Adding a conservatory to your home makes a lot of sense - it gives you additional space, provides a delightful link between your garden and your home, is perfect for entertaining and adds considerable value to the property. But who do you choose to construct it? The choice of companies is bewildering, to say the least! You are making an important financial investment, and one that has profound implications for your lifestyle, so the decision is an important one. These seven tips will prove invaluable and make the selection process simpler.

Tips for Choosing the Right Conservatory:

Design

First of all you need to decide on what type of home extension you want. There’s actually quite a variety – conservatories, orangeries, garden rooms and pool enclosures, all of which can be created in traditional or more contemporary styles. The choice is a matter of personal taste, but you should also consider the architectural style of your property, how it will integrate into your garden, how you will use the extra space given your lifestyle and what budget you have available.

Material

The main choices are between timber, aluminium or PVCu. Each one has its own particular features and benefits – PVCu is cheaper than timber and is maintenance-free, while aluminium gives a more contemporary look. You have to decide which material is most aesthetically in harmony with your home, which is most attractive in your eyes and which one best fits your finances.

Price

Whatever budget you have to play with you’ll want to get the most for your money. The design and materials will have a significant impact on this, but you should look at what else the company provides in the way of help with planning and building regulations, quality of footings and installation, plus important details like heating, lighting, furnishings, flooring and interior decoration. A home extension of this kind is an important investment and choosing the cheapest option can often prove a false economy.

Windows and Doors

These are an essential element of the overall design, and once again there’s a wide choice that includes casement windows, sash windows, patio doors, French door and bi-folding doors. Not only must their style be in keeping with those in your existing property, but they must operate in a way that maximises your usage of your new space. They must also be robust and secure, with the correct fittings for ease of use and complete security.

Heating, lighting and ventilation

As part of your home your new extension must be comfortable – and that means careful consideration must be given to heating in winter and ventilation in summer. The glass itself plays a crucial role. Solar-controlled glass is more expensive but it will keep the room warmer in the depths of winter and cooler when the sun is out. Insulating glass is also a way of keeping the heating bills down. Blinds have an important role to play, while opening vents in the roof offer added ventilation. Finally there’s the matter of lighting – this is an important factor and one that gives you the flexibility to create different moods for a variety of occasions and times of the day and night.

Interior design

You not only have to consider how the extension will enhance the exterior appearance of your house – it’s also going to have a dramatic impact on life indoors. You’ll almost certainly want to spend a lot of time in there, so the decor is all-important. The floor, the furnishings, the colours and decorating scheme - all these must be carefully co-ordinated to achieve the desired effect, suit your personal tastes and be appropriate to whatever uses you have in mind for this very special room.

Company

Once you have weighed up all these different factors it is vital to find a company that can actually do everything you want. Despite the fact that there are so many companies in the market you’ll find that many of them will not be able to accommodate all your requirements. You also need to choose a supplier with a proven wealth of experience who can show you a wide range of completed projects, in the style you want and for the kind of budget you have in mind. They should be able to answer all your questions, and provide all the information you require – this is essential if you are to proceed with complete peace of mind.