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Cool Down DIY Conservatories With These Proven Techniques

Dream — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 03:17:05 +0000

There is nothing quite like having your own DIY conservatory to use all year round. But during the summer months it can be unbearably hot in there – and that means you won’t be able to use it at all.

So how can you solve this sticky problem and make your DIY conservatory usable all year round?

Firstly you need to think about the site and positioning of your conservatory. If you have the choice of placing it at the rear or the side of your house, think about which option would give you the best placement with regard to the sun.

Next you need to make sure you use certain materials when you buy your conservatory. For example the type of glass you choose can have a marked effect on how hot – or not – the room gets during the summer. Modern glass types such as Celcius help to reduce the build up of heat that makes the room unbearable.

Think about the issue of cross flow ventilation as well. It isn’t just a question of having openings in the windows. If they are in the wrong place, i.e. all along the same wall, you won’t get the air flow you need to cool things down.

Instead you want vents on every wall possible, because this will cool the conservatory much more efficiently by allowing the air to circulate more effectively.

Roof vents are another good way to ventilate your DIY conservatory adequately. We all know that heat rises, and in a conservatory it gets trapped near the roof and cannot escape. This eventually starts to heat the air below it as well, which results in a warm conservatory.

If you install roof vents in the conservatory you will be able to allow that heat to escape. What’s more you will find that as the hot air escapes, cooler air will come into the conservatory to replace it. A similar effect can be seen with radiators, and it works equally well with conservatories as well.

Many people don’t think of any of these aspects though. Instead the first thing they think of is an air conditioning unit. But these can be very expensive to install and run, and if you have the doors open in the summer you will be effectively running them for nothing. You won’t get any benefit from them at all unless the doors are closed.

So you can see that it is more than possible to cool down your new DIY conservatory if you think about it carefully before you choose your ideal one. At this early stage you can install all the most effective ways of cooling it down, to ensure you enjoy it more and more as time goes on.

Cool Down DIY Conservatories With These Proven Techniques is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

Ten Of The Best Plants To Add To Your Winter Conservatory

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:35:26 +0000

Most people love the idea of growing and experimenting with plants during the summer. But when winter arrives and brings with it plenty of dreadful weather, we can hardly get outside at all.

Luckily you have an alternative to this if you have a DIY conservatory. It can become your indoor garden through the winter, and since there are plenty of plants which love this atmosphere and the surroundings, you can enjoy gardening on a whole new level.

Try these ten plants for size and see how you get on:

The Mexican Blue palm tree. This is one of the best palm trees for growing in a self-build conservatory, since it takes its time to grow. Some other varieties can be super quick at reaching impressive sizes.
Various citrus trees. Lemons and limes can both be grown in your self-build conservatory, along with miniature orange trees. They won’t grow to be huge and you’ll get a nice harvest of mini citrus fruits for your troubles.
Red climbing lilies. Climbing plants work well in any DIY conservatory. Encourage them to scale the walls and go across the ceiling if you can. The odd tiny hook here and there should keep them in position.
Yucca plants. These do well in conditions which can be warm and devoid of much water. That’s not an excuse for not watering them, but they do love conservatory conditions. Like the palm trees, these may need a position on the floor to look their best.
Bougainvillea. If you want something that smells good as well as looks good, go for the bougainvillea. It is available in pink and red – providing a nice contrast to all those citrus plants.
Passion flowers. These are real survivors and are very hardy. Good to choose as a ‘first try plant’, as you will have to work hard to kill it.
Peach trees. Another opportunity to grow some miniature fruit trees indoors. You could end up with a bumper crop if you try them all!
Apricots. These do exceptionally well in a DIY conservatory. Experiment to find the best position for them, but wherever you put them you should get good results.
Lemongrass. Cats love this as much as you will, so you might want to rethink if you have a cat and it habitually tries to get to it. But citratus as it is known smells and looks wonderful.
Aspidistras. Ideal for a floor standing location, this plant has dark green leaves that flop around when it becomes quite big. It looks lovely though.

So there you have some great plants to start you off with. All that remains now is to buy the first one and move up from there.

Ten Of The Best Plants To Add To Your Winter Conservatory is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

Which Plants Should You Add To Your Conservatory?

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:33:39 +0000

Do you have any idea? The answer could actually depend on whether your self-build conservatory faces the south and gets lots of heat and light during the day. Alternatively you will need to look at a whole different selection of plants if your conservatory favours another direction. So depending on the location you will need to choose the best plants for that situation.

A good bet for any DIY conservatory is a fruit tree. And if you are thinking of the huge version that needs half the garden to drop its fruit in, you need to scale down a bit! Miniature fruit trees such as orange trees and lemon trees are available to stand in pots in your conservatory. You should get perfectly formed oranges and lemons – they will just be a lot smaller than the regular kind.

This just goes to illustrate the ability you have to go for a different type of plant than the norm. Cacti can work well on windowsills, and various yucca plants dotted about will do well too. Anything which loves the warm conditions presented by a conservatory and doesn’t require tons of water will be ideal – particularly if you are a bit forgetful with the watering can.

Palms can also look good in a self-build conservatory. Watch out for the leaves if you have lower level palms though instead of taller ones. You don’t want the kids running into them as the leaves can be a bit sharp on the edges at times.

Herbs can be good in a self-build conservatory too. Once again the windowsills are good for these, but watch that the sun doesn’t scorch them. You’ll benefit from the aroma of sage, basil and other similar herbs though. Simply rub the leaves to get an even better aroma.

If you want some climbing plants to soften up the surroundings a bit, why not think about something like a red climbing lily? This looks amazing and as it grows it can be trained to go wherever you want it to. The bat flower is another good bet if you want something unusual – it has whiskers that grow to impressive lengths!

So it is easy to start adding new plants to your DIY conservatory that will love all the conditions they are presented with. You can also manage some cuttings during the colder months, thanks to the windowsills which always suck up whatever sun they can find. In a sense you can still enjoy your garden on the coldest winter day if you bring some of it inside with you.

Which Plants Should You Add To Your Conservatory? is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

Choosing The Right Type Of Conservatory For You

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:31:36 +0000

If you have only just begun to think about choosing a new DIY conservatory, you might be surprised to find there are lots of decisions to be made. Firstly there is the basic size and shape to think about and then you need to consider how you will finish it off.

But the first consideration is of course the plot you have available. How much room do you have for a DIY conservatory and where will you position it?

That might sound like a strange question but some properties have plenty of room at the side of the house as well as (or instead of) at the rear. This might give you more possibilities to consider, depending on your existing property layout and which room or rooms would lead through to the DIYconservatory.

When it comes to the design you have lots to choose from. Your budget might dictate what you have to an extent but your available space and the nature of your plot will also have an influence. A lean to design could be worthwhile if you want the conservatory to wrap around the side of the house. Alternatively styles such as the Edwardian, the Georgian and the gable end conservatory are also very popular.

Size is important too of course but you need to think about how much of your garden you want to give up. You also need to consider what you will be using your self-build conservatory for. Will you use it as a dining room? How about a playroom for the children? Perhaps a home office is more what you had in mind? Whatever you want to use it for you might need to have a certain size in order to make it worthwhile.

Next up you need to think about other aspects of your self-build conservatory, such as the glazing and the flooring. The glazing is particularly important because you will need to think about making sure your conservatory is habitable throughout the year. There is nothing worse than a cold conservatory in the winter and a boiling hot one in the summer.

Fortunately modern glazing can make sure your conservatory is nice to use for the whole year. Just make sure you pick the right type of glazing, particularly if your new conservatory will be facing the south.

As far as the floor is concerned you have just as many choices as you would in any other part of your home. But remember that carpet may not be the best choice if you will be going in and out of the garden all the time.

As you can see there is a lot to think about with regard to choosing the right conservatory for your needs. That’s why it is worth spending some quality time making all the right decisions before you get started.

Choosing The Right Type Of Conservatory For You is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

Ideal Furniture For Your Conservatory

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Once your new self-build conservatory is finished, you then have the task of furnishing it. This will be made easier if you think about how you want to use the room first.

For example, will you be primarily using it as a dining room? If so, a table and chairs will be the most important item to add. If this is the case make sure you measure up properly to see what size table would fit in. Consider the amount of space needed for the chairs too though – it is easy to think about the table and forget that the chairs need to be pushed back for people to get into them.

But supposing you don’t want your conservatory to be used as a dining room? How else could you furnish it?

An ideal solution is to use it as a more casual room. For example, you could buy a couple of nice armchairs that are designed for conservatory use. You will find wicker and rattan style chairs that are much lighter in design, and these sit very well in a self-build conservatory.

You could also buy a coffee table or nest of tables to match, so that you have some surfaces to put coffee cups or mugs down on. And perhaps even a magazine rack would work well, if you are thinking of using the room as a relaxing place to come and wind down after a hard day at work.

One thing you need to bear in mind when buying this type of furniture for your DIY conservatory is whether or not it is designed to take the unique conditions that a conservatory will present it with. The heat and light can both take their toll, so make sure the material used is suitable.

Some people find other ways to use their DIY conservatory though. Using it as an office is a popular choice, although if you only want it as an occasional office it might be better to get a smaller computer unit you can use in one corner. The rest of the room can then be used for other purposes.

Another good choice is to turn it into a playroom for the children. In this situation you will need beanbags and perhaps a smaller table and chairs for the children to use. Think about using low storage boxes as well; these will sit just underneath the windows and they enable you to make good use of the space you have. And if you put flat cushions on top of them they can also double as occasional window seating.

As you can see a DIY conservatory can have many different uses. Discovering what uses will be best for you will enable you to choose the right furniture. It will also depend on how many high walls your conservatory has, and how many windows it has. For example a tall bookcase would be ideal against a wall, but if you have a very open design it won’t work at all. In this case a much lower longer bookcase could suffice.

In the end some careful consideration will work well in helping you find the right furniture for your conservatory. And once you have it all in place, you can enjoy it all on a daily basis.

Ideal Furniture For Your Conservatory is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

What Are The Best Plants For A Conservatory?

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:27:55 +0000

Would you know the answer? In truth the answer can depend on the nature of your DIY conservatory. For example if yours is south facing you will get plenty of sun – and that doesn’t appeal to some plants. Conversely if your DIY conservatory faces in another direction you will have a whole new selection of plants to consider that will thrive much better under those different conditions.

One type of plant that tends to like a self-build conservatory is the fruit tree. Now you might imagine this to be a big tree that requires a garden to flourish in, but this isn’t always the case. You can buy miniature fruit trees that look and smell wonderful in a conservatory. Orange and lemon trees are both very popular because of the fresh citrus smell they give off. And they are just the right size to sit in a fancy pot on the floor.

It’s good to know that you can opt for something a bit different in your self-build conservatory, particularly if it does get a lot of sun. Think about cacti, yucca plants and other similar species that can get by in warm conditions with little water. These are particularly good if you forget to water your plants quite a lot!

Palms are another good choice, although you should be wary of having them at a low level if you have children. The leaves can be quite spiky if the kids aren’t looking where they are going.

Of course when we talk about plants, this can also include other things such as herbs. Grown in pots on the windowsills, these will also give off a wonderful aroma if you use plants such as basil, oregano and sage.

There are also plenty of more stunning plants you can try out in your own self-build conservatory. How about a red climbing lily for example? This is a shocking red colour and if you can allow it to climb it can make quite a display. And if you want something completely different you could try the bat flower for size. The white version is not easy to get hold of but if you manage it you will have something truly amazing to show off. Especially since it has whiskers that can go on for an incredible distance!

As you can see there is a lot you can do to populate your conservatory with flowers and plants. And since it is also ideal for managing those cuttings during the colder months, it can also provide a halfway house for you when the weather outside is simply not good enough.

What Are The Best Plants For A Conservatory? is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

Planning For Plants In Your Conservatory

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:25:57 +0000

One of the best things about having a self-build conservatory is the fact that you are near to your garden all year round. Regardless of what the weather is doing you can watch what is happening and see your plants and shrubs developing as the year presses on.

But there is also the prospect of being able to grow plants inside your self-build conservatory as well. While not all plants enjoy the unusual conditions this room presents, some will positively thrive in them. The trick is to plan ahead and make sure you know what you want to have and where you want to have it.

So to begin, think about the amount of room you have available to cater for plants in your conservatory. Some people are happy to have one or two key plants in strategic places, while others won’t settle until every windowsill has a row of plants on it!

Don’t just think about plants for surfaces either – think about plants that could stand on the floor. Citrus trees often do really well in a DIY conservatory, and they add a splash of colour as well.

Needless to say you will have to do your research before you start buying plants for your DIY conservatory. Think about the amount of time you have to devote to caring for them as well. If you are pushed for time it is best to start off with just one or two plants, to see how you get on with them. If you have success with them and they start to enjoy the unique conditions presented by your conservatory, you could then think about adding another plant to your collection.

Planning to add new plants is always a big decision to make, particularly if you have young children. You need to make sure they cannot reach the plants, or at least understand that they are off limits. You also need to think about placement in terms of whether they will enjoy being in direct sunlight or not. Always be prepared to move a new plant around in different places in the DIY conservatory when you first buy it. It might prefer a different spot to the one you had in mind for it.

While it might seem daunting trying to buy the right plants and positioning them in the right place, you will benefit from doing your research. Learn from the experts and read as much as you can about caring for plants in these conditions.

Remember too though that this is your conservatory and it should always be enjoyed as such. And a key part of that is finding the right balance of greenery to welcome you in every time you enter it.

Planning For Plants In Your Conservatory is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

Ten Great Plants To Liven Up Your Conservatory In Winter

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:24:35 +0000

One of the best parts of the summer months is the ability to grow lots of vibrant and lively plants in the garden and indoors.

But just because the winter months roll around, it doesn’t mean you have to go without seeing a grand display. In fact you can move it indoors and make the most of the surroundings in your DIY conservatory instead.

Here are ten great plants you should be growing in your DIY conservatory this year:

Apricots. Do you like apricots? You could be eating your very own if you start growing them in the ideal conditions presented by your conservatory.
Citrus trees. Think oranges, limes, lemons and similar plants. The smaller versions produce equally small but lovely fruit to enjoy once the plant has established itself.
Red climbing lilies. Climbing plants can soften up an otherwise stark conservatory. Let them go where they wish – within reason of course!
Lemongrass. This might not be a good idea if you have cats as they tend to love it. But if your DIY conservatory is a cat free zone make sure you give citratus a go.
Palm trees. Try the Mexican blue if you don’t want it to take over once your back is turned! Palms can be notoriously successful at growing and doing it quickly, so be warned. Always look for the slowest growing varieties you can find.
Aspidistras. The dark green of the leaves makes this plant stand out among whatever others you choose to go for. It can also grow to be quite large, so you might want to promote it to a floor standing position if need be.
Yucca plants. A good choice for a self-build conservatory . They can get by with less water and they can also grow to be rather tall when they flourish. With this in mind make sure you have a floor standing position read to accommodate it.
Bougainvillea. This is always a popular choice, mainly thanks to the aroma and the wonderful colours of the flowers. Think pink and red and you will get the idea.
Peach trees. Opt for a dwarf version that will sit nicely alongside your apricots and citrus trees. And enjoy the proliferation of fruit when it all ripens!
Passion flowers. These are quite hardy plants so they can cope with the sometimes changeable conditions in a self-build conservatory. As such they are great for the beginning conservatory gardener, as there isn’t too much you can do wrong with them.

So there you are – ten of the best to get started with. Perhaps it is time to find some compost?

Ten Great Plants To Liven Up Your Conservatory In Winter is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

Winter Gardening – What To Plant And When

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 07:24:03 +0000

Come the spring, we’re all eager to get out into the garden and plant those first few shrubs and flowers that will come to fruition during the summer.

But what do we do during the winter months? Do we ignore the garden altogether and wait for next spring to get underway again?

Not a bit of it. There is a lot you can do at this time of year, and if you have a self-build conservatory you are in an even better position. Those windowsills are ideal for encouraging young plants to make it through the winter, and it will enable you to have plenty of plants ready for when spring arrives too.

The best plants to look for are annuals. Winter pansies are a good option to try, and they can fill winter hanging baskets outside your conservatory, providing you with a lovely view out onto your garden.

The one thing you need to be aware of is whether you can plant certain things at the beginning of the winter season or the end. For example calendula can liven up a winter garden, but only towards the end of the season. Plant it too early and you could lose it.

As such you should always ask for advice from your local garden centre when you buy things for your garden. The same applies for any plants you want to add to your self-build conservatory. The conditions during winter won’t be as warm or as sunny as they would be during the summer, so think carefully before you choose the plant for your needs.

A lot depends on where you place a plant too. What will thrive in one garden (or even in one position) will die off in another, so take time to choose carefully. For example the Christmas rose doesn’t like full sun and it won’t do well in an exposed position either. Keep it close to your self-build conservatory so you can admire the amazing flowers that bloom around Christmas time itself, and shelter it as best you can.

The nandina domestica will also give a good display during the winter months as its leaves will flush red. This is available all year so provided you don’t plant it on the coldest day of the year it should be fine. It is very hardy and can withstand quite a lot too.

But of course these examples only just touch the surface of what you can do during the winter months. The more you find out about winter planting and whether to do it inside your DIY conservatory or out in the garden, the more you will realise that gardening is for the whole year – not just for summer.

Winter Gardening – What To Plant And When is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

How To Keep The Children Busy This Winter

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:23:20 +0000

The summer months are wonderful when you have children. You can fling open the doors to the garden after breakfast and let them run riot in the garden. There are plenty of outdoor games they can play while you relax in a garden chair or perhaps get on with some chores inside the house.

But winter is a different thing altogether. How on earth do you keep them entertained when they can’t go outside?

Well there are some solutions to this problem – you just have to get thinking along the right lines to make use of them. Think about creating another space for them to play in, for example. Do you have a self-build conservatory? If you do this can be the perfect solution. Try converting it into a temporary – or even permanent – playroom for them. You can get them to help too, and encourage them to keep all their toys tidy at the same time.

In fact a self-build conservatory has lots of benefits when you use it as a playroom. The kids will love having a space of their own and it is certainly much better than running all round the house getting under your feet. If you have chores to do you’ll know how frustrating this can be. And you’ll know exactly where they are if they are in the DIY conservatory all day too.

It also doesn’t matter what the weather is doing. In fact you will probably find the kids will take more of an interest in it. They’ll love sitting out there when it is pouring with rain – the loud noise on the roof is quite something and you might want to enjoy it with them. They will benefit from the daylight streaming in as well, instead of staying in a room with artificial light when it is overcast.

And of course it isn’t just the kids that will benefit from this plan. You will benefit from it as well. You can get on with whatever you want to do during the day, checking on them from time to time to make sure everything is okay. But you can keep the rest of the house tidy and free from toys – and that is certainly a big advantage for any parent!

So as you can see, if you give your DIY conservatory over to the kids during the winter, both you and they can benefit from it in lots of ways. Why not start planning for the change right now?

How To Keep The Children Busy This Winter is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk