Hazlemere’s step by step conservatory buyer’s guide (5)

Author: Hazlemere Windows  |  Leave a Comment >>

(week five)

Buying a conservatory is a notable investment and needs to be researched and considered with care. Whatever it is you want to use your conservatory for, getting the right conservatory will transform your home and ultimately augment the value to your property.

So, with this is mind we want to dispense our bespoke conservatory buyers guide so you can buy the conservatory of your dreams – with confidence and peace of mind. Our no-nonsense guide will enable you to evaluate, compare and hopefully find the right conservatory that compliments your home.

Although you can download our buyers guide in its entirety from the Hazlemere website, we’ve decided to break it down into digestible sections for you. Once a week we will provide you with the key advice and benefits of introducing a inviting and practical conservatory to your property. Our aim is very simple: to turn what could be a potential headache into an altogether more pleasurable experience!

Last week we focused on Ventilation, Shading and Heating. This week we’ll be looking at Safety and Security and how the right conservatory can easily protect you and your home.

Safety Zone
British Standards clearly states the ‘critical locations’ where special glass must be used in our homes. Apart from the roof of your conservatory, these areas are glazed doors, glazed side panels to doors and windows within 800mm of the floor. There are three types of safety glass that can be used in these vulnerable areas.

The first is laminated glass which is actually two pieces of glass bonded together with a plastic layer between the two. This type of glass cracks on heavy impact but the pieces of glass stay in position and so reduce the risk of injury.

The next option is toughened glass which is much stronger than ordinary glass and if it does break, it falls into small granular pieces that are unlikely to cause serious harm. Wired Safety glass has a wire mesh embedded within it so that it behaves like laminated glass when broken.

Security Zone
As well as protecting those who are meant to be in your home, the use of laminated glass can also help to protect your home from unwanted visitors. A note of caution though – it is important to understand that glass that is hard to break may actually be a risk in itself should you need to escape from your home in the event of a fire.

However, special ‘fire-egress’ hinges can be fitted onto your windows which will allow the window to open far enough to allow you to escape. Experienced window companies will be able to advise you on the best arrangement for your home. This type of advice is invaluable and is one of the reasons why buying on price alone is rarely a good idea.

Don’t overlook the locking options available on the conservatories you look at. What is ‘standard’ for one company might be an ‘optional extra’ for another. Most modern replacement windows and doors in conservatories feature multi-point locking ‘as standard’.

This is a locking system that secures at more than just one point in the window or door frame. Some will also offer a ‘night vent’ position which gives you a lockable, partially open position – remember though that any window left open, even if only slightly, is still a security risk.

See our full conservatory buyer’s guide for advice on choosing a conservatory design, the many styles available, the pros and the cons of different materials and how planning law applies to glass conservatories.

Next week: Finding the right supplier