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Outdoor SunSpaces News

Sunroom

 

Our stylish glass sunrooms are fast becoming an extremely popular alternative to more traditional home extensions.

 

This is partially because our sunrooms can be installed with no foundation whatsoever.

 

So installing a SunSpaces garden room is far quicker and less labour-intensive than building a conservatory.

 

What's the Difference Between a Sunroom and a Conservatory?

 

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Conservatory. Sunroom. Orangery.

 

These three words are often mixed up and misused. We explained the difference between a sunroom and a conservatory in a previous blog post - today we're going to try and define what an orangery is, and how it differs from the other two.

 

Here's an example of what an orangery looks like:

 

Photo by Elliott Brown (License)

 

As you can see, an orangery looks very similar to a conservatory, but there's one defining difference: a conservatory has a glass roof, whereas an orangery has a solid roof.

 

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Our sunrooms take 2-3 days to install, while SunSpaces verandas can be installed in just 1-2 days!

 

Completed sunroom installation

 

Nobody likes having their routine interrupted. We've met a lot of people who wanted to add a picturesque sunroom to their properties, but refrained because they thought the building work would mean weeks of noise and disruption.

 

The good news is that adding a SunSpace to your home is a far quicker job than building a traditional sunroom or conservatory. Our expert installation and fitting team are organised and efficient, and they're able to complete most jobs in a couple of days.

 

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What Are Sunrooms Made Of

 

In previous times, sunroom construction was a lot simpler. There were only a handful of styles to choose from and the materials used to construct them were limited to just wood, brick or stone. However, thanks to advances in technology, this has all changed. Nowadays, there is a wide variety of materials that can be used to bring a sunroom to life including wood, vinyl and aluminium. All of which bring their own benefits and drawbacks. The material that you choose to use for your sunroom will depend on several factors such as the style you want to create, whether you plan to use your sunroom during a particular season in the year or year-round and of course, your budget.

Here, we take a look a closer look at the most common materials used to make sunrooms today.

 

Sunrooms made from wood

Traditionally, all sunrooms have been made from wood. It is easier to feel like you are outdoors when you are surrounded by the natural feel of organic wood, which is unmatched by the other common materials of aluminium and vinyl. Wood for sunrooms provides excellent insulation properties as well as the ability to withstand extreme fluctuations in temperatures and resist the effects on condensation. However, wood can be expensive, especially now as more people are becoming environmentally sensitive. Additionally, sunrooms made out of wood require a lot more maintenance and upkeep than other materials. Despite these slight negatives, wood is a great option for homeowners looking for a unique look to their sunroom.

 

Sunrooms made from vinyl

If a high level of insulation is what you’re looking for, then vinyl is the material to choose. When combined with double or triple-pane energy-efficient windows, vinyl will keep your sunroom comfortable all year round whilst saving you money through reduced energy costs. Additionally, vinyl is super low-maintenance, resists rust and is available in a range of style, colour and size options – perfect to match any sunroom need that you may have.

 

Sunrooms made from aluminium

Despite aluminium being lightweight, it is one of the most robust materials available and has the ability to hold heavy loads with ease. One of the main reasons why homeowners choose aluminium for their sunroom is down to the fact it allows larger windows and glass panes to be installed. With less supporting material required, you will get more for your money, which is the main purpose of a sunroom. Aluminium is also manufactured in a variety of colours which allows you to match your sunroom to the rest of your home’s décor. The only slight drawback to aluminium is that its insulation properties fall short from the other two materials. You, therefore, have to deploy other insulation techniques to ensure your sunroom doesn’t reach extreme temperatures throughout the summer and winter months. Whilst the insulation qualities of aluminium have improved over recent years, it is still not adequate enough to be used alone. As a result, many manufacturers use a combination of vinyl and aluminium to achieve the insulation needed for a comfortable living space.

 

Our sunrooms

Here at SunSpaces Garden Rooms and Verandas, we supply a whole host of sunrooms in a variety of styles and looks to suit your every need. All of which are made out of aluminium to provide the most sturdy and long-lasting material available. All of our sunrooms come with a range of optional extras such as heating and shade to make your sunroom the ultimate year-round living space. Learn more about our collection of sunrooms below.

 

Browse Our Sunroom Range >

 

If you would like to learn more about what our sunrooms are made of or for more information on one of our sunroom models, then please contact a member of the SunSpaces team today. We’d be more than happy to help.

The Difference Between a Sunroom and Conservatory

 

For many people in the UK, a sunroom and conservatory are the same things, often mistaken for one another. The names are used interchangeably, without ever realising that they are in fact two totally different structures that contain distinct differences.

 

One thing that the two do have in common, however, is the fact that they are both structures added onto a property, designed to soak up the sun whenever possible. Homeowners that have either of these attached to their property can look forward to a beautiful summer's day in peace and quiet.

 

So, what exactly makes a sunroom and conservatory different? Let's take a look!

 

Length of Use

Conservatories are well known for their seasonality, meaning the times of the year they are typically used. Conservatories tend to become incredibly cold during the winter months, which can make it difficult to relax! In the summer, on the other hand, a conservatory can become extremely hot due to high exposure levels to the sun.

 

Sunrooms, however, are suitable for use from March until early October.

 

Materials

Another difference between a sunroom and conservatory is the materials that are used when building them. A conservatory tends to be made of UVPC and glass windows, or a brick base and glass windows with a polycarbonate/glass roof, meaning you typically only benefit from the top half of the structure being made of glass.

 

A sunroom, on the other hand, is typically made entirely of glass – from the glass door panels all the way up to the glass roof. The roof of a sunroom is typically manufactured from glass and is solid, offering increased protection from the sun.

 

Consent & Speed of Assembly

The final difference between a sunroom and conservatory is the process that you need to follow in order for it to be built and attached to your home. If your sunroom or conservatory exceeds a certain size, it will require planning permission from your local council*.

 

Neither option is cheap either when built from the ground up. A great way that you can avoid the problems and drama of planning permission and building from scratch is purchasing a ready-built structure that you can attach straight onto your home.

 

These ready-made structures mostly* eliminate the need to gain planning ​permission (*in most circumstances – speak to a representative to ensure no planning permission is required) ) and your home turning into a building site for a couple of months – and you can get one right here!

 

But by far the biggest benefit of adding a sunroom over a conservatory is the speed of assembly. A typical veranda can be installed in 1-2 days, with a garden room typically being installed in 3-4 working days!

 

There you have it, the main differences between a sunroom and conservatory. If you're thinking about adding one of these structures onto your property, we hope this blog helps to inform your decision. But if you're asking us, a sunroom is definitely the way to go. The ability to use it year-round and add amazing customisable options makes it a no-brainer.

Don't just take our word for it...

One of our previous clients has moved from a home with a SunSpaces sunroom to a home with a conservatory, she got in touch and said:

 

"We had one of your sunrooms built onto our old house and it was fantastic. The best thing we ever purchased. We have a conservatory on our new house and we hate it. It's so old fashioned and dated. Would love to remove it but not an option at the moment. We can’t understand anyone purchasing a conservatory anymore when they could have an amazing sunroom design. Stunning!"

 

For more information on our range of sunrooms, be sure to get in touch with a member of the SunSpaces team today or request an instant, free quote!

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