You can choose the sort of conservatory that best suits you by understanding the various types that are offered with the aid of our guide.
Do you understand the distinction between an orangery and a conservatory? Gable and lantern roofs, respectively? To help you distinguish between the various conservatory kinds and select the ideal design for your house and budget, use our expert guide. Conservatories exist in a wide variety of sizes and designs, ranging from straightforward glass rooms to extravagant glazed additions. The decision is thrilling, but it may also be perplexing, especially when you consider the time and financial commitment you’re making. Here, we walk you through the many conservatory architectural styles. You can utilise our suggestions to assist you in choosing the ideal conservatory for your residence and way of life.
Conservatories: some things to consider
Consider the following uses of your new conservatory as you choose its design:
Will it mostly be utilised for gardening, plant cultivation, or housing animals? Your needs might probably be met by a straightforward form of conservatory that can be reached from your home through an existing door.
Do you only intend to use it during the hot summer months? If so, you can probably get away with building a conservatory that is very basic, but you’ll need to consider how its temperature will affect the rest of your house and how cold it will be in the winter.
Do you intend to extend your living area year-round using it? Size, style, structure, and interior features will require further consideration, as will the cost of integrating it into your home by tearing down a wall to create an open-plan area or installing double glass doors.
Are you looking for a wow factor? Orangeries can be striking, especially if their roof is designed like a lantern. However, they cost more, so be specific about what you want.
To assist you in selecting the type of conservatory
We’ve compiled a list of typical justifications for conservatory purchases, along with examples of what they’re used for:
Adding more rooms and living space is frequently the major motivation.
To fill the space between their home and garden
to increase their home’s worth
to increase the amount of light entering their house
to expand the dining area
to have extra room for plants and garden supplies
to make their house stand out
type of conservatory
To accommodate a variety of lifestyles, conservatories come in a wide range of sizes and shapes. To fit your demands, a variety of materials and combinations can be incorporated. View images of the various conservatory styles in the gallery below, and then continue reading for an explanation of their essential features.
conservatory gallery types
Conservatory in a lean-to
This straightforward conservatory style, sometimes known as a Mediterranean conservatory, is a fantastic choice if you’re working with a limited budget.
Victorian greenhouse
a conservatory style with a bay front, pitched roof, and elaborate roof ridge that is quite popular.
Georgian or Edwardian-style conservatory
These feature a flat front and a rectangular design, much like a conservatory in the Victorian era.
conservatory with gables
The roof of gable conservatories is distinctive because it doesn’t slope back toward the centre but rather remains upright to provide the impression of height.
conservatory in a P shape
Lean-to and Victorian or Edwardian architectural elements combined to form a “P” shape. These are frequently rather spacious and useful for offering flexible additional living space.
conservatory in a T shape
a conservatory that frequently spans the majority of the width of your home and has a central projection. It works well for detached homes with sizable gardens.
Orangery A stunning construction that falls in between a conservatory and an addition. Compared to a standard conservatory, they have a more robust structure, often with brickwork.
Convent with a lantern roof
Orangeries frequently have a glass “lantern” roof added to a more substantial roof structure, which can give the impression of increased space and grandeur.
tiled conservatory roof This particular style of conservatory resembles an addition more. This is due to the fact that their roof is entirely made of tiles rather than glass.
Orangery versus a conservatory?
According to those with knowledge of the industry whom we consulted, there has been a recent shift toward the construction of conservatories that are substantially larger. Technically speaking, these are referred to as orangeries; nevertheless, you could also hear people refer to them as garden rooms or sun rooms.
Orangeries are a type of building that are a cross between a conventional conservatory and a modest single-story addition. They typically have a greater amount of brickwork, most frequently including brick pillars or supports at the corners of the structure.
Either a fully tiled roof or a mostly solid roof with a glass lantern in the middle is featured on these structures.
Orangeries are frequently blended more fully with the rest of the property, and there may not even be a door that separates the two areas. In this way, they may really make your home stand out from the crowd.
Check out our article on selecting an orangery for a comprehensive description of the available possibilities as well as additional information such as what kinds of plants are suitable for growing in orangeries.
Materials for use in conservatories
The materials from which your conservatory is constructed will have an impact not only on its appearance but also on how simple it is to maintain, how warm it stays, and how much light enters it. You need to give this a lot of serious thought because many people who own conservatories have cited the temperature in their conservatories in particular as a significant source of regret.
Continue reading to gain additional knowledge regarding the selection of materials for your windows, roof, window frames, and walls. Then you should go to our page about the hazards of having a conservatory to see how you may steer clear of the choices that owners of conservatories usually come to regret the most.
Walls of a conservatory
There are some conservatories that are entirely made of glass with no brick walls. However, you should be aware that having glass on all sides of your new conservatory, from floor to ceiling, runs the danger of making it feel more like a greenhouse.
The temperature may be uncomfortably high or low, depending on the time of year. Increasing the amount of brickwork in your conservatory will give the impression that it is an integral part of your house.
Some greenhouses and conservatories have at least one complete wall, while others have only dwarf walls below the windows. In order to better control the temperature within your conservatory, you should give some thought to insulating any brickwork that may be present there.
Roof of a conservatory
Conservatories are the most typical places to find glass roofs because they are an excellent way to get additional light into the space. On the other hand, you are not required to have a glass roof.
You might have one that is completely tiled, which would give the impression that your conservatory is an extension of your home. If you don’t want a roof made entirely of glass but you still want more light to get into the space, you might want to think about installing a roof light.
The temperature of the room will fluctuate significantly depending on the type of glass that is used.
Different kinds of glass
You will have a variety of choices available to you when it comes to the glass that you select for your conservatory’s windows as well as its roof. As a result of technological advancements made over the past several years, there are now a variety of specialised glasses to choose from, including the following:
Glass that has good thermal efficiency should prevent heat from leaking through the window. You may choose to install double-glazed panels that are filled with an environmentally friendly gas like argon. To prevent heat from escaping through other types of thermally efficient glass, a specific coating is utilised.
Self-cleaning glass features a unique exterior coating that, when exposed to sunlight, breaks down dirt particles; as a result, you won’t need to clean it as frequently as you would regular glass. It is important to keep in mind that roofs with steeper pitches are ideal for the use of self-cleaning glass.
Tinted glass is one way to lessen the glare caused by the sun. Other options include anti-glare and reflective coatings. During the hottest part of the summer, this can be a very helpful feature to have, particularly if your conservatory will be facing the sun for the bulk of the day.
Door frames and window casings
The majority of window and door frames seen in conservatories are constructed from uPVC. Although it does not decay or flake and is quite easy to maintain, some people find that it is lacking in appeal. According to the results of our poll, the vast majority of people (almost nine out of ten) have uPVC window frames. Wood frames, aluminium or steel frames, and other less popular options are also available to you.
Wood may require more upkeep, but it will most likely give the impression that your conservatory is more sophisticated. Because aluminium or steel is a more durable material, the frames can be made thinner, which in turn allows more light to enter the room.
Your conservatory will have a more modern appearance if you use metal in its construction.
