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1 in 4 homes in UK has one - The average costs $15,000! |
by:
Geoff Broughton |
The conservatory -sunroom,
is this UK phenomenon about to hit the other side of the Atlantic?
In the UK the conservatory as a live-in sunroom has become nothing short of a
£15 billion ($25 billion) a year industry. It is now estimated that one in every
four homes in the UK has a conservatory as a room addition.This popularity easily
outstrips all other form of home improvement. Is the US about to follow the trend
or is this destined to be a purely English phenomenon.
It is not difficult to appreciate why the people in the UK have warmed to such
an idea. They create a space that benefits from being enclosed and protected like
the rest of the home but at the same time enjoying the warmth, light and air that
a conservatory sunroom offers. It has also proved to be the only form of home
improvement that could practically guarantee an increase in the value of a home
that was in excess of the capital outlay. The additional value would never be
enough to make a fortune for a homeowner, but at least the return made them feel
very comfortable about the wisdom of the necessary outlay.
In the UK with it's cooler climate that added warmth might also, at first, persuade
you that it was the key reason for their popularity. This again proves to be one
of the benefits, but I would suggest being able to choose a room with added warmth,
was not quite the same as relocating to Florida!
A few years ago I was asked by two brothers who were re- locating from New York
to help set up a company in Austin,Texas. They intended to build English style
conservatory sunrooms. They had decided to use components and fabrication methods
imported from the UK. As every American knows, the climate in Texas is more akin
to that of Egypt than the UK. Nevertheless, as I was not financially involved,
and they persuaded me that there was a market, I agreed to provide design support
both in the office and out in the 'field' (or should that be desert or scrub).
On a personal note at this point I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Texas. I was
made very, very welcome. My visits to Zilker Park and Barton Springs on a Sunday
morning was an absolute treat, and how could a stay in Austin go without mentioning
Fat Tuesday, St Patrick's and 6th Street. Back to conservatories.
I was of course totally intrigued, but I was also amazed. The English style thing
proved popular but what about the comfort level in a sunroom in such a climate.
Firstly, on the technical side, the heat was reflected from the roof by using
a form of multi-walled that had aluminium 'flecks' co-extruded through it. One
of the trade names is called 'Heat Shield'. The IG units in the sides of a conservatory
in the UK would be designed to keep the heat in. I learnt that in Texas that same
technology that I was so familiar with in the UK was used by reversing the units
to keep the heat out! Then what were the benefits. A few enquiries with our Texas
cousins soon clarified the situation. In the UK conservatories were used to free
us from being surrounded by walls during long winter months. (a little morning
sunshine would make breakfast in the conservatory very agreeable) In Texas a conservatory
sunroom would do precisely the same except in Summer! Instead of being surrounded
by walls in the middle of summer (protected from the heat in air conditioned rooms),
an air conditioned space such as a conservatory would provide a very welcome break!
After being in the conservatory business for over 20 years this threw an entirely
new light (forgive the pun) on the benefits of a conservatory, not just in warmer
climates but also as used on my home ground. I now believe that this reason is
probably the key one in the UK!
There is a further aspect that enforces the 'purely English phenomenon' opinion.
In the UK at least half the conservatory sunrooms that are built do not require
any form of building permission. Although this has bound to have had an effect,
having to wait just 6 weeks in the UK to get full blown planning permission is
not much of a deterrent.
The addition of a conservatory can have many benefits. Unless your climate is
perfect at all times of the year, I am sure that a case can be made for an improvement
in quality of life because of their acquisition. Whether this particular style
will prove as popular in the US, only time will tell
Part 2 The conservatory as a substantial room addition, Learning from the mistakes
made in the UK - plus! more tales from my travels 'Stateside'
About the author:
Geoff Broughton
http://www.conservatorydesigns.com
The ONLY internet resource devoted entirely to design for conservatories.
To subscribe for FREE newsletter and receive
FREE designs and specifications, email Geoff at
conservatories@yahoogroups.com
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