Constructing a conservatory needs to be considered carefully as whilst a conservatory represents a means of adding an extra room to a house and of providing a place to sit and enjoy the garden while being protected from the elements, it will not perform in the same way as an extension. Conservatories can have their pitfalls. Considerations are as follows:

• Ideally, conservatories should face towards the south (when possible) and be free from overshadowing in order to provide acceptable environmental conditions throughout the year.
• High and low level opening vents and blinds need to be provided to help reduce excessive summer and afternoon heat.
• Walls, windows and doors facing into the conservatory should be insulated to the same standard as any other external part of the building. See section on insulation.
• Using double glazing and insulating the floor and any side walls will lengthen the time in the day and year in which it is comfortable to use without heating. See the section on windows.
• Conservatories should not be heated (other than background heat to prevent frost damage). Research has shown that, if heated conventionally as a habitable room, a conservatory can double the heating bill of a well insulated dwelling.
• Choose environmentally friendly materials when building and decorating the conservatory. See section on materials.

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