How UPVC Windows And Doors Combine To Make Luxurious Conservatories - By: Kathryn Dawson

There is a tradition in conservatory construction that the new structure should enhance the home it is part of. When the range of designs are considered, it is not difficult to understand how that enhancement is achieved, but there are still practical standards to be met. A conservatory that fails to hold in the heat or to keep out the wind and rain, is a miserable place during winter. This explains why upvc windows and doors are amongst the most popular options when choosing conservatory construction materials.

The successful marriage of style and elegance to efficiency and reliability is one of the fundamental selling points for a conservatory. It is a luxury structure, one where a person can relax in the sun without having to cope with blustery winds, or feel content in warmth while sheltering from the storm outside. Most of the popular structural designs are grand in name, with victorian conservatories amongst the favourites, while equally impressive in name and appearance are edwardian conservatories.

Obviously, there is a difference in design between the edwardian and victorian versions of the conservatory, with the most obvious being their respective shapes. The edwardian is rectangular in shape, with flat sides rigidly standing, and a roof with just one facet at the end. It is simple and strong in appearance, and takes advantage of the maximum amount of space and sunlight.

The victorian design, meanwhile, has either three or five facets in a round end, giving a sense of a panoramic view when inside. While space is effectively lost to the lack of corners, the elegance that the design boasts more than makes up for it.

However, in both cases the quality of the structure is important so as to supply the dual aspects of efficiency and reliability to the conservatory owner. Efficiency refers both to cost and thermal efficiency, while reliability refers to both durability and sturdiness. Upvc is proven to be a more thermal and cost efficient material than solid wood, for example. Wood is a much more expensive material than upvc, and it is a naturally poor insulator.

When it comes to the vast number of glazed surfaces that make up a conservatory, the insulation provided by the windows and doors are clearly significant. Upvc frames are constructed in such a way as to maximise their efficiency rating. The cores for the upvc window profiles, for example, are hollow, which serves to trap heat that may find its way through. This then acts at a buffer against loss of further heat.

This thermalogik system is further enhanced by the availability of thermal inserts, which can be placed inside the profile cores, adding further interior chambers and greatly increasing the insulation performance of the windows. What this means is that an area which might otherwise prove to be a money pit becomes vastly more energy efficient, greatly reducing its consumption rate.

Of course, all glazing is double glazed to ensure that the minimum amount of heat escapes through the glass itself. In fact, its U value rating of 1.2 is rarely matched.

In terms of durability and sturdiness, upvc is a light but rigid material that holds firm around a galvanised steel skeleton to ensure that it stands up against the most demanding weather conditions. Its durability is seen in the fact the none of the adverse effects that the elements can have on natural materials, such as wood, need to be worried about.

Even after all these boxes are ticked, there is a wide selection of personal touches that can be added to a conservatory, with upvc windows and doors both capable of sporting finishes to add a more earthy, wooden feel. Profiles are available in mahogany, golden oak and rosewood, as well as the more common white and cream shades.

The windows, meanwhile, can also feature specific designs, such as coloured diamonds or more intricate floral forms, depending on the preferences of the home owner, while the addition of window forms, such as modern pivot windows or classic sash windows, are also possible.

Such features can add considerably to the aesthetic quality of the structure, with victorian conservatories with coloured glass features creating a unique light effect inside. Meanwhile, edwardian conservatories with sash windows can provide an equally impressive feature while also maintaining its promises of efficiency and reliability.

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson writes about Eurocell, a UK company that manufactures and distributes durable upvc windows and doors as well as edwardian conservatories and victorian conservatories. Eurocell is the only PVC-U profile manufacturer to have its own UK-wide network of local branches.

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