uPVC Conservatory: A Complete Guide

Looking for an affordable yet eye-pleasing conservatory? uPVC conservatories are the answer!

Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride (uPVC) is one of the most common and popular materials preferred for building a conservatory in the UK. When building an extra living space in your house, you want the space to feel like a sanctuary. A uPVC conservatory is the perfect, most affordable way of creating such a space in your home.

When choosing a uPVC conservatory, you have several options between style , roof , materials, and even additional features. It would be helpful if you understood the difference between these options and how different combinations could enhance the look and feel of your home.

Installers often aid the process of finding the right conservatory style and materials for you. However, finding the right installer is altogether a different story. At GreenMatch, we can help you get in touch with the right people. Simply click on the button below and we can get you up to 3 free quotes from certified installers in your area. Our services are free, and you are under no obligation to use our services.

uPVC is a lightweight material and extremely flexible. It is easy to mould to the desired shape and style of your conservatory. The main USP of installing a uPVC conservatory is its low cost and maintenance. It is the cheapest material available for building a conservatory. As far as cleaning goes, all it needs is a wipe down with a wet, soapy cloth from time to time. uPVC can also offer great sound insulation, especially when fitted with acoustic glass.

When building a conservatory, aesthetics is an important factor. A uPVC conservatory can enhance the appeal of your home as it can be made to easily blend in with your home’s architecture and style. The traditional uPVC is usually white, which gives you a classic look. You now have the option to choose from a wide variety of colours and textures and give your conservatory a more contemporary look. You also have the option to choose between different styles of conservatories, like an Edwardian or a Victorian conservatory.

uPVC is durable enough, however not as durable as aluminium or timber. The uPVC may not be an ideal choice for taller conservatories if you’re building your conservatory as an integral part of your existing home. This material is ideal for building a conservatory for single-storey homes. Out of all the materials, uPVC offers the most effective noise reduction. This allows you to have a more peaceful, quiet corner in your home.

As you know, several options are available to you for a uPVC conservatory. The different conservatory styles are Lean-to, Victorian, Edwardian, Gable end, or T/P/L shaped. You can choose the style that most compliments your home and fits with your expectations from adding an extra space in your home. Below we will be discussing the three most popular conservatory styles generally preferred by homeowners in the UK.

Edwardian conservatories offer a bright, spacious area in your home. The design of an Edwardian uPVC conservatory is characteristically based on the Edwardian Era. The design of an Edwardian style conservatory is such that it makes the space appear flooded with light and open. It is usually rectangular in shape, with a pitched roof decorated with a central ridge.

The advantages of choosing this style are:

On the negative end:

Another popular style is the Victorian uPVC conservatory style. The design is inspired by the love of people in the Victorian era for exotic plants and foliage, which led to building structures for keeping the plants alive in winter. The Victorian style was adopted to compliment the period building of the era.

The Victorian style has either three to five facets, with a bay front and three to five main windows respectively. The conservatory has a steepled pitch roof with a central ornate ridge. The windows in a Victorian conservatory are usually large, which allows enough natural light to flood in.

Advantages of choosing Victorian conservatory:

The disadvantages of a Victorian conservatory:

Lean-to conservatories, which are simple rectangular/square spaces, are also quite popular among homeowners' choice for a conservatory. These are the most affordable ways to add extra space in your home. A lean-to conservatory has a roof sloping away from your home and a rectangular or square floor plan. The conservatory style is often referred to as sunrooms as they allow maximum natural light to flood into your room.

Advantages of a lean-to style:

The disadvantages:

Finding the right installer, along with the right style of conservatory for your home, is equally important. This is often a long process, where you end up contacting numerous installers trying to get quotes. We can cut down the process to just a minute, where you fill out the form and we can get you up to 3 free quotes, with no further obligations. Simply click on the button below to get quotes from nearby installers.

A uPVC conservatory can be fitted with various styles of roofs. Several options for a uPVC conservatory roof are available to you from which you can choose the one that best fits your requirements. You would have the option to choose a roof style and materials that complements your home and enhances the overall appeal. We have discussed both different styles of roofs and roof materials that you can choose for your conservatory roof.

A solid tiled roof is typically used to replace polycarbonate or glass conservatory roofs. Made from lightweight tiles, a solid tiled roof gives you a more permanent structure for an extended living space. It may not give your conservatory the typical look of being one, but it adds elegance and appeal to your home. You have several options between the material and colour of tiles for your conservatory to more suit your requirements.

The overall structure of your conservatory will retain the glass walls, but you may be required to add strengthening elements to support the structure. They may, however, restrict the amount of natural light that floods in with a glass or a polycarbonate roof. With a tiled roof, you will have the option to add a skylight for natural light to flood in if you so wish.

Polycarbonate roofs are made using multiple layers of plastic sheets with air gaps in between. This gives strength to the material. Polycarbonate roofs are the most affordable and cost-effective compared to other roofing materials. This material is also easy to shape, meaning you can mould it to fit whatever shape you desire. Depending on the amount of light you want flooding into your conservatory, you can choose between a more transparent or an opaque roof.

However, polycarbonate roofs are considered poor temperature regulators. They aren’t as good at noise cancellation as other roof materials either. As attractive as a glass or a tiled roof looks, polycarbonate roofs may dampen the appeal of your home.

Glass roofs can be considered a step up for your conservatory in comparison to polycarbonate roofs. They are more durable and pleasant to look at. A glass roof uPVC conservatory looks classier and adds to the appeal of your house. The advantage of having double-glazed or triple-glazed glass roofs is that they allow enough natural light to flood in but without the heat.

Although better than polycarbonate roofs, glass roofs are still not as good temperature regulators as you may want them to be. Glass roofs are easy to install but are expensive too when compared to polycarbonate roofs.

When choosing a glass roof for your conservatory there are a few things that you need to have in mind, such as security, thermal insulation, and accessibility.

Using Low E, or even better Solar Control glass, is very important for keeping good thermal insulation. This glass reflects or absorbs a portion of the sun's energy before it enters the conservatory. This helps to keeps a cool and comfortable indoor environment.

Choosing laminated or toughened glass is almost a must for the enhanced security features.

Or, due to its height and position, choosing self-cleaning glass helps to limit overall maintenance.

A pitched roof is one that slopes downwards on two sides from a central ridge. The pitch is the measure of the steepness of the roof. This sloped-styled roof is usually seen in Edwardian or Victorian conservatories. The main advantage of pitched roofs is that water, snow, or fallen leaves and debris easily slide down. This reduces the damage to the roof or leakage issues.

Pitched glass or polycarbonate roofs also allow enough natural light to flood into your room. Tiled pitched roofs would allow you to enjoy moderate temperatures in your room all year long.

A sloped roof is a style of roofing that angles downwards on a single side. The best example of this is a lean-to conservatory. If you are looking to have a sloped roof for your lean-to uPVC conservatory, it would look perfect.

You can choose the material for your roof based on your requirements and how you want the conservatory to complement your home.

A flat roof is one that typically has no angles to the conservatory roof. It is a visually appealing style, especially for a lean-to conservatory. However, you may find it difficult to keep the roof clean as the flatness increases the chances of leaves and debris, water, and snow to accumulate on the roof.

This may also end up limiting the light that floods into your room. It may make hanging roof lights easier in a lean-to conservatory though, which is a bit difficult to do with a sloped roof.

A uPVC orangery appears similar to that of a conservatory. So, then what is the difference between orangery and conservatory?

A uPVC orangery is an extension that unlike a conservatory has more brickwork. Your orangery will have more brick pillars to give a relatively stronger and permanent structure. Orangeries also have more windows compared to a conservatory. Lastly, an orangery usually has a lantern roof, with a flat perimeter.

If you’re building a uPVC conservatory, you have the option of choosing from a wide variety of colours and textures for uPVC conservatory doors, windows, and panels. The most common and traditional colour for a uPVC conservatory is white. But if you want to match the conservatory to your home, you may opt for colours or textures that go best with the remaining décor of your home.

You can also opt for the dual colour option. For example, you may choose Rosewood for the uPVC conservatory windows, doors, and panels to give it a wood-like effect on the outside. And you may choose white for the interior of the conservatory.

Conservatory prices are dependent on a lot of factors. It would be difficult to give you an exact figure or cost of a uPVC conservatory. The average cost of uPVC conservatories depends on the region you’re living in, the style you choose, installer you choose, and several other factors.

At GreenMatch, we understand the pains you must go through to find the right best conservatory installer. We will do the grunt work for you, find the best and most suitable installers for you. We can get you up to 3 free quotes from your nearby installers. Our services are free, with no further obligations on your part. Simply click the button below and to get quotes from installers.