Outdoor SunSpaces News

For many people in the UK, a sunroom and conservatory are the same things, often mistaken for one another. The names are used interchangeably, without ever realising that they are in fact two totally different structures that contain distinct differences.

One thing that the two do have in common, however, is the fact that they are both structures added onto a property, designed to soak up the sun whenever possible. Homeowners that have either of these attached to their property can look forward to a beautiful summer's day in peace and quiet.

So, what exactly makes a sunroom and conservatory different? Let's take a look!

Length of Use

Conservatories are well known for their seasonality, meaning the times of the year they are typically used. Conservatories tend to become incredibly cold during the winter months, which can make it difficult to relax! In the summer, on the other hand, a conservatory can become extremely hot due to high exposure levels to the sun.

Sunrooms, however, are suitable for use from March until early October.

Materials

Another difference between a sunroom and conservatory is the materials that are used when building them. A conservatory tends to be made of UVPC and glass windows, or a brick base and glass windows with a polycarbonate/glass roof, meaning you typically only benefit from the top half of the structure being made of glass.

A sunroom, on the other hand, is typically made entirely of glass – from the glass door panels all the way up to the glass roof. The roof of a sunroom is typically manufactured from glass and is solid, offering increased protection from the sun.

Consent & Speed of Assembly

The final difference between a sunroom and conservatory is the process that you need to follow in order for it to be built and attached to your home. If your sunroom or conservatory exceeds a certain size, it will require planning permission from your local council*.

Neither option is cheap either when built from the ground up. A great way that you can avoid the problems and drama of planning permission and building from scratch is purchasing a ready-built structure that you can attach straight onto your home.

These ready-made structures mostly* eliminate the need to gain planning ​permission (*in most circumstances – speak to a representative to ensure no planning permission is required) ) and your home turning into a building site for a couple of months – and you can get one right here!

But by far the biggest benefit of adding a sunroom over a conservatory is the speed of assembly. A typical veranda can be installed in 1-2 days, with a garden room typically being installed in 3-4 working days!

There you have it, the main differences between a sunroom and conservatory. If you're thinking about adding one of these structures onto your property, we hope this blog helps to inform your decision. But if you're asking us, a sunroom is definitely the way to go. The ability to use it year-round and add amazing customisable options makes it a no-brainer.

Don't just take our word for it...

One of our previous clients has moved from a home with a SunSpaces sunroom to a home with a conservatory, she got in touch and said:

"We had one of your sunrooms built onto our old house and it was fantastic. The best thing we ever purchased. We have a conservatory on our new house and we hate it. It's so old fashioned and dated. Would love to remove it but not an option at the moment. We can’t understand anyone purchasing a conservatory anymore when they could have an amazing sunroom design. Stunning!"

For more information on our range of sunrooms, be sure to get in touch with a member of the SunSpaces team today or request an instant, free quote!

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Like any form of design, what’s in vogue and fashionable can and will change from year to year as styles drift in and out with seasonal regularity.

Not to be left out in cold, exterior design also follows this blueprint of trends and what was hot last year might not be seen as quite so stylish and in just 12 months later.

To help you get ahead of the curve and prepare your garden for the year ahead, we’ve outlined some of the most likely garden trends for 2020.

Predicted Garden Design Trends for 2020

Depending on who you ask and who’s garden crystal ball you peer into, the answer to what lies ahead in garden design can vary wildly.

Swedish landscape and garden designer, Mia Witham, is confident that outdoor style is leaning towards a Belgian influence in 2020, with simplistic luxury becoming a prevalent theme.

Conversely, award-winning landscape design expert, Jane Brockbank, insists that cold minimalism is a thing of the past and champions pattern and texture instead.

Meanwhile, international consultant-designer for future-orientated garden design, Mark Laurence, foresees a more visual directional shift, as lineal design makes way for curvilinear free-flowing gardens.

Eco-Friendly Garden Trends 2020

While the predicted 2020 garden trends for general appearance can vary wildly (as seen above), one trend that looks to be virtually set in stone is the move towards a greener garden design.

Here are a few of the most notable green garden trends 2020 can expect to see over the next 12 months.

Making the Most

Making environmentally-friendly choices in life has become more and more prevalent over the last decade, as the world becomes increasingly aware of the detrimental impact we are having on the world around us.

Naturally, that focus has found its way into the world of garden design and eco-friendly garden choices are becoming progressively more popular.

Ranging from water butts that collect rainwater to garden composters that repurpose waste materials into nutrient-rich food for the lawn, expect to see more eco-friendly additions popping up in gardens across the land.

Recycling Old Goods

Speaking of making the most of what you’ve got, another related trend that’s likely to continue to grow in the next year is upcycling old items and repurposing them for garden use.

A myriad of items can easily become a garden planter, whether it’s a wheelbarrow, an old set of drawers or even a chandelier. Similarly, giving a kitchen chair a simple lick of paint and a new home in the garden can completely revitalise your furniture.

Meanwhile, even tin cans can quickly become light and versatile plant pots that can be effortlessly arranged in an upright fashion to create a vertical garden.

Grow Your Own

Another eco-friendly garden trend that is picking up steam and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down is the independent option of growing your own fruit and vegetables.

More and more people are dedicating an area of their garden to grow their own food, providing themselves with a source of food that contributes to a healthier environment, while also saving themselves a little money on the shopping bill in the process.

Outdoor Living

While these particular trends are likely to see a rise in popularity over the next 12 months, outdoor living products – such as our awnings, verandas and sunrooms – will never go out of fashion.

Providing shelter from the elements, these outdoor accessories for your home can help turn your garden into an external living space for you to enjoy your garden and the outside to its fullest.

From the retractable benefits of our awesome awnings to the insulated comfort of our glass sunrooms with the multi-faceted veranda option providing the best of both in between, SunSpaces has the product for you and your home.

With the new year just over the horizon, what better time to prep your garden for the summer season and maximise your garden enjoyment in 2020 than by investing in a SunSpace?

Call now to request a quote today and turn your new year’s resolution into a sun-kissed solution you can enjoy this coming spring/summer and beyond with SunSpaces.

To find out more about the variety of outdoor living options available at SunSpaces, why not drop us a line today> Call now on 01727 845 788 or get in touch online by clicking the button below.

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here at SunSpaces HQ and festive cheer has well and truly taken over.

If you too are feeling overcome with Christmas spirit, don’t leave your garden room out in the cold this winter.

Bring the warmth of the festive period to your SunSpace this December with a Christmas room fit for a king (or three)!

Turn Your Sunspace into a Winter Wonderland

If you’re looking to ramp up your decoration game this year, here are three great ways to transform your garden room into Santa’s grotto.

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

First thing’s first, what festive stronghold would be complete without a Christmas tree to call its own?

Whether it’s a full-sized behemoth that towers over all that enter or a pint-sized miniature that humbly sits in the background, a festive fir is a must.

If you already have a traditional tree in your living room or elsewhere in the house, why not try something more adventurous?

Experiment with colours and styles to give your festive garden room a unique ambience that’s completely different to the rest of your home.

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire

If you really want to bring that homely festive warmth to your SunSpace, there’s nothing quite like a wintry fireplace to complete the Christmas scene.

While it is possible to add a genuine woodburner to a variety of garden room designs, installation of such a feature can be costly, not to mention a big decision.

Instead, for the purpose of Christmastime convenience, opting for a faux fireplace can be the ultimate life hack.

Fantastically festive, stunningly simple and merrily mesmeric, the addition of flickering flames to your cosy Christmas cave is the icing on the cake.

Using Your Christmas Room

So, your Christmas garden room is now tinsel-tastic and decked to the halls – now what?

Why not make your new Christmas room centrepiece for your festive festivities? If you’re hosting Christmas dinner, a SunSpaces garden room makes for the perfect location to serve up your beautiful banquet and wow the in-laws.

If not, why not use your SunSpace as a room to retire to once your festive feast is over, the plates have been cleared and the last morsel of Christmas pudding has been polished? Your Christmas cavern is the ideal place to sit back, relax and gently slip into a quiet food coma.

But what about the evening? Well, the Christmas SunSpace has you covered there too. Is there a better way to see out Christmas night than with some fun, games and few glasses (or bottles) or mulled wine in your own homely grotto?

What are you waiting for? Don’t be a Scrooge this yuletide. “’Tis the season to be jolly” (fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la), so why not bring the joy to your SunSpace this Christmastime with a festive facelift?

For more information on decorating your garden room for Christmas, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 01727 845 788 or get in touch online by clicking the button below.

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With Halloween now firmly in the rear-view mirror for another year, the public’s attention now turns to the next big event in the national calendar - which is, of course, Bonfire Night.

A beloved evening of outdoor entertainment, the skyline spectacle of November 5^th is a feast for the eyes that never fails to impress Brits young and old alike - 4^th July, eat your heart out!

However, that being said, while dark, autumn evenings may lend themselves well to the airborne illuminations, the bitterly cold weather that accompanies it isn’t quite as family-friendly.

If you’re lucky enough to have a SunSpace, there’s no better night to prove that our awesome verandas and garden rooms are so much more than just sanctuary from the summertime sun.

The Perfect Viewing Party Venue

For many of us, November 5^th means staring out the window in awe at the colourful sights and vibrant visuals adorning the autumn air.

With a SunSpaces veranda or garden room, you can take that experience to the next level and essentially have your own fireworks viewing party, all from the sheltered comfort of your own backyard.

In fact, if you could create a purpose-built enclosure for star-gazing and watching the night sky, it would probably look a lot like a SunSpaces veranda or garden room. Warm, sheltered and unobstructed, either one would make for the perfect venue to watch the fireworks unfold.

Featuring a transparent roof and glass side panels, you can watch the soaring rockets radiate the November skies without having to endure the bitterness of the open air and autumn winds. Best of all, it’s quite literally on your doorstep!

Using Your SunSpace in Autumn

If you’re planning on some outdoor fun this bonfire night, the brisk autumn air can be a bit of a turn-off, particularly if it’s damp and wet as well. Meanwhile, if you happen to have young children accompanying you, adverse weather and climate can make life even more difficult.

The sheltered confines of a SunSpace veranda means you don’t need to brave the elements, providing a safe environment for you and the whole family to enjoy the displays and indulge in November 5^th activities.

Meanwhile, if you plan on making a bit of an event of the evening, a SunSpaces veranda can make for the perfect venue to bust out the barbeque one last time before winter takes over and puts your BBQ plans on ice.

Why not make your bonfire night one to remember and host a viewing party at your home? Invite the family round, stock up on supplies and turn your Guy Fawkes Nights into a family fun night without even leaving your property!

Preparing for Next Year

If you don’t own a SunSpace and have missed out on enjoying this year’s phosphorus festivities from your own shielded elemental escape, why not plan ahead and explore the world of SunSpaces today?

Start your new year off with a bang by investing in a SunSpaces veranda or garden room ahead of the summer to really make the most of your investment. That way, you can reap the rewards of the summer sun and prepare your property for next year in one fell swoop!

For more information on SunSpaces verandas and garden rooms, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 01727 845 788 or get in touch online by clicking the button below.

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If you are the proud owner of a SunSpaces veranda, chances are you’ll want to keep it looking clean and tidy.

After all, who wants to invest in a beautiful state-of-the-art veranda, only to see it become an eyesore due to lack of care and maintenance?

Well, fear not, verandarers of the UK – help is at hand and it comes in the form of elbow grease and a soapy sponge.

Cleaning Your Veranda: Things to Avoid

As a general rule of thumb, in order to avoid damaging your stunning SunSpace in pursuit of pristine sheen, the “softly, softly” approach is the best course of action. Remember, while all SunSpaces verandas are made of the highest quality materials, they aren’t indestructible.

Corrosive chemicals and heavy-duty cleaning agents could prove damaging to your pride and joy, so avoid using acidic cleaning products.

Meanwhile, refrain from using harsh cleaning tools like scouring pads, abrasive implements and sharp objects, as these could leave notable scratches.

Similarly, it’s also worth avoiding using a pressure washer as well, as the powerful jets could also cause damage, particularly to seals and moving parts.

Top Tips for a Clean Veranda

So, by now you should be well-equipped with the knowledge and know-how of what NOT to do. It’s only fitting we let you in on the other half of the equation and tell you exactly what you SHOULD do.

Here are a few handy hints and tips to keep your veranda looking great!

Cleaning Glass Panels

Whether you have opted for a glass or polycarbonate roof for your veranda, keeping it clean can make a monumental difference to the appearance of your outdoor living space, not to mention your enjoyment of it.

To keep your panels clean as a proverbial whistle, mix a small amount of pH-neutral cleaning product with plenty of water and apply with a soft cloth. This will help prevent any gritty dirt from scratching the glass while you clean.

If you have opted for the optional glass side panels, repeat the same process as above, taking care not to scratch the surface.

Cleaning Aluminium Parts

Keeping the aluminium frames clean can also make a big difference with regards to the overall appearance of the veranda, particularly if you have opted for a white frame.

Again, taking the gentle route to cleanliness, mix a small amount of pH-neutral detergent with plenty of clean water and apply using a soft sponge.

If possible, aim to give your aluminium frame a once over at least once a year to keep it looking as good as new.

Cleaning the Fabric

If you have accessorised your veranda to include a sunshade, you may want to give these areas a bit of occasional TLC to remove excess dirt and dust.

Gently remove the loose dirt and dust build-up by simply going over the problem areas with a soft brush or using a vacuum cleaner on a low setting.

This technique is also a good way to get rid of any unsightly cobwebs that may have built up in hard-to-reach areas, so try to tackle this issue at the same time.

For a more thorough clean of stubborn dirt and stains, mix a mild detergent with lukewarm water and gently apply with a sponge before lightly rinsing clean.

So, there you have it: one fool-proof guide to restoring your veranda to its former glory. For more top tips for a clean veranda, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 01727 845 788 or get in touch online by clicking the button below.

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