Transforming Light and Space

When considering an extension for their property, consumers will often choose to install a conservatory, which is one of a number of options they can go for. In fact, research has consistently shown that the environment a conservatory can provide often makes it the favourite room in the house.

However, conservatories have been with us for a while now and as such, their limitations are now better understood by the general public. One of the major concerns held by consumers is the fact that there are a large number of poor quality existing conservatories out there that end up getting too hot in summer and too cold in winter.


The modern day consumer is looking for a room that performs a number of functions. Traditionally conservatories were a space to bring the garden into the house so that homeowners could enjoy being “outside” without getting cold in our temperate climate. Today however is a different story - the conservatory has to work as a practical extension to the house and provide much needed space.

This means the space needs to be comfortable all year round without costing a fortune to heat. It also means that the shape of the ‘traditional’ conservatory has changed and rectangular plans are now used to better allow furniture to fit rather than the Victorian style with faceted ends.

The look of a conservatory is also changing; there are large numbers of similar looking conservatories around which has resulted in consumers looking for ways to differentiate their conservatory from the rest.

So how does the industry change to meet the wants and needs of the modern day consumer? Well, with the current economic climate and sustainability at the top of everyone’s agenda, we have been looking at ways to improve the insulation of a conservatory roof as this will have the most effect on the comfort of the conservatory as well as reducing homeowner’s energy costs.

The end result of our research and development was our Utopia eco roof which has been designed using two layers of glazing, as opposed to the standard one layer. In order to meet the aesthetic demands of the modern consumer, we have also introduced a range of new products which have been designed to create a new ‘look and feel’ of conservatory, both contemporary and classic.

Current technologies available on the market use either double-glazed glass units or multi-wall polycarbonate sheeting, typically with a U-value of 1.7. It is possible to heat the conservatory to this level using central heating, but this will consume an average of 2085kWhr if heated year round. Our new Utopia roof has a U-value up to 0.53W/Km2 – previously unheard of levels for the conservatory industry - which will reduce energy consumption to 788kWhr.



Installing a Utopia eco roof will provide consumers with a space that is truly practical and can be used 365 days of the year. As well as maximising the use of their investment, it will not cost the earth to heat during the winter months, saving homeowners money on their utility bills.

 

For further info on the benefits of selling Utopia please see our latest Ultraframe TV

Tags: Conservatory, Utopia, Extension, U Value,