Category: General

Why Summer May Bring Some Perils For Conservatories

The most common time for a conservatory to be damaged and need repairs is undoubtedly winter, when the weather is stormier and therefore there is a greater risk of debris falling on (or hitting) the structure and causing damage.

However, there are many times in the year when your conservatory may need repairs. Sometimes that can be because of events that are not confined to winter, such as floods, but it can also be the result of some issues that become particularly acute when it is warm and sunny.

As Which? noted this spring, some of the biggest problems householders can find with conservatories arise from perennial issues and some from summer problems.

Overheating is a prime example. While some may have concerns about their conservatory being too cold in winter, it is no better if it is unbearably hot in summer.

Temperature issues can be determined by factors such as the number of windows and vents you have, as well as the kind of glass. For example, tinted glass can reduce the amount of heat getting through.

This can also help with another summer problem, that of the light being too bright. Having a lot of reflective surfaces inside the conservatory can make this even worse. But, once again, tinted glass can help, as can having a coating placed on the existing glass to cut out some of the light.

If heat can be tackled by better ventilation and reducing light, there are some things nobody can plan for. Because people are outdoors more in summer, there is an increased chance of folk being just outside the conservatory in the garden, be it gardening, relaxing or even having a party.

This can, on occasion, lead to accidents that may lead to damage, such as carelessness with tools or even a barbecue accident that leads to fire damage. 

Another potential hazard comes from thunderstorms. This is the one kind of storm more likely to happen in summer because of the way heat and humidity build up to produce electrical storms. This is why they are most common (and severe) in the tropics, but we will all have seen some pretty grand storms here in the south of England.

Unless your house is on top of a hill, you are unlikely to be hit directly, but a nearby strike that dislodges masonry or a tree branch can lead to falling debris that could cause damage. It may be a consequence of a warmer climate that we get more thunderstorms as time goes on.

In the meantime, the fact remains that damage to conservatories from floods, fires, domestic accidents, burglaries and vandalism can happen at any time of year.

Apart from all that, it may be there are areas of more minor damage to your conservatory that you haven’t checked much, if at all, these last few months, because you only spend a lot of time in there in the summer. If you now find there are problems, this is still a good time to get them fixed, so that everything is in good shape for the warmest season of the year.

Top Tips For Making Your Conservatory More Secure

There are a lot of different priorities that go into the perfect conservatory choice, but whilst ensuring it fits the aesthetic of your home, is usable year-round and is big enough for any purpose you desire are important aspects to consider, security is also vital.

As the bizarre story of the South American Marmoset monkey found in a conservatory in Wolverhampton can show, unwanted guests can come in all shapes and sizes, but it can be difficult at times to ensure an older conservatory is as secure as possible.

Ensuring that you keep on top of conservatory repairs and practising care when it comes to leaving doors and windows open will help, but if you want to take your conservatory’s security to the next level with the help of experts in the field, here are some top tips for a more secure conservatory.

Match Security Standards To The Rest Of Your House

The first step should be with your locking systems and other security measures because conservatories are very popular entry points for intruders.

Part of this is because the glass is perceived (often incorrectly) to be less secure than other entry points of the house, but there is also an assumption that a conservatory with UPVC doors will have less secure locks than would be found in a conventional doorset.

Upgrading these locks and having security lighting in the back garden near the conservatory will do a lot to deter many intruders from attempting to break in.

Similarly, treat the door from the conservatory to the rest of your house like a door into the house, and make it as secure as your front door would be.

Fit Double Or Triple Glazing

On the subject of glass, most conservatories constructed today are fitted with double or even triple glazing for energy efficiency reasons, as well as generally helping with some of the thermal issues that can make a conservatory unpleasant in summer or the dead of winter.

However, it also helps with security, but if you want to improve your security further, fitting toughened glass in your door frame can help by providing greater impact resistance.

Whilst a suitably determined intruder could break into toughened glass, it would require the use of rather attention-grabbing methods, and the louder they are, the more likely it is that someone will notice and the police will be called.

Use A Dual Technology Alarm

Raising the alarm is a great idea if you are worried about a break-in, but one problem with some passive infrared alarms is that the more extreme temperature changes you get in a conservatory compared to the rest of the house can potentially create false positives, which can affect readiness.

Instead, use a dual technology sensor, which combines PIR with microwave technology, which makes it more reliable in warmer weather and helps you to know that if the sensor goes off, there is an intruder and it is time to act accordingly.

Remove Hiding Spots

Keeping bins in a secure, orderly place and trimming back large parts of the shrubbery may not seem to be all that important, but the fewer hiding spots available for burglars, the safer your conservatory will be.

How Your Conservatory Repairs Can Be Made To Last

There is no doubt that the UK has had some of its most prolonged periods of wet weather on record. Even by the standards of the UK, the inclement conditions have been tough to endure for anyone whose vocabulary extends beyond the word “quack”.

While some headlines have focused on the impact on this year’s likely agricultural output, others have noted how hard it has been to do any work on residential properties. The National Home Building Council has just revealed significant year-on-year drops in registrations and completions of new homes in the first quarter, partly thanks to the weather.

Just as it will have been hard to carry out work on building new homes afresh, so the weather may have hampered repair work. That will have been all the more galling for anyone needing conservatory leak repairs, not least as the reminders that these were necessary will have been delivered time and again, requiring lots of mopping and carefully placed buckets.

Hopefully, the weather will soon start playing ball and staying drier as Britain moves into summer. But hot conditions can also bring heavy thunderstorms, which can show flaws in the condition of many a roof.

Indeed, a huge cloudburst over Manchester on May 12th highlighted ongoing issues with perhaps the most notoriously leaky roof in Britain, that of Old Trafford Football Ground. The deluge that found its way through every weakness led to cascades of water onto seats, down the steps, and even into one of the dressing rooms.

Of course, a problem on that scale is much greater than most people’s homes will ever face. That is, after all, a huge stadium, and the roof is just one of many shortcomings that have led to suggestions that the whole edifice may be rebuilt or replaced with a new one next door.

That is way beyond what you would want to have done with your home. But it does beg a question; whatever was done to the stadium roof to tackle a long-standing problem was clearly not adequate. Could your conservatory similarly, albeit on a smaller scale, suffer the same, with repairs coping with a bit of rain but not a heavy storm?

The answer lies in having the most skilled, experienced professionals carry out the task. Leaky spots need to be sealed effectively. Drainage that siphons water away needs to be sufficient for heavy rain, which is why keeping gutters clear is so important.

A claim made at Old Trafford was that the drainage system was simply overwhelmed by the volume of rain, with more falling in one storm than in the whole of May last year. But if a changing climate means storms like this – and rainfall levels in general – are going to be more common and more severe, excuses won’t cut it.

That means your repair work should not just be a mere patching-up job, but something that can add extra drainage and resilience to help your conservatory cope. That way, it will withstand lots more wet weather next winter and beyond.

Indeed, it could be that the repairs will be sufficiently robust and enduring to still be keeping your conservatory dry by the time Manchester United finally sort out their stadium – and even build a team worthy of playing in it.

When Should A Conservatory Be Replaced Rather Than Repaired?

For the most part, it is much better to repair than replace. It is often more affordable, more convenient and less wasteful to make what you currently have better than to demolish it and start afresh.

This is very much the case with conservatories, and repair should always be the first step a homeowner considers, as a lot of extensive work can be done by experts to make your existing conservatory the best it can possibly be.

Many common complaints of older conservatories such as the heat in summer, cold in winter, leaks, draughts and the glare of the sun can be worked around through extensive repairs.

However, there can be times when a replacement conservatory becomes more than a preference and instead becomes a necessity because the ageing conservatory as it exists is effectively unusable.

It Is Not Big Enough

Repairs can make a space more comfortable, and refurbishments can make it more functional, but if the conservatory is fundamentally too small for your needs, there is not a lot you can do about it other than replace it.

Generally, this happens when a conservatory is made for one purpose and then needs to be retrofitted into another. A lot of older conservatories were exceptionally small sunrooms that typically only fit a small number of people into them.

It was a particular style that was popular during a time when homes having a sunroom were seen as something of a novelty, but over the years as needs change and houses change owners, size can be a major problem.

If There Is A Significant Issue

Most conservatories can be refurbished, upgraded and given a new lease on life with new doors, windows or even roofing. However, if the base or major structural elements have deteriorated, then it may be unsafe to keep it in its current condition.

Depending on the exact problem, certain elements may need to be replaced, there may need to be a like-for-like replacement, or the foundation base the conservatory is built on may need to be replaced. Each of these options has different cost implications.

You Wish To Sell Your Home

Typically, extensions to your home are beneficial to house prices, because they offer additional space and added value to a property, but this tends to primarily be the case for newer, bigger conservatories. In fact, the wrong conservatory can have the opposite effect on house prices.

Part of the reason for this is that a bad conservatory gives a poor impression of a home. Even if the rest of the property made an excellent impression, a poorly planned or designed conservatory can deeply discourage a potential buyer.

A prospective homeowner will be looking for potential, and if they cannot see much of a future in the conservatory that already exists, it is going to put them off as they know they will need to spend more to get rid of it, need to get planning permission for this work and delay moving in.

It can just be easier to replace the conservatory entirely, but discuss this with an estate agent first before you take such a big step.

Why Conservatory Checks Matter When Buying Your Home

Many people like the idea of having a conservatory and apart from having one added to an existing home, the obvious way to acquire one is to buy a home that already has one.

For many householders, an advantage of fitting a conservatory is that it can add value to a property, precisely because many find the extra room and its capacity to offer a light and attractive space very desirable.

If you are looking to buy a new home with a conservatory, you may be delighted to find that one is in place on a property in the right area and within your price bracket. But it is crucial to carry out the same diligence on the conservatory during the viewing as you would on any other part of the property.

Of course, if the surveyor is doing their job properly, they will have checked the state of the conservatory along with the rest of the house to make sure it is in good condition – and report any problems that do exist. Even so, it is worthwhile having a close look yourself to see if you can spot anything they may have missed.

The state of the property can influence the price you pay, with any defects bringing this down as you would need to foot the bill for things to be fixed unless the current owner has arranged for this themselves. This can include conservatory repairs.

Surveyors may not just spot obvious things like cracks or draughts, problems with seals or damaged guttering; they can also, if required, carry out surveys to establish if there are other problems like subsidence.

If there are issues, getting them fixed (or ensuring the owner does it before the property changes hands) is essential. Either way, you should not ignore this, as assuming everything about the conservatory is fine could come back to bite you in the long run.

Equally, it is worth thinking about the future and potential emerging problems. For instance, there may be a tree growing in the garden that is not posing any problem now but could reach a size in years to come that would mean any falling branches in stormy weather could damage the conservatory.

That may not be your only reason for cutting that tree back or even removing it – if it will grow a lot it may leave the garden in more shade than you want – but it is an example of the sport of thing you should think about as you plan to make the most of your conservatory.

Finally, it may also be worth thinking ahead to what may happen if you move on from a home with a conservatory or if you are in the position of moving from one home with a conservatory to another. Either scenario puts you in the situation of being a seller who can command a better price with a conservatory in good condition.

That means if you plan to sell a home with one, getting it checked out and fixed before it goes on the market can help ensure that its potential to maximise the value of the property is fulfilled.

What Are Signs Your Conservatory Roof Panels Have Slipped?

Homeowners who suddenly find their extensions start leaking might be concerned they have to undergo a full conservatory roof replacement. However, it could just be the case that their roof panels have slipped, which can easily be repaired.

Read on to find out what the signs of slipped roof panels are and how you can get them fixed.

How do conservatory roof panels slip?

Conservatory roof panels might start to slide if it has been a number of years since the structure was built. Thanks to wear and tear, the end caps that they were originally fitted with might have come off, which are designed to prevent slippage. 

Alternatively, extreme hot weather or high wind can affect the integrity of a conservatory roof, resulting in the panels shifting. Higher temperatures cause roofs to expand and, subsequently, contract. When this happens, the panels become too small for the space and slip down. 

What happens when the roof panels move?

When a conservatory’s roof panels have slid out of place, this leads to a gap in the roof. Subsequently, water is able to enter the roof, running through to the interior of the building. 

Therefore, one of the first things homeowners experience is a leaking conservatory. During periods of wet weather, this can cause considerable problems, including dampness inside the room, mould, and even structural issues due to the increase in moisture. 

A damp conservatory can also result in health concerns due to the increase in mould in the air. This can lead to respiratory problems, such as coughing and wheezing, and worsen allergic airways diseases, such as asthma, or even cause them. 

Having a leaking roof could also increase the risk of developing airway infections, which could become serious, leading to the coughing up of blood, chest pain and shortness of breath.

A gap in the conservatory’s roof also means there will be lots of droughts, making the space feel cold. It also means the room will be energy inefficient, and you will waste lots of money on your heating bills trying to keep the place warm and comfortable, as heat can simply escape through the hole.

How can slipping roof panels be repaired?

The good news for homeowners is that slipped roof panels can easily be repaired, and does not necessarily indicate the entire roof needs to be replaced.

However, they should be properly secured by experts, otherwise they will continue to slip down or they could even become fixed in the wrong position, which can cause other problems with the roof. 

Once the panels are put in the correct place, they are then secured with strong brackets, which prevent them from shifting again. 

Additionally, the end caps will be installed, as well as security tape and new breather tape will be fitted on to the polycarbonate sheets, so homeowners can rest assured there will be no movement from their panels anytime soon.

Did The Golden Age Of Conservatories Affect Modern Builds?

The past half-century has seen the popularity of conservatories ebb and flow, from a must-have feature to improve house prices, add space and create a dedicated area for leisure and to enjoy the garden, to an extension that is as much a liability as it is loved.

A lot of this comes down to changing regulations, materials, design philosophies and how all of these affect the need to repair or change the conservatory building to make it more enjoyable to use every day.

This oscillation of popularity is nothing new, and a lot of what would take place during the golden age of conservatories has had a knock-on effect on modern design sensibilities.

What Is The Golden Age Of Conservatories?

Whilst conservatories can trace their history back to early orangeries such as that found at the Palace of Versailles, the distinction between a greenhouse and a conservatory was not up to that point entirely clear.

It would not be until the 19th century that conservatories would start to develop many of the elements that would come to epitomise the golden age of conservatory design.

This period was a fascinating intersection between the British love of gardening and the Industrial Revolution, which allowed for substantial technological developments that made it possible for the relatively wet, cold and changeable weather to house exotic tropical plants.

This led to a huge number of buildings made from glass and wrought iron, two materials that had rapidly developed and evolved in the early part of the Industrial Age to create a distinct, tessellated roofing style that shaped the design of conservatories up to the present day.

The Golden Age roughly dates from 1836 up until around 1920, which happens to coincide with the lifespan of The Great Conservatory at Chatsworth House, the first major tropical greenhouse and the largest glasshouse ever made up until that point.

Whilst not the first in Britain with Syon Park’s Great Conservatory predating it by a decade, its success and immediate popularity inspired the conservatory at Kew Gardens, the Crystal Palace ahead of The Great Exhibition, The Barbican Conservatory and other, very similar structures.

Such was the popularity of conservatories that even a broken, collapsed conservatory such as Anthaeum in Hove became a somewhat ironic tourist attraction until the debris was cleared in the 1860s.

These grand designs, which pushed plate glass and wrought iron (later steel) to their limits, would inspire later designs which proudly incorporated structural elements into the design of the building.

It would also inspire countless smaller-scale greenhouses as well that would either be attached or constructed alongside country houses, for the same reason of being a unique garden feature, conversation piece and relaxation area for entertaining guests.

The fall of the Golden Age is difficult to exactly date but is generally agreed to coincide with the fall of the country house tradition following the First World War.

With fundamental changes to the social order emerging as a result of the end of the war and the financial toll it would take on Great Britain, many homes and the conservatories built alongside them were demolished.

The most famous of these was at Chatsworth House, where the tropical plants had died due to a lack of coal to power the furnaces that retained the climate they needed.

It would take until the 1970s for these designs to start being revived.

Why Skylight Repairs Are A Top Priority In Springtime

If you want to keep your conservatory in pristine condition, many parts of it will need some attention, particularly at certain times of the year.

Just as you need to look after the gutters in autumn lest they fill up with leaves and respond to any damage caused by storms or ice in winter, springtime is a very good time to pay some attention to your skylight.

Various things can damage a skylight and not all of them happen at the same time of year. But spring means the daylight hours get longer than the night and the sun gets higher in the sky. While you might not glimpse the sun through the skylight until summer, any evident damage to it will be easier to spot.

Not only does this give you a clue that it is time for skylight repair work; but it also means any visitors will notice it too, so if you want to impress with your fine conservatory you won’t want to leave it in less than ideal condition.

Something that will stand out when the spring sunshine hits the glass is any cracks you may have. These can be caused by a range of different things.

In the colder months, this can include storm damage caused by debris hitting the skylight or falling on it. Large and rapid temperature changes can also have an effect. Other factors, such as hailstones, can occur at different times of the year, but most obviously when it is colder.

Damage arising from these causes is an obvious thing to look out for now winter has passed. But the summer can bring its own problems and some of those might not have been easily spotted when it was cold and dark, but will be in the months ahead. In particular, over time bright sunlight itself can cause damage.

The extent of damage and what needs to be done to fix it can depend on what material the skylight is made from. Acrylic skylights are more likely to break than laminated glass, for instance. While sometimes a whole pane needs to be replaced because the damage is so bad, often a crack can be fixed, such as through the use of specialised acrylic caulking.

If it looks like you have a problem of this kind, it certainly makes sense to get an expert on the job now. That way, you can establish what needs to be done, get it repaired by a specialist and look good as new just as you move into the time of year when the conservatory will be used the most.

The period between the autumn equinox of 2023 and this year’s spring equinox saw no fewer than ten named storms over Britain. The naming of storms is a new practice that has only emerged in recent years, but climate scientists expect winters to get wetter and stormier, albeit with less severe cold.

At the same time, summers are expected to be drier and hotter, which means more hot sun shining on the conservatory.

What that means is that the risks from cold in winter are reducing, while the dangers posed by storms and hot summer sun are increasing. But wherever the threats arise, be sure to keep checking your skylight and every other part of your conservatory to ensure it is in good shape.

Why Spring Is The Time To Fix A Leaky Conservatory Roof

The question of when winter ends and spring starts is a topical one at this time of year. Some prefer the astronomical definition of when the equinox arrives (which is March 20th this year – the earliest it can arrive because it’s a leap year), while others go with the Met Office definition of March 1st.

Whichever you choose may not matter, because the weather seldom plays ball at this time of year. This is not just a matter of climate change; it has often been the case that there can be very mild days as early as February and snow falling in March or even into April. This year, it seems to be wet all the time.

That might get you asking a few questions about when might be the right time to carry out some much-needed conservatory repairs, not least if the roof has a leak. Notwithstanding the capricious nature of the weather, spring is definitely the time to do it.

To begin with, if you have a leak in your conservatory roof that was not there last summer, the likely causes are weather effects of autumn and winter, which can include storm damage and freeze-thaw.

Since the Autumn equinox last September, the UK has been hit by no fewer than ten named storms. While the naming of storms over the British winter months is a new practice and therefore any ‘record number’ doesn’t mean much, it has certainly been a windier winter than most.

That means there were more opportunities for conservatories to be hit and damaged by flying or falling debris than in most winters. Occasionally, winds can be strong enough to cause damage on their own, such as the tornado that tore off roofs in the town of Stalybridge near Manchester in December as Storm Gerrit hit.

Whether damage is done by weather or other causes, any cracks in the glass can be widened by cold weather. This happens through the process of freeze-thaw, as the water gets into gaps, freezes and then widens the gap, as the ice expands.

It’s invaluable in releasing nutrients from rocks in nature, but bad news for cracked glass when the temperature drops below zero.

While not certain, it is likely the storms and freezing nights will soon be past, which is why the time is right to have the repair work done.

The other reason is simply because summer follows spring and while nobody knows if we will have a washout or a ‘barbecue summer’, the chances are there will at least be some days when you want to sit in the conservatory and enjoy relaxing in the sun. That will be easier if the space is not wet in places because it rained during the previous few days.

Conservatories are also places where you can create a microclimate for plants that enjoy being indoors. Damaged and leaky roofs can also let draughts in, which could mean it is colder in there than your plants will easily handle.

Because spring can often be wet, it is not quite a case of ‘fixing the roof when the sun shines’, but you can certainly get it in good shape for when the dry and warm days (however many of those we will get) finally do arrive.

Why Conservatory Skylights Are Perfect For Springtime

Spring seems to have taken forever to arrive, but now that the sun is starting to shine more and the days are getting longer, homeowners are reminded why fitting skylights for their conservatory was the perfect choice. 

As much natural light as possible

Glass conservatories are obviously great at allowing as much natural light to get into the house as possible, providing homeowners with lots of health benefits, such as boosting energy levels, improving mental health, and reducing risks of certain conditions. 

However, not all conservatories are made entirely out of glass, and some have one or more brick walls and tiled roofs. This is to avoid the rooms overheating during the summer months and being cold in the winter, unless thermally efficient glass is used. 

Therefore, if your conservatory does not let as much natural light in as you would like, getting a skylight is a great solution. 

After all, natural light has been shown to keep seasonal depression at bay, particularly as spring has only just begun and there may still be some dark and gloomy days; improve sleep; and boost vitamin D levels in the body. 

Get fresh air

Although it might be a while before it feels warm outside, those brighter days are coming, and when they do, you will be glad you can open your skylight and let lots of fresh air into the house. 

This saves homeowners having to keep their conservatory door open, which can pose a security risk unless they are in the room all the time, but means they can still improve the ventilation throughout their downstairs. 

Getting fresh air is essential, as it removes allergens, it gets rid of smells and toxins produced when cooking from the kitchen, it keeps pet odours at bay, it limits condensation and, therefore, reduces mould in the house, and it saves money on fans, should it get that warm in the house!

Healthwise, it also improves productivity by increasing the amount of oxygen to the brain; it lowers exposure to carbon dioxide, which can result in headaches and high blood pressure; and it encourages the heart to pump blood around the body, improving heart health. 

Be close to nature

There’s nothing more uplifting than being able to look at the bright blue sky, white fluffy clouds, and trees swaying in the breeze, particularly after a long, dark winter. 

Having skylights in your conservatory allows you to feel closer to nature, even when you are busy doing jobs in your home. 

You can hear the birds singing when you open the window, or smell freshly cut grass from the air outside. And you can feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, and watch as the seasons change from winter to spring and into balmy summer. 

Feeling closer to nature has a lot of mental health benefits, according to Mind charity, including improving your mood, reducing feelings of anger, boosting self-esteem, encouraging activity, and making you feel more relaxed.

So, getting a skylight in your conservatory could certainly help you make the most of the beautiful spring weather, as well as improve your frame of mind.