Season of the conservatory

The summer of 2019 brings the perfect storm of variables which may make it one of the most productive and profitable summers for installers and fabricators of PVCU conservatories, orangeries and extensions.

We’ve been fortunate enough to have some of the warmest summers on record recently, and with 52% of all summer holidays taking place as ‘stay-cations’ here in the UK, it’s no wonder there’s been a surge in back garden renovations and glazed extensions.

Whether it’s the unsettled global political climate and Brexit’s impact on the economy or the rise in the cost of travelling abroad for a holiday, families are transforming their back gardens into a holiday oasis they can use year round.

With a temporary planning 2013 rule, which gave homeowners the ability to build extensions up to a specific size without planning permission, now permanent, more of us will be turning to television programmes like Garden Rescue that show what can be done with minimal space in a back garden.

With the addition of inflatable hot tubs, gazebos and low maintenance decking, bifolding doors opening into a conservatory could be just what families are looking for.

The new permanent rules give most homeowners with semi-detached or terraced houses the ability to build single storey extensions up to 6m from the rear wall of their property, and detached houses up to 8m long (restrictions apply in special circumstances) without the need for a time consuming and expensive planning permission application.

For growing families, this is great news. The UK housing market lacks affordable housing, and now instead of trying to move to a more spacious property, homeowners can easily add an extension, giving their growing family the room it needs. Since the initial start of this initiative in 2103, 100,000 homeowners have already taken advantage of the relaxed rules – so it’s safe to say this trend will continue.

For fabricators and installers this is the ideal opportunity to upsell new windows with a conservatory, and even a PVCU or composite deck, keeping disruption to homeowners down to a minimum and offering them the ability to match their windows and conservatory with foiled profile.

If the customer already has a flat roof extension, a glazed lantern roof is perfect for letting in some of that stunning summer sun. Liniar’s Elevate lantern roof is available in a traditional rectangle and also in a square version and takes as little as 30 minutes to install. In as little as the same time as a lunch break, the customer can have a beautiful lantern roof over their orangery, kitchen or extension.

www.liniar.co.uk/elevate