Designing Your Conservatory

Because each conservatory is designed individually, and styles can be combined, there is a huge number of possible shapes for your conservatory. However, most conservatories fall into one of the following three categories:

Victorian

These models generally have either a 3 bay front or 5. The first is derived from an octagon and the second from a decagon.

Generally each of the bays will be the same length although with the octagonal it can be possible for the front bay to be extended. Roof pitches will usually vary between 20º and 45º although the most popular and structurally correct to withstand snow loadings together with wind forces is 26º.

Most customers choose a decorative ridge cresting with finial which appears historically to be for warding off evil spirits, you will need to make your own assessment if any are active in your area!

Edwardian

Apart from the base being square or rectangular these designs are the same as with a Victorian model.

It is important that you consider very carefully why you may choose one or the other. It is often thought that with an Edwardian design you are not 'losing the corners'. However, this concern is somewhat unfounded as you are not actually purchasing them in the first place, a Victorian conservatory is not an Edwardian 'with the corners cut off'.

Generally Edwardian designs are chosen if a customer feels that they are more aesthetically appropriate to their property, they fit better into the existing garden layout or simply by personal choice. When sending past customer lists it is clear to see that for each Edwardian design chosen there are generally four or five Victorian and this seems to be that customers consider the angular front bays to the more traditional design.

A simple geometric calculation or marking out the proposed base dimensions in your garden will show that a Victorian conservatory slightly wider and/or deeper than an equivalent Edwardian will give you exactly the same floor area.

Modern

Unfortunately some people use the term lean-to. This may have been relevant some years ago when conservatories were more akin to 'lean-to greenhouses'. It is interesting to see from past customer lists that a very high percentage of people choose modern designs for two overriding reasons. The first is that you get much better value for money per square foot of area covered and secondly there is a strong feeling that a Victorian or Edwardian design on the customer's home would not be appropriate.

Other Styles

Styles can be combined for a larger, more complex conservatory - the drawing on the left shows a possible example. David Fennings have become known for their specialist projects.