.
Don’t automatically opt for the ‘cheapest’
company unless its products and services also
happen to be better than the competition.
Another important factor to consider when
appointing your installer should be their ability
to meet your timescales. The last thing you want
is an installation that will drag on and on, leaving
your home looking like a building site for weeks
or even months.
Check with your local authority.
Under new regulations that came into effect
from 1st October 2008, adding a conservatory
to your house is considered to be a permitted
development, not needing an application for
planning permission (unless your property is
listed, in a conservation area or it has already
SPACE
AND
LIGHT
A dramatic improvement
can be made to your
home with the addition of
a conservatory
been extended), but there are conditions, some
of these are listed below.
1. No more than half the area of land around the
original house would be covered by additions or
other buildings.
2. No extension forward of the principal
elevation or side elevation fronting a highway.
3. No extension to be higher than the highest
part of the roof.
4. Single-storey rear extension must not extend
beyond the rear wall of the original house by
more than three metres if an attached house or
by four metres if a detached house.
5. Maximum height of a single-storey rear
extension of four metres.
6. Maximum depth of a rear extension of more
than one storey of three metres from the rear
wall of the original house including ground fl oor.
To fi nd full details of the conditions, please visit
www.planningportal.gov.uk
or contact your local outhority.