Month: July 2019

Adding more space to your home doesn’t necessarily need to involve adding an extension. Conservatories act as a good intermediary for those looking to add more space to a property without going through the rigmarole of building an extension. But conservatories come in all shapes and sizes, making picking one almost as difficult as finding the perfect birthday present for a family member you barely know!

Let’s take a look at the different conservatory styles that are available (and the differences between them).

Conservatory styles

Victorian conservatories

A Victorian conservatory is versatile enough to be able to fit into any space available. It features a bayfront coupled with a steeply pitched roof.

This style of conservatory is perfect for a large garden all the way down to a small patio area.

Edwardian conservatories

Similar to a Victorian conservatory, an Edwardian (Georgian) conservatory is often seen as being more space-effective. It is comprised of a high, flat roof, along with square walls that feature 90-degree angles.

Gabel-End conservatories

With a Gable-End conservatory, the front of the conservatory remains upright, whilst the roof doesn’t slope back to the centre. In some ways, it’s similar in style to the end of a house.

Its style makes efficient use of the given space, therefore maximising the interior room’s possible uses.

Lean-To conservatories

If you’re less concerned about efficient use of space and would rather have something more subtle, the Lean-to conservatory could be a good option.

It provides a minimalistic look that fits perfectly next to a garden. The idea is that the conservatory blends quietly into the surrounding property. What’s more, it is highly customisable with a range of coloured and patterned glass, allowing you to add your own style to it.

P-Shaped conservatories

You might be wondering why this style of conservatory is called “P-Shaped”. Quite simply, when looking at it from above, it looks like the letter ‘P’.

A P-shaped conservatory combines a number of conservatory styles into one. It is generally constructed of either a 3-section or 5-section Victorian conservatory with a Lean-To or double-hipped Edwardian conservatory attached as well.

Overall, it creates a classic design that is suitable for older properties, however, it will still look great on newer, modern properties alike.

Using the above breakdown of the different conservatory styles, you should be able to gain an idea of the style that would best suit your home.

Nevertheless, if you’re still stuck on which style to go for, our expert team are able to visit your property and provide advice on the style best suited to you. Just book an appointment online.

A recent survey showed that 26% of people picked natural light as the ‘must have’ feature for a family home. Research has also shown that sunlight in the home is incredibly beneficial to us and even if we can’t put our finger on why, most of us have a sense that it’s always good to get a healthy dose of sunlight. It’s nice to go outside on a sunny day or to bask in some rays streaming through your windows while sitting in your home, and nice sunny days just make us feel better than dismal cloudy ones.

Natural light improves health

Natural light reduces the production of harmful bacteria that grow in our homes as sunlight is a natural disinfectant. Exposure to sunlight boosts our body’s creation of Vitamins B&D, promoting bone growth (helping prevent osteoporosis in later years). We all know that being in sunlight puts us in a good mood, promotes calmness (thanks to the Serotonin that gets produced), and gives us a healthy glow.

Research shows that sunlight alters levels of the small messenger molecule, nitric oxide in the skin and blood, which reduces blood pressure. Exposure to sunlight triggers small amounts of this molecule to transfer from the skin to the circulatory system, lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Although scientists are still discovering the full extent of the benefits sunlight provides (improving digestion & circulation, boosting our immune system and helping us sleep better at night, are just a few more), there can be no doubt that having more natural light in your home is great for your health.

Natural light makes us more productive

Whether it’s cleaning your home, making a delicious lunch or working in your home office, having a sunlit window nearby will help you work harder & happier. It won’t come as any surprise that sunlight makes us more productive and helps our short term cognitive memory (as opposed to those working in dank, dark rooms). Sunshine turns our day from bleak to a day of optimism and productivity increases with the natural energy.

Skewed sleep rhythms affect our productivity and this is caused by too much time being indoors. Artificial lighting affects our bodies’ production of melatonin, the chemical that influences our sleep. Living in a home with plenty of natural light is a way to keep your schedule on track.

Have you ever walked into a room and thought ‘Wow, what a wonderful space this is and I enjoy being in it?’ Chances are, it’s because of lots of natural light. While the focus is usually on the energy-saving benefits of double glazing and uPVC windows, above are only a few of the health benefits, so it’s easy to see why you should aim for more natural light in your home.

Progress Windows in Hinckley have a wide range of colours and designs, from uPVC Bay windows to Bi-Fold doors to help you give your home that ‘Wow’ factor. Give one of our designers a call today on 01455 632731 or use our quick and easy, no-obligation, online quoting system.

Blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors is the newest trend in home design and
renovation.

Patios

When we bring the outside in, and add a homely touch to our outdoor living area, we simply never want to leave home. Imagine the comfort of your couch, fresh air and lovely green views? Sound like the perfect way to spend a weekend?

A uPVC patio roof is indispensable if we want to enjoy nature from the comfort of our home. Most people love entertaining and having a patio in our own back garden can add to the joyful ambiance of our home, especially when we throw a small feast for our friends and family. A patio is the perfect spot for a summer evening barbecue.

A trendy patio gives us the sensation of having a much larger home than we have. This is perfect for those of us, whose homes get cramped with all the household stuff we have accumulated over the years. Progress Windows offer a wide selection of designs and colours of patio roofs, allowing you to make better use of your outdoor space and protecting you from the elements.

Porches

At the entrance to our home, we can bring instant character and style with a porch. A porch not only creates a stylish, visual impact which is sure to impress guests, but they also come in very handy adding extra space for coats and shoes.

A front porch can also add an extra layer of security to our homes. Sleep comes a little easier knowing our families and belongs are kept safe with Yale smart security locks. A Progress Windows porch will provide you with added peace of mind each time you leave your home empty as you can rely on it to firmly protect your residence.

Carports

The porte-cochère or ‘coach door’, was an open sided addition which gained popularity in the 18 th century. It was originally designed to enable wealthy travellers to step out of their carriages and into the entrance of their homes, without being exposed to the elements. Now in the 20 th century, we have the good ol’ carport and although it still gives us some protection from the weather, it gives many a sense of security as the distance to the front door is usually minimal.

A carport provides shelter for our vehicles. People and pets aren’t the only things that need shelter from the elements. Beside our home, what we drive is usually considered to be one of the most important investments we make.

At Progress Windows all of our expertly made Patios, Porches and Carports are made from hard wearing uPVC which is completely recyclable and will not damage the environment. We know you take pride in your home and we know that we have a product range to really enhance your property and make a massive difference to its appearance.