How to Open Up Your Space At Home

How To Open Up Your Space At Home 

If you've been spending more time at home, you need a space that is truly yours like an open plan conservatory or a new orangery. 

When everyone is getting under each other’s feet and making more mess and noise than usual, trying to find peace and quiet can be a challenge.

That is why we’ve seen a huge increase in enquiries for conservatories, orangeries, and extensions. More and more people are turning to an approved Ultra installer to discuss their home extension requirements.

Ways to Add More Space

There are many ways we can open your home:

Conservatories →

Building a conservatory is a great way to add a bright, light filled room to the back or side of your property. Glass technology has improved significantly, and modern conservatories no longer have issues with temperature fluctuations. 

With the right glass specification in your conservatory roof, windows, and doors, your open plan space can be thermally efficient. With modern conservatory enhancements like super insulated columns, insulated pelmets, and even a boundary wall, your open conservatory can have the cosiness of a living room but retain the light and garden views of a traditional conservatory installation.

Glazed Extensions →

A glazed extension is very similar to a conservatory, but what sets them apart, is the large set of bifolding or sliding doors and the variety of roofing systems available.

You can preserve the appearance of a traditional conservatory with our glass roof or make your open plan conservatory stand out from the rest with Ultrasky lanterns. Glazed extensions are the conservatories of today, as internal plastering effortlessly adds an additional open room to your home. 

Orangeries →

The design of our orangeries includes plenty of glass panels, so natural light can flood through the roof and open up the space below.

Traditional orangeries tend to have quite a lot of brick, maybe even a dwarf wall. Whereas contemporary designs tend to include more full height glass and sliding or bifold doors. These additions can open your home further and even add a modern touch to your property.  

Extensions →

An extension is usually built with a large amount of brick or solid materials in the walls and the roof. This means that there is often less natural light than in a conservatory or orangery, but often more wall space for cupboards, shelving or maybe a TV.

Extension roofs are usually pitched with tiles that match the house but opting for lanterns or skylights, natural light can trickle in. 

Going Open Plan

No matter what type of space you are adding to your home, you will need to decide if you want your new room to be open to your house or private with the click of a door.

One thing that can help you decide whether to go open plan conservatory or not is how you are going to use the room. If you are looking for a larger shared space, such as a kitchen diner, then an open plan room would be practical. However, if you’re going to use the open plan conservatory as a study or as a relaxing getaway, a door might be better. 

You also need to consider the thermal efficiency of your new room before you make the decision. If you open the room to the house, your new space must be able to maintain the same temperature as the rest of the house and share a heating system.  

Although glass is more thermally efficient than ever, it is not as energy efficient as a wall, so the amount of glass must be considered. If you do want a lot of natural light in your room, prioritise glass or rooflights in your roofing rather than the sides, as three times more sunlight will enter through the roof than the windows or glass doors.

You could also choose triple glazing for the windows or doors or use a super insulated component instead of brick walls. For example, Ultraframe’s super insulated columns are five times more thermally efficient than brick. A few of these columns, combined with glass, could be as energy efficient as a brick wall but with additional views of your garden. 

Open Plan Conservatory Building Regulations

All conservatories, orangeries, and extensions can be opened up to your home, but you will need Building Regulation approval to do so. This means that the room design must be energy efficient enough to be used as a living space. Your Ultra Installer will take care of the Building Regulations. Depending on the design, Ultraframe will create the thermally efficient, open plan room that you've got your mind set on. 

Whatever you choose, an open plan conservatory can quickly become the hub of the home and the favourite room in the house. To expand your home, contact your nearest Ultra Installer or get in touch with our helpful Ultraframe team today!