Many people wonder if they should consider building a conservatory. Conservatories are popular projects and it may be difficult to decide whether it is time to change sliding patio doors for PVC doors. Here are some of the issues to consider.

There are several reasons why building conservatories may be a good idea. For example, if you have a large garden that requires a lot of maintenance, construction of a conservatory is one of the home improvement projects you could consider. Not only can you reduce the time you spend on caring for your garden, but you can also gain a warm, comfortable space for year round use.

If your garden faces south, then the conservatory will have year round warmth, making this a remodelling project worth considering. While a sun room in a north facing garden will ramp up the heating bills, even in winter a south facing garden will keep the room cost effective. This is worth consideration as the remodelling project is costly enough without additional winter fuel costs.

A sun room may also allow you to care for plants that require warmer conditions, though if you want it only for plants, maybe a greenhouse is a better option. If, like most people, you want to use the room, then this type of home improvement project gives you the best of both worlds. It increases living space for both you and your plants. Remember to consider the size of your garden in relation to the conservatories that are available - after all, you still want to have some green space to look at when you are enjoying the new room.

It's worth checking with your local planning officer before you begin to remodel. If your sun room is too close to your neighbours or if you live in a listed building, then you may need planning permission. While most conservatories do not need such permission, it's best to be sure.

With this type of project you need to decide on the appropriate material for construction. In essence, you have the choice of wood or PVC. Wood is an attractive material, but it requires a lot of maintenance. It is likely that you will have to sand and repaint the outside every few years. Not only is this costly, but it is also time consuming. PVC, on the other hand, requires very little maintenance and provides unparalleled insulation, keeping your heating costs manageable in the winter months. Most people replace their sliding patio doors with PVC doors as the sliding patio doors may allow heat loss.

With a south facing garden your sun room may be slightly too warm. Luckily conservatories have blinds or tinted windows to cut down on the glare. You'll need a lot of blinds as you will want windows on all sides (except where you have replaced the sliding patio doors) to take advantage of air flow As well as tinted PVC windows you can also consider tinted roof panels to keep you conservatory feeling pleasant throughout the year.

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Adrian Jones has been involved in the home improvement market for many years. He writes articles outlining the benefits of using PVCu or Vinyl when replacing windows or doors as illustrated on http://www.atonicdoubleglazing.co.uk.