Clearview Midlands January 2014 - Issue 146 | Page 52

CLEARVIEW EXCLUSIVE

CONSERVATORYNEWS

WHY A CONSERVATORY MAY NOW BE
THE BEST AND MOST POPULAR CHOICE
FOR AN ADDITIONAL ROOM
David Fenning’s Conservatories has
been designing and constructing glazed
sunrooms since 1969. Some of the early
basic structures were of a greenhouse design
but nonetheless people used to sit in these
protected areas and enjoy their garden.
As the quality of construction materials
improved, there have been significant
advances in what we now consider as modern
conservatories rather than lean-to greenhouses.
In this exclusive article for Clearview, David
Fennings now discusses why another major
move forward is now substantially overdue…
“During the last five years, there has
been a generally unexplained reduction in
homeowners constructing conservatories
on their properties. It can however be seen
that this has run very much parallel with
the downturn in our, and indeed the world,
economic climate.
“This decline in fully glazed conservatory
sales has been dramatic but there appears to
be a substantial rise in those adding brick
extensions with tiled roofs. Reliable market
research indicates that it is not so much people
feeling that conservatories are too hot in the
summer or cold during winter months but
that they are considered as a luxury addition
to the home and we are of course currently
experiencing tough economic times. Full
extensions are now popular because more
home owners are not moving and therefore
wishing to add brick and tiled roof extensions
to their home for a more general living area
BUT people have been extending their homes
for hundreds of years and this has previously

A substantially glazed
kitchen and dining area in
Sandbanks, Dorset, taking
this home into the garden.

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JAN 2014

made no dramatic impact on the popularity of
glazed conservatories.
“I can unhesitatingly say that many
thousands of my customers will unequivocally
state that their fully glazed conservatory is by
far the family’s most popularly used room.
When asked why, the answer will very simply
be. ‘It is a wonderfully bright protected area
where we can relax comfortably in our gardens
whilst enjoying natural light and warmth,
whenever we wish.’
“Throughout the UK there are thousands of
hotels and restaurants with substantial, fully
glazed south facing conservatories and if you
speak with those who work there throughout
the year, they will generally say, without
hesitation, that these glazed garden rooms
are by far the most popular areas within their
premises.
“The time has never been a better time to
promote modern glazed conservatories, with
the latest highly thermally efficient glass
units and insulating building materials. We
do not, however, need to re-invent glazed
conservatories.
“With the inevitable increase in lighting
and heating costs, a south facing fully glazed
conservatory will not only provide a splendidly
popular garden room but substantially benefit
from these other potential savings.
“There’s no reason why a well designed
conservatory, using the latest building
materials, should not comfortably be used
throughout the year and be complimentary
to both the exterior and interior of a property
rather than looking like an add-on. These

latest buildings can provide all of the benefits
a full extension offers but with wonderfully
clear views of the garden and a splendidly
light-filled environment enjoying much free
solar gain.
“There are of course opportunities to
introduce wood burning fires, under floor
heating all combined to provide the same level
of comfort as a brick and mortar extension.
“Whilst the current economic climate
appears to be affecting conservatory popularity,
it is important to remember that they are
generally exempt from Building Regulations,
when less than 30 square metres floor area,
at ground level and having 75% of the roof
glazed. Extensions incur Building Regulation
Fees, structural and heat loss calculations. A
much more expensive building operation,
especially now that modern conservatories are
so substantially more thermally efficient they
can be used throughout the year.
“Using high performance glass sealed
units and the latest building insulation
materials, glazing in a new conservatory can
be significantly higher and even up to and
including 80% - this is substantially above
the 25% of floor area suggested by Building
Control.
“With the correct marketing and promotion,
there is absolutely no reason why, as we appear
to be coming out of the economic recession,
there is not now a golden opportunity to
release what I consider is a log jam together
with replacing numerous conservatories built
some years ago, by using modern thermally
efficient materials.”

A large conservatory in
Lilliput, Dorset, provides a
superb area to give this family
a true garden sun room.

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