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What Are Your Options With Modern DIY Conservatories?

Dream — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:30:32 +0000

What exactly do we mean by modern DIY conservatories? It is a very vague term, because what one person deems as being thoroughly modern the next person might think is fairly ordinary. So a lot of it is in the eye of the person who views the finished product.

The vast majority of conservatory styles that are modern in nature are really much the same as traditional conservatories. Victorian and Edwardian styles definitely hark back to other times, but the orangery and the P shaped conservatory are rather more obscure. They could relate either to times gone by or modern times, depending on which way you look at it.

Quite often a modern DIY conservatory is one that has been constructed out of modern materials. Instead of being made from hardwood it will be made from uPVC. This simple difference is often what people mean by modern or traditional.

Some companies are striking out in a new direction and creating DIY conservatories that are very modern in design however. These kinds of conservatories are very modern and stylish and very unlike the normal kinds of designs and shapes you are used to.

There has also been a move in the direction of glass rooms rather than standard designs. The more glass that is used, the more you feel as if you are outside. This is the look some designers are going for.

If you think of an orangery design, this appeals very well to the use of more glass. Some of these have lots of glass included in them, while others make better use of higher walls to help create the illusion of another room rather than a conservatory.

Some of these designs have the walls going almost all the way up to the roof. There are then some narrow windows running along the length of each elevation, with these and the roof letting in more light.

Skylights are also good for modern DIY conservatory designs. They let heat out and fresh air in, and help to aerate and lighten a conservatory which relies on solid walls more than it would traditionally.

Finally you have to think about the use of bi-fold doors rather than traditional patio doors. These allow you to open up virtually one whole wall to the garden, rather than simply opening up a set of double doors. This compensates for having more walls than you would ordinarily, and it defines many of the modern conservatory designs you will see today.

It very much depends on your own personal tastes and indeed your budget as to whether you opt for this kind of DIY conservatory. It might be just what you are looking for.

What Are Your Options With Modern DIY Conservatories? is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

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

What Are The Advantages Of DIY Conservatories?

Dream — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:18:31 +0000

If you are considering building your own DIY conservatory rather than getting builders in to do it for you, there are plenty of benefits that might serve to sway your decision.

For starters they are great if you have a small budget. You won’t have the expense of having to hire builders to do the job for you. This can add up to a lot of man hours that need to be paid for by you.

There is also the degree of personal satisfaction you will get from constructing the DIY conservatory yourself. Yes you may need one or two other helpers along the way, but you will get a great feeling when it is finally finished and you have done it all yourself.

The timescale you will be working to is very different as well. When you put your own conservatory up you can fit it around your other responsibilities. If you ask builders to do it for you, you will have to fit in around their other jobs, and that isn’t always good news for you.

You can also afford to get a better DIY conservatory than you would if you hired someone else to fit it for you. Because of the costs of manpower, this leaves less to cover the actual materials. But when you construct it yourself you don’t need to worry about paying for manpower. This means you can spend more on materials than you would be able to otherwise.

Furthermore if you hate other people being in control of the decision making process, you are a strong candidate for putting up your own DIY conservatory! When builders take on any job for a client they tend to make a lot of decisions for you without consulting you first. You may not get a choice of how things are done in some cases – but this won’t happen if you are in control and building it yourself.

And finally there is the issue of affordability. Some people find that when they cost out the amount they need to buy a DIY conservatory and have a team of builders install it for them, they simply cannot afford it.

But once again when those manpower costs are taken out of the equation they find that suddenly they are able to afford it – and they might get a better conservatory as well.

So you see that DIY conservatories have actually made the dream of having a conservatory a distinct reality for some people who would not otherwise have been able to have one. And since it can make a real difference to how you view your home, you will be glad you went for a DIY conservatory if you decide this is what you want.

What Are The Advantages Of DIY Conservatories? is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

DIY Conservatories – Which Kits Are Best?

Dream — Fri, 28 May 2010 13:06:28 +0000

This is a common question asked by many people who are considering opting for a DIY conservatory rather than having one installed for them.

It is important to think about the quality of the kit you are going to buy. After all you are going to be the one who installs it. Just imagine having your kit delivered to your home. You are excited and you take it into the back garden to unpack it all so you can get started on your brand new DIY conservatory.

Two hours later the lawn is strewn with bits and pieces of all shapes and sizes. You are sitting in the middle of it all, tearing your hair out and wondering which bits go where. You have got what seem to be diagrams and instructions, but you cannot make head or tail of any of them.

When you buy a DIY conservatory it is generally because you want to save some money. Since you don’t need to hire builders to do it for you, you might have decided to splash out on a bigger and better conservatory instead.

But if you get it delivered and find you cannot install it, you might end up having to call in the builders anyway. And if that happens you are looking at a bigger bill.

This is why you need to find the best kit you can, because the difference between the best and the worst can be quite large. Every kit you find will be a good one, but you need to get the best one you can if you want the whole experience to be as easy as possible.

To this end it pays to do some research on each company you are thinking of buying your conservatory flat packed kit from. Make sure the kit you want is designed for self builders. This will help enormously. You don’t want a kit that is designed for experienced builders to erect on behalf of their clients.

By choosing the right kit you will know that it has been put together to make life easier for the person constructing it. For example some self builder kits need no screws at all to put them up. Everything clicks and slides into place and it is much like putting together a huge jigsaw puzzle. Except that in this case you will have all the pieces and you will also know what the end result should look like!

Some companies have their plans and instructions for their kits online as well, so you can have a look before you decide to buy them. If you have a kit you are comfortable and confident with, you can have your new DIY conservatory finished faster than you might think.

DIY Conservatories – Which Kits Are Best? is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

Are DIY Conservatories Bespoke Or Do They Come In Kit Form?

Dream — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:00:14 +0000

If you really want the conservatory of your dreams, the best thing to consider is a DIY conservatory. This puts you in control of what you want, and one of its main benefits is that it is a lot cheaper to buy as well.

But what kind of choice do you really have? DIY conservatories come in flat packed form so you can put them up yourself. Does this mean they only come in set sizes and basic shapes?

You might be surprised to learn the answer is no. You can indeed get conservatories in kit form, and these are ideal if you aren’t precise about the size and shape you want.

For example you might have your eye on a lean to DIY conservatory to fill in a space in your back garden. Upon looking for such a conservatory in flat pack form, you find one that is three meters by two meters, and you decide to buy it.

This is a good example of how some people buy their conservatories to erect themselves. But what if you have very precise ideas in mind for your DIY conservatory? What if you cannot find a flat packed kit that will do the job for you?

The good news is that this doesn’t preclude you from getting a DIY model. There are companies around that provide bespoke kits that are based on your own needs and requirements. They are likely to cost slightly more because they are based on what you want rather than on a distinct model or size. But they do offer a solution to your problem.

If you decide to go for a bespoke kit you must be very sure of what it is you want. Generally speaking the company who will make the kit for you should be able to offer advice and expertise in this area. Unpacking a kit and installing it is very different from having to design the components and sizes of the kit in the first place. Make sure you know what you need.

It is good to know that whatever kind of DIY conservatory you want, you can find it at a cheaper price than a supply and fit model. Because you are erecting it yourself (possibly with the help of a friend or two) you will be able to get rid of the cost you would pay for manpower.

Take a fresh look at the plot you have available for your DIY conservatory and see whether you can buy a kit to suit your needs. If not, you simply have to find a reputable company who will create a bespoke kit for you to put together.

Are DIY Conservatories Bespoke Or Do They Come In Kit Form? is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

DIY Conservatories – Which Kits Are Best?

Are DIY Conservatories Better Than Supply And Fit Conservatories?

Dream — Thu, 20 May 2010 12:55:36 +0000

Every week people are considering having a conservatory added onto their home. And every week they wonder whether it’s better to get the builders in to do it for them, or whether they should opt for a DIY conservatory instead.

So what is the answer?

It depends on your own personal situation of course, but by and large there is no doubt that DIY conservatories are far better than their supply and fit counterparts.

There are lots of reasons for this as well. One of the main considerations is budget. A ‘do it yourself’ conservatory is far cheaper than the same design would be if it were fitted by a team of builders. No matter how cost effective or cheap the building team was to hire, it would still result in a bigger bill for you at the end.

And if you have basic DIY skills you can certainly put up a conservatory yourself with the help of a mate or two. These conservatories come as kits to be unpacked at home and erected by you. They are designed to be easy to put together by someone who isn’t a professional by trade. As such they are quite straightforward provided you aren’t daunted by a bit of DIY.

It’s obvious that you are saving on manpower costs here. This means you can usually afford to get a much better conservatory than you would be able to afford otherwise. Either that or you can kit out your ideal conservatory in a much better way.

For example you could add under floor heating to warm things up in the winter. You could also splash out on better quality glass to enable you to keep the room cooler in the warmer months.

You could even spend more on furnishing your new room – and you may not be able to afford to do any of that if you bought a supply and fit model. As you can see there are plenty of reasons why a DIY conservatory you construct yourself puts you quids in.

You may in fact feel as if your new DIY conservatory is more of a child’s game than anything else. Many of them are designed to be fitted together without the need for screws or any other fixings. Everything clips and slides together so that you can erect it in record time and have the extra room you have always wanted for your home.

It’s clear that if budget is a problem and you want to make sure your money goes as far as possible, a DIY conservatory is definitely worth considering. With this many benefits on display, why would you choose anything else?

Are DIY Conservatories Better Than Supply And Fit Conservatories? is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

What Are The Advantages Of DIY Conservatories?

Can You Install DIY Conservatories On Any House?

Dream — Sun, 16 May 2010 12:31:55 +0000

This is a common question that those in the industry are asked on a regular basis. And the answer is a resounding yes.

But certain properties do benefit from a DIY conservatory more than others do, so let’s take a look at those here.

Terraced properties don’t always have great access to the back garden. In this situation a DIY conservatory can be particularly beneficial. Just imagine having to agree to a lorry load of builders and equipment trudging their way through your house to reach the back garden. Would you want muddy boots and equipment making their way through? Not many people would!

With a self build project however you are in total control. You still have to bring everything through the house but you won’t need all the equipment that builders would need to bring with them. And you can decide what comes through and when, whereas builders will want to get everything through in one go. And they are still likely to want to go back and forth to their van throughout the day as well. When you build one yourself you won’t have this problem to bear in mind.

DIY conservatories are also a lot easier to put together than more traditional conservatories if the property is near to a river. Many of these more complicated versions require costly piling in this situation, in order to make the foundations properly secure.

This isn’t needed with a DIY build. As such it puts the idea of having a DIY conservatory within reach of more people, thanks to there being no need for expensive piling.

Depending on where you live the local planning office may not like the idea of you having deep foundations for your new conservatory anyway. The most common example of this is in coal mining areas.

Deep foundations in this situation could lead to problems with the earth giving way. But with a self build conservatory you won’t need deep foundations. As a result the planning authority will be more likely to agree to you having a conservatory in the first place.

The sheer range of DIY conservatories available that are suitable for you to build yourself means that more properties can make use of them. Not all styles of property are suited to all styles of conservatory, so the more choices you have the more chance you have of finding just what you need.

In short, DIY conservatories are perfect for lots of different houses. They are also perfect for many different budgets – and indeed some people find this is the only kind of conservatory they can afford to have. And since they suit any house, you can be assured of a great new look once the build is complete.

Can You Install DIY Conservatories On Any House? is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

What Kind Of Base Do DIY Conservatories Need?

Dream — Wed, 12 May 2010 12:21:07 +0000

The conservatory steel base is one of the most important parts of your DIY conservatory. It needs to be stable and able to support the building itself, so you need to make sure you get it right.

You have two choices when it comes to selecting a base. The first route to take is to hire a builder to construct a traditional concrete base for you. They will then add brick or block work on top of this, for the DIY conservatory to be installed onto.

Needless to say this can be messy and it takes time as well. You have to wait for the cement to dry and you need reasonable weather too. You also have to pay the builders, which can increase the cost of your conservatory build considerably.

Alternatively you can go for an Instabuild base. As the name suggests this is far quicker and it has been designed to make it possible for the self builder to lay it themselves.

There are lots of benefits with this kind of conservatory base. For starters you won’t have the expense of hiring builders. On top of this you will have a lot less site disruption because you won’t have builders tramping through your house.

You will also like the fact that no large excavations will be required. Foundations can be a real pain in terms of disruption, but the Instabuild base means you don’t have to remove loads of soil to make it work. You won’t need any aggregate to use as backfill either, so that is another expense that simply doesn’t crop up in this case.

And since you won’t need any cement like you would for an ordinary base, you won’t have to listen to the cement mixer going in your garden. There is no mess at all with this choice of base.

Some people find they have problems with manhole covers or drains. If they are positioned where you want your DIY conservatory to be, you will have to move them. Or at least you would if you had a traditional concrete base to install. With the Instabuild system you don’t have to move anything, saving you still more cash.

The conservatory steel base can also be custom made and the installation process is very easy indeed. If you have a site that is less than flat, you will have a much easier time with this type of DIY conservatory base. And if you want to cover over a patio you can do so. There is no need to dig it up.

As you can see there are lots of advantages to choosing a DIY steel base for your conservatory. You’ll get something cheaper that does the job and conforms to all the necessary legislation. What could be better?

What Kind Of Base Do DIY Conservatories Need? is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

Keeping DIY Conservatories Toasty Warm In The Winter

Dream — Sat, 08 May 2010 12:15:41 +0000

Do you have an image of sitting in your new DIY conservatory and watching the snow flakes falling outside?

Many people love this idea of being indoors during inclement weather and yet being close to the outdoors as well. But if you don’t adequately heat your DIY conservatory you won’t be able to do this.

So what is the solution?

Regardless of how much you heat your DIY conservatory, if that heat isn’t able to stay inside the room you won’t get the benefit of it. All you will get is very high heating bills.

To find the solution we need to think about how heat acts. We know that it rises, so it stands to reason that the place where it will escape is through the roof of your conservatory. This is why Celcius roof glass has already been installed in lots of DIY conservatories, precisely to combat this kind of event.

The less heat you can prevent from escaping, the less heat you will have to generate yourself by way of heaters, radiators and other items. And the heat you do generate will stay in the conservatory, making it warmer and more pleasurable for you to use.

The Celcius glass is a full 50% better than standard glass when it comes to thermal insulation. You can see it is worth investing in it when you come to choose the materials you will make your DIY conservatory from.

People often say their DIY conservatory is unusable during the winter months. It is simply too cold to go out there and make use of it. But this is generally due to poor planning when the conservatory was installed. As we have seen, installing the right glass goes a long way towards solving this problem.

We all know that heating bills can be very high if we aren’t careful. Even when owners of conservatories have the means to heat them to make them usable, they don’t do so: because of what it will cost them.

It is also easy to assume that paying a little bit extra for this special glass could be a problem with your budget for a DIY conservatory. But it is something that will eventually pay for itself, because you won’t need to heat it so much to make it usable.

It makes sense to build in other things as well, such as under floor heating, to make your conservatory pleasant throughout the year. But unless you prevent that heat from escaping through the roof, you will never really get the benefit of such things.

If you want to sit comfortably in your DIY conservatory all year round, you need to consider the benefits of choosing the right glass now.

Keeping DIY Conservatories Toasty Warm In The Winter is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk

How To Keep DIY Conservatories Cool In Summer

Dream — Tue, 04 May 2010 12:09:38 +0000

Some conservatory owners will tell you that DIY conservatories are a nightmare to keep cool. This might be the case if this aspect hasn’t been properly planned for, but there are ways to make sure this doesn’t happen to you.

Some parts of a DIY conservatory have to be viewed as essential if you are going to keep this room cool during the hotter summer months. For example you cannot get away without having roof vents in place. And even then you will need more than one to allow the heat to escape and be replaced by cooler air at the same time.

You should also be aware that not all conservatory glass is exactly the same. If you buy a solar glass you will definitely notice the difference in the amount of heat you have hanging around in your DIY conservatory.

This glass is designed to repel the sun’s heat, so that the conservatory doesn’t draw it in and make the room unbearable. Look for glass such as Celcius roof glass. This is one of the best options on the market today, and it comes with several benefits to help alleviate the problem of excessive heat in your DIY conservatory.

We have spoken already about the fact that special glass can repel the sun’s heat. Celcius glass is a case in point, because it is able to reflect over seventy per cent of the heat. This will make a huge difference in terms of the amount of heat your conservatory retains.

A special coating on the glass is responsible for making this a reality, so you can see that it is well worth thinking of having this glass installed.

But there are other benefits to using this special glass as well. When you are sitting in your DIY conservatory on a sunny day you probably feel like you don’t need sun screen. This is understandable – after all you are sitting indoors aren’t you?

But you do still need sun screen in many cases, because the sun’s harmful UV rays will come through the glass and affect your skin. The last thing you want is to get sun burned while you are sitting indoors.

Luckily the Celcius glass has been designed to solve this problem. Because of its construction – and the fact that much of the heat is repelled rather than being allowed to enter the room – the UV rays are significantly reduced.

This means you can recline indoors without having to worry about the risk of sunburn. In short it makes your conservatory a much more pleasant, safer and usable place. And this is true however hot it might get outside, which is why you need to consider the glass you use very carefully indeed.

How To Keep DIY Conservatories Cool In Summer is a post from: dreamconservatoriesonline.co.uk