With the recent good weather this question has become one of the topics of debate around our office. I guess, and to avoid any confusion it might be a good idea to explain exactly what we would consider a Conservatory to be. To some people they may have a Conservatory, and to others they may be looking at their Sunroom.
Conservatory
In the UK the legal definition of a conservatory is a building that has at least 50% of its side wall area glazed and at least 75% of its roof glazed with translucent materials, either polycarbonate sheeting or glass
Generally speaking, a conservatory would have lots of opening vents especially if south facing. It would therefore be important to ensure that any blinds would not interfere with the window handles which in the main protrude into the room. Also, if the conservatory has a polycarbonate roof it makes it pretty much impossible to top fit the blinds as there are no lintels to screw up into. (Just ask for extra long Face Fix brackets when you place your order)
Solution
Louvre Blinds, sometime known as Vertical Blinds are a great solution. They are lightweight and can be easily face fixed onto the pvc frames. At Contour Blinds you will be spoilt for choice. If you have a TV in your conservatory you might consider fitting Blackout Louvre Blinds. (New Range coming soon). Another choice might be Patterned Louvre Blinds or the simple plain fabrics available in over 50 Colours.
I guess that one of the great things about Vertical Blinds is the simple fact that you can rotate the slats so that you can have light coming in and at the same time lots of privacy if required.
Sunroom
The main difference between a Conservatory and a Sunroom is their purpose. While conservatories are designed for “taking in the garden” with lots of glass, Sunrooms are more for recreation. For example, Conservatories are great for providing plants with plenty of sunlight to grow while also protecting them from wind and cold weather.
Sunrooms are designed to be an extension of your living space, whether you want it to be an office, family room, or dining area.
In simple terms a sunroom is basically a conservatory with a solid tile or slate roof and ceiling or to put it another way, it is an extension with lots of windows.
Solution
Lots of choice here. Because A Sunroom is basically an extension of the house you can choose pretty much any type of blind that takes your fancy. Being brick built there are generally lintels so the blinds can he easily top fitted.
A popular choice for Sunrooms is the Range of Decora Faux Wood Venetian Blinds. Available in 35mm and 50mm slats they are also Eco Friendly and look just like the “real thing” and come with attractive prices. Another popular choice would be the Alumitex Collection of 25mm Aluminium Venetians Blinds which presents a kaleidoscope of colours and a vast array of textures and designs .
A recently added range to the Contour Blinds Collection is our Plisse Pleated Blinds which can be Free Hanging or Tensioned Bottom Up. These blinds are crafted with care and are noted for their slim and streamlined design. They are functional and elegant, providing maximum privacy when needed. The pleats are only 20mm so when not in use they fold up into a tidy, neat stack.
A customer recently commented that he was delighted with his blinds as he had the Tensioned Bottom-Up Version which meant than when the sun was high in the sky he could simply push them up from the bottom giving shelter from the sun at the top of the blind and natural light filtering in from the bottom. For a surcharge it is possible to have these blinds pulling down from the top and pushing up from the bottom.
Conclusion
As mentioned in previous blogs we live and breathe blinds and are happy to advise on any questions that you may have. We will always go “the extra mile” to instil confidence so that you the customer can make an informed decision on your choice of blinds. ALSO we offer a Free Sample Service so that you can get a good idea of what the fabrics look like “in the flesh”
All you need to do to Request Samples is to send you fabric choices via our Contact Us page This page can also be used for any questions that you may have and we will deal with them promptly. Also, is you would like to subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter just send us your name and email address.