Giving your home the conservatory feel

To brighten up your living room and create a unique extension for your home, the conservatory could be an affordable answer.

"They bring light into houses and they seem to become something of a feature room that can be used for everything," says Andrew of Glasshouse Conservatories.

Conservatories can be great to fill awkward spaces and odd design features of buildings, as well as extending a home. "I design and build everything, so we can custom make any shape you want - if it can be drawn, it can be built," Andrew adds.

"Often I join onto an existing living area with bi-fold doors - or if the living room is too small it can open right onto the conservatory."

Playing games in the conservatory

If your family plays a lot of ball games in the garden, there could be the fear that a flying ball might destroy a new wall or window. However, conservatories are built from Grade A safety glass.

"All structures are engineer approved," Andrew says. The glass can also be laminated with another sheet of toughened glass for extra safety.

Conservatory origins

Conservatories were originally built in England to draw in sun and heat, but on hot summer days, Australians have the opposite problem. To combat this, roofs can be made from Super Grey toughened glass. "Super Grey toughened glass cuts out 96 per cent of UV rays," Andrew says. Custom shades and blinds can also be installed for extra protection.

Heat throughout the conservatory

For the heat, Andrew recommends you design the conservatory with as many windows and doors as possible. Cross breezes are a great way to cool the room down.

"We also recommend automated roof vents that are covered with fly screens - they're basically opening windows on the slope of the roof that let the hot air out," Andrew says. "They come with built-in rain sensors so if it rains they close automatically." 

To preserve heat in winter, simply close the windows and roof vents and the bright room will trap welcome warmth.

To find out how you can get the conservatory in your home, talk with a conservatory builder today: