Building a Glass Extension – Things to Consider

A little more space and light can truly make a home a far more welcoming place and really allow you to improve your lifestyle. Conservatories can often be touted as a solution; however they don’t offer the attractiveness and the longevity of a glass extension.

Building a glass extension is usually something that is quite similar to building any extension, although it is preferential to use a qualified company with experience in the area of contemporary glass extensions. These kinds of extensions are versatile, attractive, strong and will really add something extra to your home. However, before you install one, what should you consider?

Glazing
The sort of glass you decide upon is important. Because glass does not offer the same level of insulation as brick or other materials, you will most certainly need to consider double or even triple glazed panels.

This sort of high quality glazing is also covered in what is known as metal oxide. This helps to keep up to 80% of the heat in the room, ensuring that the room stays warm and cosy in winter time. Solar glazing can help further as it helps to maintain a comfortable temperature, even in the warmer months.

Heating and Cooling
Obviously insulation is only one aspect when choosing a glass extension, it’s very important to be able to heat and cool the area. Traditional heating devices are well suited, such as radiators, and these days you can find some interesting contemporary designs if you’d like to keep a modern style. Under floor heating is also an option, albeit a luxurious one.

Cooling is simple. If you’re on a budget, just install blinds – this is the easiest way to take control of the temperature, though the design is up to you. Most of these glass extensions have sliding double doors, meaning it’s possible to allow a lot of air through the room when required. For a more hi-tech solution, subtle air conditioning units give you greater control and won’t impact on the design or layout of the room too much.

Support
One of the reasons it is necessary to use a specialist in this area, is simply because they will understand the structural requirements that are needed for glass extensions. Glass is obviously not as strong as bricks and mortar and this is taken into account during the design process. This means that a high quality company who are experts in the design and build of contemporary extensions can make all the difference.

Design
Of course, you also need to take the design into account. Most of these glass conservatories are quite modern in their architecture. That said, there are also a great number of designs to fit in with all sorts of older buildings – really adding something of spark to them and allowing them to take on a different dimension. It’s well worth discussing such factors with a designer before you go ahead with your project.

Glass extensions can really add to a home and allow for a better quality of living, as well as more room and space.

BModern are experts in designing and building contemporary extensions, such as modern conservatories, contemporary orangeries and glass extensions. Our highly skilled team of project managers and architects deliver an excellent service throughout the project process. If you are planning to construct a contemporary extension or glass extension, visit our site to view our portfolio.