Conservatories are known as being a great option for a home extension. Sadly, they are also known for being inefficient – cold in the winter and hot in the summer, so that they are never quite the perfect space. The kind of tiled conservatory roof Northampton properties might benefit from is modern, efficient and high quality, making a conservatory less about a low-cost extension, and more a part of the actual home. You might not think that a roof could make all that much difference to your conservatory, but you would be very surprised as and when you see the finished result.

If you have an existing conservatory – especially one that is a few years old – you might be wondering how to improve it. Many properties in Northampton now have conservatories, including those in wider Northamptonshire and the villages and areas throughout the county, where there is enough garden space to build a conservatory without having to sacrifice too much of the outdoors. If you have a conservatory that is a good size, this gives you even more reason to want to make the most of it. A tiled conservatory roof can make an enormous difference to the environment in your home and can help you to get far more use out of your conservatory, all year round. This is important; you spend a lot of money on a conservatory, and you of course want to make the most of it.

Tiled conservatory roofs in Northampton – some of the benefits of adding a new roof

Any building can have a new roof – it’s widely known that this will make a big difference. However, people don’t always know about the options when it comes to new conservatory roofs, and might underestimate the enormous difference that this can make. You only need to think about the practicalities to begin realising why a conservatory roof is going to make a huge difference. Picture the downfalls of your current conservatory roof: you are sitting in your conservatory, but the sun is beating down onto the glass and it is too warm for you to be comfortable and stay in the room long. Equally, if you are sat in your conservatory in the wintertime, you will undoubtedly be too cold to be comfortable in this kind of space. A tiled conservatory roofing system can change all of this, simply by giving you a new, more efficient type of roofing. In Northampton, this can also be a particularly important aesthetic benefit. Many of the properties in villages are very attractive and much sought after, and a roofing system that will help the new extension to blend into the existing building will be a very welcome advantage.

All in all, a new conservatory roof for your Northampton property will undoubtedly have a whole host of benefits. Some of these are aesthetic, and some of them are to do with the lifestyle changes you will be able to make thanks to have a new tiled conservatory roofing system in place.

If you’re thinking of getting a rooflight, you’ve probably thought about the glazing material and the style of rooflight you’re going to choose. Usually, the frame of the rooflight is less likely to be a consideration until later down the line, but the truth is, it’s still something you should think about. There are two main options: uPVC and aluminium. Both have different qualities and will suit different property types, depending on your requirements.

uPVC is mainly used with polycarbonate rooflights in public spaces, such as offices or shopping centres. They are the cheaper option and, whilst thermally efficient, won’t have such a premium finish. Aluminium frames are sleek and beautiful, usually used with glass rooflights in the home to give a high-end appearance. Aluminium frames can come in various RAL colours, including dark green, grey and white, and they too are very thermally efficient. They are robust too and can last for many years.

When you think of oak beams, you probably think about old wooden structural beams that are used in older properties. They might be from the 1700s or 1800s, or they could be a little newer, but what is common to all of these properties is the use of beams in their integral structures. Wooden beams look right in this kind of setting, but they are also important in their structure.

If you have a newer property, can beams still look right? Might they make the property look older than it is? Will you be able to achieve the right kind of look still? It’s definitely a possibility – buildings can look stunning with contemporary wooden beams and high vaulted ceilings, giving a sense of space and openness. However, you do need to be careful to use the beams in the right way so as not to detract from the ambience of the room. It’s important you consider carefully the part that they will play in the overall design.

Considering oak beams for a newer build – what kinds of properties will they complement?

Oak beams will look better in some properties than others. These are some of the properties that they will work best in:

• Barn conversions. Many barn conversions will already have oak beams up in the rafters, as they will be part of the original structure. If they don’t, then oak beams would almost certainly look stunning. Barn conversions benefit from high ceilings and open rafters, so beautiful oak beams can only serve to enhance them.
• Modern cottages. If you have a cottage that is trying to replicate an older property with its rustic charm, you might want to install oak beams.
• Extended buildings. It might not be worth installing oak beams in existing properties – it can cause more problems than it might solve. However if you have an extension built, wooden beams could work very well in this extended area.

What to consider when deciding whether to install oak beams in a contemporary property

If you think oak beams could work for you but you’re not 100% sure, here are some of the main considerations:

• The size of the property. To make wooden beams work, you need plenty of space. It’s probably counterproductive to install beams in a space that isn’t big enough.
• Any existing wooden features. If there are existing wooden features, for example, skirting boards, wall panels or windowsills, you should aim to match these with any wooden beams installed. Different wooden finishes in the same room can be very off-putting. It is often a better idea to paint wood to achieve the same finish, but this might be a shame with real oak.
• The colour of the wooden beams. If you use reclaimed oak, it might be quite weathered and dark in colour. This could look dramatic and beautiful in some spaces, but it could also make the room feel closed in. Consider your options carefully and decide how you’re going to get the perfect finish.

Energy efficiency in the home is incredibly important. If you buy a new home, it will have an energy performance certificate, or EPC, to show how efficient it is. This will indicate how much energy it will take to run, and subsequently, how much it will cost you. It’s not cost effective to have an inefficient home. So how energy efficient are rooflights? It largely depends on their age and their quality – a high quality rooflight with a low u-value will be very energy efficient. There is double and even triple glazing available, making rooflights good at maintaining a consistent temperature. Older rooflights will generally not perform as well and may let warm air escape, or make a room too hot in the glare of the sun during summer. Replacing old rooflights is a good way of improving energy efficiency and making sure your home is using energy in the most efficient ways possible.

Were you under the impression that you can only have a stove if you are able to fit it with a flue and chimney? This isn’t the case – you will be able to enjoy all the warmth and beauty of a fire, without a flue needed. Balanced flue gas fires give you the realistic appearance of a stove, but without the need for fitting a flue and burning a real fire. It offers the best of both worlds – more warmth, a better aesthetic, and the convenience of not having to load and clean out a real stove. This could be the ideal option for you and your family.

A balance flue stove offers a realistic, modern alternative to the wood burning stoves and multi fuel stoves that have been around for years. In reality, many modern homes don’t have chimneys and therefore, it isn’t possible to build a flue and install a fire without significant structural work. In some cases, it simply might not be possible at all. In this instance, why not consider a balanced flue stove instead? They use highly advanced technology to create a realistic flame effect, complete with the warmth that you would get from a wood burning stove as well. Don’t compromise and keep homes cold a sterile – choose to enhance their appearance and create a cosy ambience.

Is a balanced flue gas fire right for your home?

With a balance flue gas fire, the stove is sealed, meaning there are no draughts. This increases energy efficiency straight away, so your home will be more thermally efficient. If you have a wood burning stove, there can be issues with draughts and some people find that they don’t heat their homes as efficiently as they would like them to. There are none of these worries with balanced flue gas stoves due to the effectiveness of the sealing process. There will be venting on the outside wall. You can expect around an 86% efficiency rating, and a variable heat output up to 4.5KW. This means your home can be significantly warmer, without having to put on the central heating. Many people enjoy heating their home in this way, with the flexibility to heat just the one room and not waste energy heating up the whole house if this is not required.

The flames themselves will create a realistic coal burning effect, so they are aesthetically pleasing as well. You can also choose these stoves in various designs to fit in with your aesthetic, so they don’t just have to be a one size fits all appearance. You can choose a modern cassette stove to suit a contemporary interior, or more curved, traditional options if you have always dreamed of your very own wood burning stove.

All in all, a fixed flue gas fire offers the perfect compromise for many homeowners. You can choose to have your stove almost anywhere, and it can be easy to operate with remote and slide controls. Light a roaring fire and snuggle down, without even having to leave your seat!