Scottish Elises

We are thinking of adding a Conservatory to the side of the house in the near future, so rather than calling Companies blind I thought it better to check on here to see if anybody has recommendations from their own experience.

tut

I would not bother with a conservatory myself as they get too hot in the summer and are cold in the winter. Better building a sun lounge (proper roof) on as an extension. Only my 2p though.


Steve.

Mark Mackenzie might be worth a shout Tut - he designs them on a daily basis.

We added our sunroom/conservatory on to the side of the kitchen about 12 years ago, cracking room.

As said above, glass roofed rooms loose/gain heat too much too quickly which limits use. Besurprised how cold they get at night. Also, the glass gets dirty and it's a pain to clean. Not to mention the bloody noise when it's raining....

With a high ceiling ours holds heat very well and is a very pleseant place to be in the colder winter months looking out on the cold, in the summer it's almost too hot if there is no breeze going through the house.

Good idea Steve, probably make more sense and be more usable.

The GSHP will help as regards heating expense, and underfloor heating would be used as per the rest of the house.

tut

ps:- will give Mark a call Andy.

As those who have been to TT know we had a great conservatory, but it was never used at all in Winter and the radiators were never turned on in 20 years.

It was at the wrong end of the house and on hindsight we should have built a smaller sun lounge off of the bedroom.

tut

Tut,

If you like the sound of rain, then you can always add some velux windows in the roof.


Steve.

Tut,

"Sun Room Design Guide
An extension to add value and enjoyment to your home

Sun Lounges / Sun Room are one of the most popular home improvement choice and with good reason. A room with a thousand uses, any time, day or night, winter or summer.

When formed to make a junction between the outdoor garden area and the indoor living area, it is ideal for extending the use of the garden during the summer months.

Providing shade during the day and warmth during the evenings makes it perfect for family gatherings, entertaining, holiday celebrations or just plain quiet time. Lay back and enjoy the great outdoors...indoors!




Sun Lounge v Conservatory
The difference between a Sun Lounge and a Conservatory is basically the use of a glass roof on a conservatory and a tiled or slated roof on a Sun Lounge. The difference may be slight but the choice has fundamental consequences to when, how long and for what purpose the additional room can be used for.

Conservatories are prone, during sunny summer days, to overheating and cool down quickly in the evenings. During the winter months the lack of heat retention within the structure means that the extension is normally little above the outside temperature.

Sun Lounges / sun rooms built with tiled or slatted roofs are better insulated than their counterparts, therefore the range of temperature difference is reduced allowing a longer time that the Sun room can be used. The roof would be well insulated, large double glazed windows areas and insulated floors all contribute to an extension that can be used at any time of the year.

For a room with a difference, a Sun room is the one that is warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer but with all the benefits of a conservatory.

Tiled or slate roof
Hipped ceiling
Timber or plastered finish
A place to relax, a light and airy work room, somewhere for the kids to play, or a room in which to make your guests feel welcome - a Sun Lounge will give you more room for living - but living in style!

Today's structurally designed and custom-built Sun Lounges are a far cry from the old "lean-to" of yesteryear. Sturdily and beautifully built in PVC-U or hard wood, the Sun Lounge becomes an integral part of your home, adding character convenience and value.


Designing Your Sun Lounge / Sun Room.
The following check list can help to make sure you get the Sun Lounge / Sun Room that suits your needs perfectly.

Function - What will your Sun Lounge be used for? Will it be in use all year round? Will it be used mostly in early morning, midday, evenings? For dining, sitting, children playing, displaying plants?
Position - Depending on the use of your Sun Lounge you need to plan the best position. Which room should it connect to? Which direction should it face? (For morning or evening sun or the best views of the garden)
Size & Shape - How large should it be? Which shape will make the best use of the space and the site?
Appearance - What style best suits your house? What will it look like from the inside and outside? Will it enhance the looks and value of the property?
Security - What level of security is required? Will it match that of the rest of your house?
Heating & Ventilation - If the Sun Lounge is to be used all year round, will it require heating?
Maintenance - How easy will it need to be to clean & maintain inside and out?
Planning Permission - Do you need approval? Sun Lounges generally do, planning guides are available from your local planning office.
Building Control Approval - Sun lounges require Building Control approval."


Cheers,

Steve.

http://www.mozmurray.co.uk

My folks just had a ' orangery ' put in by Mozolowski and Murray. Did an excellent job and I believe are very much in demand at the moment.

Bi-fold doors are a good addition to open up the room into the garden too.


Steve.

StuRobb wrote:http://www.mozmurray.co.uk

My folks just had a ' orangery ' put in by Mozolowski and Murray. Did an excellent job and I believe are very much in demand at the moment.

We will be using these guys for our sash/cash windows. The reputation is excellent and well renowned in Edinburgh.

If you are looking for ideas then grab the Houzz app on your iPad/phone. Basically a portal for interior/exterior designs from bedrooms, kitchens, orangeries etc, its very American based but some of the pics will give you some great ideas, some.out of this world with mega price tags.

George

Thanks guys, M & M do have a good reputation, but I believe prices to go with it.

Monarch Development at Sauchen get very good reviews, anybody heard of them?

tut

Oak framed Orangery tut. Much posher than a conservatory. One of the houses we viewed had an incredible sun room. 20'x17'. Proper roof and oak framed with glass doors on opposite walls that completely folded back. Couldn't agree a price so we bailed but it was the way to build a summer room.

Mate's a builder and refused to install conservatories - too hot in the summer too cold in the winter.

I'm with Kelvin - build something beautiful.

#greatatspendingotherpeoplesmoney

Conservatories also creak and groan with temperature changes. Or maybe it's just me.