Your Common Questions Answered
 

A pergola is a garden room with a flat 'cubic' style roof that can be attached to the house or freestanding. It has either a bio climatic roof with louvred blades that rotate to the angle of the sun or structural waterproof canopy that retracts to leave an open roof allowing the sun to shine in. A Veranda is typically attached to the house with sloping fixed glass roof or retractable canopy roof. Both systems can have glass sides and shutters, either sliding or fixed and/or roller blinds that are automatically operated to create room that is comfortable and protected in all seasons.

A Winter Garden is a modern aluminium and glass extension to the house or a freestanding building in the garden. It has sloping glass roof allowing the sun to shine in and typically elevations include sliding glass doors or bifold doors, and sometimes solid walls and fixed glass panels. Some more modern designs include a reverse pitch roof so that the main facing elevation is taller which gives a more open feel to the garden or views. They are a modern construction with a sleek contemporary style, double glazed and very thermally efficient so warm in Winter and with large openings and sliding rooflights they remain cool in Summer and are a comfortable space all year round. They come with a host of options including roof awnings, roller blinds, and in-built led lighting.

A Conservatory is has a more elaborate traditional style, constructed from hand painted hardwood and glass, often attached to the house with sloping glass roof, and dual pitch and hipped roof designs are also common. The elevations are a mix of hardwood windows and French doors, though bifold doors are becoming more popular. Often the design of the conservatory and its windows and door glazing bars are chosen to match the period style of the property. These days conservatory double glazing is thermally efficient and a conservatory is a comfortable year round space. Options include interior blinds, opening roof vents and inbuilt lighting.

An Orangery differs from a conservatory in that it has a deep and insulated flat roof with a lead or GRP layer to seal it from the weather. They come with a glazed lantern, often to the centre, which allows the light into the orangery. Because of the insulated roof there are additional thermal performance advantages, and the flat roof allows more shade and privacy.

An Glass Box extension is a modern take on the orangery with sleeker more cubic lines, it has a deep and insulated flat roof with a lead or GRP layer to seal it from the weather. They come with a flat flush glazed openings to the roof, which allows the light into the room. Because of the insulated roof there are additional thermal performance advantages, and the flat roof allows more shade and privacy. Elevations are a combination of slim frame sliding doors, bifolding doors that give the glass box a very chic and 'light touch' aesthetic.

They start from circa £10,000 for an aluminium glass roof veranda, and can be over £40,000 for the ultimate very large design with sliding glass walls and all the toys including heating, lighting and blinds or awnings! We can price your design in less than 24 hours, and as designs are priced bespoke the cost is accurate.

They start from circa £15,000 for an aluminium Pergola with an opening motorised roof, and can be up to £50,000 for the ultimate very large design with sliding glass walls, louvre shutters, and all the toys including heating, integrated led lighting and roller blinds! We can price your design in less than 24 hours, and as designs are priced bespoke the cost is accurate.

They start from circa £20,000 for a double glazed aluminium Winter Garden with bifolding doors and can be over £60,000 for the ultimate very large design with large format ultra slim frame sliding glass doors, sliding roof vents, and all the toys including heating, integrated led lighting and awnings! We can price your design in less than 24 hours, and as designs are priced bespoke the cost is accurate.

Conservatories start from circa £20,000 for a double glazed hardwood structure with windows and French doors and can be over £60,000 for the ultimate very large design with complex roof shapes, ornate windows and door glazing and pilaster detailing! We can price your design in less than 24 hours, and as designs are priced bespoke the cost is accurate.

Orangeries are slightly more expensive because of the solid roof and lantern, they start from circa £25,000 for a double glazed hardwood structure with windows and French doors and can be up to £100,000 for the ultimate very large design with complex lantern shapes, ornate windows and door glazing and entablature and pilaster detailing! We can price your design in less than 24 hours, and as designs are priced bespoke the cost is accurate.

Regardless of whether you choose a Veranda or Pergola the guarantee is ten years on the whole structure. We can offer this because of the quality of the manufacturers we use and that our fitters are trained by them and qualified to install their systems.

The Winter Garden or Glass Box extension guarantee is ten years on the whole structure. We can offer this because of the quality of the manufacturers we use and that our fitters are trained by them and qualified to install their systems.

The guarantee for either a conservatory or orangery is ten years on the whole structure. We can offer this because of the quality of the manufacturers we use and that our fitters are trained by them and qualified to install their systems.

Yes, we do offer a full service. This includes, site survey, CAD design of your extension with accurate costs. Manufacturing by one of our UK or European partners, and installation by our very experienced fitting teams. We can also arrange supplementary work such as foundation pads, decking and so on, please call us for details.

Due to the quality and experience of expert designers and installers, with over 30 years of experience designing luxury Verandas and Pergolas and Winter Garden extensions throughout the UK and beyond. Our designers are the best in this field, including being an International Design & Architecture Awards finalist in, and our fitting teams have been installing Winter Gardens, Pergolas and Verandas for 20 years and counting.

Due to the quality and experience of expert designers and installers, with over 30 years of experience designing period Conservatories and Orangeries throughout the UK and beyond. Our designers are the best in this field, including Gold medal award winners at Chelsea, and our fitting teams have been installing period architecture for 20 years and counting.

In the UK normally this would be very unusual as, in general, a Winter Garden, Veranda or Pergola can be built under current permitted development rules. Large structures may be permitted under a prior approval notice, which is a very quick and straight forward procedure. On designated land such as in conservation areas, and if your property is listed you may need to apply for permission, and we always suggest you check 1st. We can help and if planning permission is required Glass House Architecture has a team that can handle this for you.

In the UK normally this would be very unusual as, in general, a conservatory or orangery can be built under current permitted development rules. Large structures may be permitted under a prior approval notice, which is a very quick and straight forward procedure. On designated land such as in conservation areas, and if your property is listed you may need to apply for permission, and we always suggest you check 1st. We can help and if planning permission is required Glass House Architecture has a team that can handle this for you.

A luxury Winter Garden, Pergola or Veranda definitely adds the wow factor to your home, so it can justifiably be seen as desirable to prospective buyers, thus adding value to your property. It can set your home apart from similar properties in your neighbourhood, as such a quality Winter Garden, Pergola or Veranda is seen as a a good investment as well as being great addition to your home that you can enjoy for years to come.

A luxury conservatory or orangery definitely adds the wow factor to your home, and treated as an additional area of living space, so it can justifiably be seen as desirable to prospective buyers, thus adding value to your property. It can set your home apart from similar properties in your neighbourhood, as such a quality Conservatory or Orangery is seen as a a good investment as well as being great addition to your home that you can enjoy for years to come.