Outdoor SunSpaces News

As homeowners seek to extend their living spaces and embrace a more relaxed lifestyle, outdoor living has become a central focus of home design. Gone are the days when outdoor areas were merely a place for barbecues or casual gatherings; today's outdoor spaces are viewed as extensions of the home, providing comfort, luxury, and functionality. Among the many innovations that have shaped this shift, Sunspaces stands out as a key player in transforming outdoor living into a year-round experience.

The Rise of Outdoor Living

Over the past few years, there has been a clear trend towards creating more sophisticated outdoor living spaces. From sleek patios and decks to fully equipped garden kitchens and fire pits, homeowners are investing in ways to enhance their outdoor environments. Outdoor spaces have become more than just places for social gatherings—they are now dedicated zones for unwinding, working, dining, and even exercising.

But what truly sets this year’s outdoor trends apart is the integration of high-tech, customisable solutions that blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings.Sunspaces are leading the charge in this area, offering innovative solutions that allow homeowners to enjoy the outdoors in style, no matter the season.

Sunspaces: The Ultimate Game-Changer in Outdoor Living

A Sunspace is essentially a hybrid of an indoor and outdoor living area—an enclosed glass garden room that brings the beauty of the outdoors in while keeping the comfort and warmth of the indoors.

Why choose a Sunspaces?

1. Year-Round Comfort: Sunspaces provide a sheltered environment that allows homeowners to enjoy their outdoor areas throughout the year, regardless of the weather. Whether it's the cold of winter or the heat of summer, a Sunspace can be climate-controlled, allowing you to relish in nature's beauty without the discomfort of the elements.
2. Seamless Connection to Nature: The large, glass walls of a Sunspace bring the outdoors in, offering panoramic views of the garden, landscape, or surrounding environment. This connection to nature creates a peaceful, calming space that’s perfect for relaxation and rejuvenation.
3. Increased Living Space: Sunspaces offer the perfect way to extend your home’s footprint without the hassle of a full home extension. These structures can be used as additional living and dining spaces, giving homeowners extra space to enjoy in an open-air setting.
4. Customisable Features: Sunspaces can be designed and built to fit your personal preferences. From choosing the type of glass (to ensure maximum insulation) to selecting stylish furniture and lighting options, homeowners can customise every detail to suit their unique tastes.
5. Sustainability: Many of the designs incorporate eco-friendly elements, such as energy-efficient glass, and natural ventilation systems. This makes them a great option for environmentally conscious homeowners who want to reduce their carbon footprint while still enjoying luxurious outdoor living.

Other Outdoor Living Trends to Watch

While Sunspaces are at the forefront of the outdoor living movement, there are several other trends that homeowners are embracing to make their outdoor areas more luxurious and functional. Here are some noteworthy trends to look out for:

1. Outdoor Kitchens and Dining Areas: An outdoor kitchen with built-in grills, fridges, and prep spaces is becoming a popular feature for many homes.
2. Fire Features: Fire pits, fireplaces, and even fire tables are becoming a staple in many outdoor living areas. 
3. Eco-Friendly Landscaping: Sustainability is a key consideration for many homeowners. Drought-tolerant plants, rainwater harvesting systems, and the use of organic materials in landscaping are becoming more common. Homeowners are also focusing on creating low-maintenance gardens that are both beautiful and environmentally conscious.

Conclusion

Whether you want a stylish garden room, a cosy retreat to enjoy a morning coffee, or an elegant space for evening entertaining, Sunspaces offers the perfect solution. Our team of professionals can help design and install a Sunspace that complements your home’s aesthetic while providing unparalleled comfort and luxury.

Step outside, embrace the trends, and make your outdoor living area a true extension of your home.

Protecting the environment is a powerful motivator, but did you know eco-friendly products can also benefit you directly? SunSpaces champions sustainable living, offering a range of products that are good for the planet and your home. Here's how making eco-conscious choices can make a positive impact on your life:

Slash Your Energy Bills:

Imagine reducing your electricity usage without sacrificing comfort. SunSpaces offers energy-efficient LED lights, which can be installed in your composite decking or SunSpace, that use a fraction of the power compared to traditional bulbs, while providing the same bright illumination. This translates to significant savings on your energy bills over time.

Healthier Living Environment: 

Eco-friendly home features like our SunSpaces and verandas can significantly improve air quality. SunSpaces are typically designed to let in natural light and fresh air, which promotes better ventilation and air circulation. Essentially, SunSpaces made with eco-friendly materials from Greensquares can enhance your home's air quality while providing a bright, comfortable space to relax. Spending time in a SunSpace, surrounded by nature and fresh air, can also boost your mood and overall well-being.

Invest in a Long-Lasting Home:

Sustainable products are often made with high-quality, durable materials. Take our DeckPlus composite decking, for example. This innovative material, made from recycled wood and plastic, is designed to withstand all weather conditions and requires minimal maintenance compared to traditional wood decking. This translates to a beautiful outdoor space that lasts for years to come, saving you money and preventing the environmental impact of replacements.

Making the Green Switch:

By choosing eco-friendly products from Greensquares, you're not just making a positive impact on the planet, you're also creating a healthier, more comfortable, and potentially more cost-effective living space for yourself and your loved ones. Visit our website today and discover a world of sustainable solutions for your home!

In today's world, there's a growing awareness of the need to live sustainably. This extends to our homes, where we're increasingly looking for ways to reduce our environmental impact. Greensquares is at the forefront of this movement, providing innovative composite products for gardens that are both durable and eco-friendly.

What are Composite Products?

Composite products are a relatively new category of building materials that combine wood fibers with recycled plastic. This creates a material that is stronger and more durable than traditional wood, while also being resistant to rot, decay, and insect damage. Greensquares' composite products are made from a blend of recycled materials, including plastic bottles and wood waste, which helps to reduce their environmental footprint.

Greensquares offers a wide range of composite products for your garden, including:

• Fencing: Our composite fencing is strong, durable, and low-maintenance. It comes in a variety of styles and can be used to create privacy screens, borders, or decorative features.
• Decking: Greensquares' composite decking is perfect for creating outdoor living spaces. It's slip-resistant, splinter-free, and easy to clean. It's also available in a range of colours and finishes to suit your personal style.
• Cladding: Composite cladding is a great way to add a modern touch to your home or garden. It's weather-resistant, durable, and easy to install. It's also available in a variety of colours and textures to complement any design scheme.

The Benefits of Composite Products for Sustainable Living

There are many benefits to using composite products for your outdoor space, both in terms of sustainability and practicality. Here are a few of the key advantages:

• Durability: Composite products are designed to withstand the elements, meaning they won't warp, crack, or rot like traditional wood. This translates to a longer lifespan for your garden features, reducing the need for replacements and the associated environmental impact.
• Low Maintenance: Unlike wood, composite products don't require regular staining or painting. This saves you time and money, and also eliminates the need for harsh chemicals that can harm the environment.
• Made from Recycled Materials: As mentioned earlier, Greensquares' composite products are made from recycled materials, which helps to divert waste from landfills and conserve natural resources.
• Aesthetics: Composite products come in a variety of colours and styles to suit any garden design. They can look just as beautiful as traditional wood, but without the environmental drawbacks.

Greensquares: A Leader in Sustainable Outdoor Living Solutions

Greensquares is committed to providing sustainable solutions for the modern garden. Our composite products are a great example of how innovation can be used to create products that are both good for the environment and aesthetically pleasing.

If you're looking for ways to make your home more eco-friendly, then Greensquares' composite products are a great place to start. With our durability, low maintenance requirements, and recycled materials content, we offer a sustainable alternative to traditional wood products.

Whether you’re creating a sun-drenched veranda or garden room, or looking for a stylish way to connect your indoor and outdoor spaces, the SunSpace structure offers unmatched versatility and aesthetic appeal. But to ensure your SunSpace glass veranda fits perfectly and functions seamlessly, there are a few key options and techniques that we use to integrate it into your home, including packing-out the wall, managing gas flues, and offering freestanding and bungalow bracket solutions. In this post, we’ll break down each of these methods and explain how they contribute to a flawless installation.

Packing-Out the Wall for Seamless Integration

When installing a SunSpace glass sunroom, ensuring a smooth and cohesive integration with your home is critical. One of the methods we employ to achieve this is packing out the wall. This technique involves bringing the attachment point for the SunSpace back wall plate forward and aligning it neatly in front of any existing obstacles—like a soil pipe.

To ensure the wall plate blends with the SunSpace frame, we use aluminium profiles that are powder-coated to match the frame. This creates a unified look, with the profiles subtly attached to the structure. The packing-out process also involves the installation of timber beams across the entire width of the structure, providing a solid foundation for the wall plate’s attachment.

Once secured, the wall plate is clad in aluminium, offering a clean, polished finish that blends seamlessly with the rest of the SunSpace structure. The result is a cohesive, aesthetically pleasing installation that ensures your SunSpace glass garden room functions smoothly while maintaining its visual appeal.

Gas Flue Integration with a "Snorkel"

If the flue for your gas boiler is located where you intend to install a veranda or glass sunroom, you will need a snorkel to redirect the flow of gas. Gas safety is paramount, and in many cases, the flue requires a special adaptation to allow for a safe, efficient installation. To manage this, a gas safety engineer must install a "snorkel"—a ventilation device that enables the gas flue to pass through the SunSpace structure while maintaining its integrity.

We supply one glass panel slightly shorter than other panels, leaving a gap where the snorkel can pass through. This gap is then covered with a custom aluminium panel, and we carefully cut a hole in it to allow the snorkel to fit securely. Once the snorkel is in place, we seal the edges to ensure there are no gaps, allowing for both safety and aesthetic consistency. This solution makes it possible to enjoy your SunSpace without compromising on gas safety.

Freestanding Kit: A Versatile Solution for Any Garden

One of the standout features of the SunSpace design is its flexibility in placement. For those who want a detached glass veranda or sunroom in the garden or don’t have a suitable wall to attach a wall plate, the freestanding kit is the perfect solution.

This innovative kit allows you to install a SunSpace veranda or glass room in locations where fixing it to a wall simply isn’t possible. It provides the same shelter and protection from the elements, but without the need for a structural attachment to your home. Whether you’re looking for a garden retreat, a poolside shelter, or a shaded space in your backyard, the freestanding SunSpace kit ensures you can enjoy all the benefits of this versatile space, no matter where you place it.

Bungalow Brackets: Ideal for Single-Storey Extensions

When adding a SunSpace structure to a single-storey extension or bungalow, there may be instances where the wall is too low for a traditional wall plate attachment or simply cannot accommodate one. In these cases, bungalow brackets are the ideal solution.

These strong, steel brackets are designed specifically to provide rear support for your veranda or sunroom. Made from high-quality steel and treated with both zinc coating and powder coating (to match the finish of your SunSpace), these brackets offer robust support without compromising on style. By using bungalow brackets, we ensure your SunSpace remains secure and stable, even when a wall plate attachment isn’t feasible.

Conclusion

At SunSpace, we are committed to offering tailored solutions that ensure both the aesthetic and structural integrity of your outdoor living space. Whether you're integrating your SunSpace structure with your home, managing the installation of a gas flue, or opting for a freestanding or bungalow bracket solution, our goal is to make the process as seamless as possible.

With these flexible installation options, you can be confident that your SunSpace will not only enhance your outdoor space but will also be a secure, functional, and long-lasting addition to your home.

If you're ready to take the next step and transform your garden or home with a SunSpace, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for personalised advice and expert installation. Let’s create the perfect space for you to enjoy all year round!

When you think of extending your living space, your first instinct might be to look inward—knocking down walls or building an extra room inside your house. But what if the best extension is actually just a few steps outside your door? A SunSpace glass veranda or garden room could be exactly what you're looking for.

SunSpaces are modern garden rooms or verandas that let you enjoy your garden in any season, offering a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living. With their elegant design and adaptable features, SunSpaces offer an alternative to traditional home extensions that often require heavy insulation, structural changes, and ongoing maintenance. Let's explore why a SunSpace could be the best decision for expanding your outdoor living space without the hassle of a typical extension.

What Are SunSpaces?

Our stylish and contemporary verandas and  glass sunrooms provide an alternative to the traditional conservatory. Extend your garden and enjoy more time outdoors, no matter the weather. SunSpaces’ glass sunrooms are constructed using superior materials (primarily high-strength aluminium) and retain their stylish appearance for years after installation. 

Whether you're looking for a relaxing sunroom, veranda, or even an additional outdoor area, a SunSpace can enhance your garden’s functionality while adding a stylish touch to your property.

Why Choose a SunSpace Over a Traditional Home Extension?

1. Versatile Use All Year Round: SunSpaces can be used in a variety of ways throughout the year. In summer, you can bask in the sun while staying cool under the shaded roof. In colder months, you can use the space as a cozy retreat to enjoy the view of your garden without braving the elements. With the ability to close off the space with sliding doors or retractable glass walls, you have total control over the temperature and airflow. We also offer outdoor heater units, making it a truly year-round space.
2. Maximise Natural Light: One of the standout features of a SunSpace is its ability to flood the room with natural light, thanks to the large glass panels and transparent roofs. Traditional home extensions may not offer the same level of natural light, especially if they involve building over windows or altering the flow of sunlight in your existing rooms.
3. Seamless Connection to Your Garden: A SunSpace allows for a unique connection between your home and your garden. Unlike a traditional extension, which may feel like a separate room, a SunSpace opens up directly into your garden, offering panoramic views and easy access to the outdoors. You can transform your garden into an extended living space, where you can entertain guests, enjoy family meals, or simply relax surrounded by greenery—without the barrier of a wall or door.
4. No Planning Permission in Most Cases: Depending on your location and the size of your SunSpace, you may not need planning permission to install it, as it often qualifies as a "permitted development" under UK law. This makes it a much quicker and easier process compared to a traditional home extension.
5. A Sustainable Option: In today’s eco-conscious world, sustainability is a key factor in any home improvement decision. SunSpaces’ use of natural light means you may save on electricity costs. Our verandas and garden rooms also offer materials that are environmentally friendly and built to last, ensuring that your garden extension is not only beautiful but also sustainable.

Benefits of a SunSpace for Your Lifestyle

• Extra Living Space: Whether you're using it as an extra living room, office, or playroom for children, a SunSpace gives you flexible living options without the disruption of a full home extension.
• Perfect for Entertaining: Imagine hosting a summer BBQ with friends, or an intimate dinner party surrounded by your garden’s beauty. The open and airy feel of a SunSpace offers the ideal setting for entertaining.
• Connection with Nature: If you love being outdoors, a SunSpace is the perfect way to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of nature without having to brave the elements.
• Increased Property Value: A well-designed SunSpace can enhance the overall value of your property. It not only adds extra square footage but also increases the aesthetic appeal and functionality of your home.

Conclusion

If you're looking for an easy and stylish way to expand your outdoor space and enjoy your garden year-round, a SunSpace veranda or sunroom is an excellent choice. It provides a versatile, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative to traditional home extensions, offering benefits like natural light, a seamless connection to your garden, and year-round comfort.

Whether you’re seeking extra living space, a new dining area, or simply a quiet retreat to unwind, a SunSpace can give you the flexibility to make the most of your property—without the stress and expense of a traditional home extension. Ready to bring your garden into your home? A SunSpace might just be the perfect addition to your outdoor lifestyle.