Why Converting Your Conservatory Into An Extension Might Just be A Good Idea

Conservatories are some of the most popular home improvement projects in the UK and account for a large portion of the £43 billion we spend every year on our houses.

Of course, being a restless bunch, this journey rarely ever ends and once we’re happy, invariably that’s when the process starts all over again! But what about your conservatory? Can that be improved or altered? After all it is a building and so you’d be forgiven for thinking the options were limited to internal décor, however that’s where you’d be wrong! In this blog we’ll explore some of the options for improving or converting a conservatory along with some of the do’s and don’ts to keep you on the right track.

Option 1: Convert or Replace the Roof

Roof replacement may not spring to mind when you think about improving your current conservatory – indeed you may not have even realised it was a possibility – however more and more, people are using it to change or improve upon what they currently have in place.

Conservatory roof technology has advanced greatly over the past 30 years and as a result embarking on this option has many benefits. For example, by upgrading your existing roof to a new thermally efficient one using performance double glazed units or thermally efficient polycarbonate, you could see a reduction in energy bills. Decoratively there are also benefits with significant options to enhance the look; from contemporary insulated internal pelmets through to decorative external cornices.

As a supplier of Ultraframe, the options for roof replacement are vast and include lightweight solid roofs, with either UltraROOF 380 or LivinROOF systems available you could upgrade your conservatory to a sunroom with Velux windows or full-length glass panels. With customer feedback almost universally positive with a recent Bon Accord Glass customer in Banchory, Peter Levay, commenting:

“We are very pleased with our new UltraROOF 380 lightweight roof. Contrary to the other quotes I received Bon Accord Glass were confident that Building Control Approval was required for this project and their advice was proven correct. The roof system itself has made the room far warmer in the winter months and cooler in the summer too. It looks fantastic both inside and out. We were delighted to recommended Bon Accord Glass to our near neighbours who now also have the system successfully installed.”

Option 2: Complete Rebuild with Existing Base

The second option open to you is to start again. Well, not completely. The chances are – assuming a quality contractor built the original construction – the base of your conservatory can provide the structural foundation for an extension conversion. Meaning that you’ve already got a head start on improving what was there before. Modern building regulations will likely require the construction of additional support, windows and insulation to make them compliant but, it’s better than starting from zero and in the process, you can completely reconfigure the layout to meet your new needs.

Both options are viable alternatives to starting completely afresh and come with their own set of advantages. But before we go here are some quick do’s and don’ts:

Do: • use a responsible and reputable company, • ensure all work is guaranteed, • obtain the necessary council approvals including planning permission and building warrants, Don’t: • leave the council permission for another day. Permission must be obtained before work begins however at Bon Accord Glass we will deal with all of this on your behalf. • install tiles to an old conservatory roof. The weight of tiles on an unconverted roof can lead to problems and has the potential for collapse • plasterboard the underside of your old conservatory roof, • and lastly, don’t alter a conservatory roof system without a structural engineer certifying the proposal.

If you have any questions or would like suitability evaluation of your current conservatory, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today.