conservatories

thanks Sunseeker for your reply. I'm sad for you as your husband never got to enjoy it ,though how nice for him to still want to go ahead for you to have a nice place to sit.I do think that we should go ahead, because we have been here for 5 years now and have talked about doing it for a while and we are not getting any younger meanwhile.We face North but being a bungalow also get the afternoon sun as it begins to go down, so double doors sounds very sensible. I don't want blinds or curtains either, as I want to see out all the way round.

the only thread that I found was about the difference between conservatories/orangery etc and stately homes.I am wanting to know about any helpful experiences [or the opposite] to do with adding a conservatory to our bungalow , a rather different question.

We had a conservatory built just after my husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer. My only regret is that we didn't do it earlier. We had talked about it for some time and when he realised he wasn't going to be here much longer he wanted to supervise the construction.

I spend a lot of time in mine, in the summer I have my meals out there. Mine faces west so I get the afternoon sun (which can make it a bit hot but I have double doors and opening windows for fresh air). I don't have blinds or curtains as I don't want to block out any of the view. I would agree with others, go for the biggest you can fit in. I also have a radiator as I keep a lot of plants there.

I did check the threads first but couldn't find anything Phoenix.

I'm pretty sure that there was a thread about this, not that long ago.

Something about conservatory/orangery? No doubt someone more compos mentis than I will be able to find it.

We got one last year and it is lovely. Again, big as you can. Wouldnt be without it now.

I love my conservatory and would agree as large as you can afford.

thanks to both of you for replying So, as large as we can afford then [and there isn't a lot of room but hey-ho.]Also would we need blinds if north facing? I have been thinking about underfloor heating, but maybe connecting via a radiator to our cental heating would be enough?It's all going to cost a lot of money, but I think we should get the use out of it, as long as we live for a few more years!

I LOVE our conservatory - I spent the £10,000 my mother left me many years ago on it, and it was a mad extravagance, but never regretted.

We got lots of quotes, but in the end went with Weathershield - theirs was the lowest quote and we used them with some trepidation, but it has been fine and the follow-up has been excellent. They have franchises all round the country so there is no knowing whether other areas get as good a service.

Do think about getting some blinds as it can get pretty hot in there in the summer - ours is south facing and it can be a bit much.

And it is worth having a radiator out there so you can get maximum use from it. I do my sewing out there, and put the radiator on with its thermostat, so it switches off as soon as a bit of sun peeps through, so it is not costly.

The best thing is the light - it is glorious!

My only regret with my conservatory is that I didn't make it wider. It is only 6' wide due to the fact there is a manhole outside and I didn't fancy a manhole in the conservatory. I do wish I had thought again !