Try to be balanced; the conservatory needs to be in proportion with the house. A massive glassy atrium stuck on the end of a small terraced house will look a trifle odd and don’t squeeze the garden into oblivion.

Try to picture what you use the extra space for before building, a breakfast room, home office, dining room, play room? Each will have different requirements.

Check the building regulations for the thermal quality of the glazing, the ‘U’ value determines how much heat it will let in or out. Also consider the direction the conservatory will be facing, this will inevitably influence internal temperature. South-facing conservatories should be glazed with solar glass, it really keeps the interior cool, but north-facing ones need ‘low emissivity’ or ‘Low E’ glass, to keep the heat in. Finally, don’t forget about good quality blinds, they’ll reduce both heat and glare.

Underfloor heating will allow your conservatory to have a more comfortable air temperature.  It is particularly suitable for conservatories as it reduces condensation.  It is also easy to install and offers more space, allowing your conservatory to look tidier.

There are underfloor heating packs available which are specifically designed for conservatories.  These are easy to install and usually come with a temperature controller.  These will need to be built into the wall, but are easy to install.  The controllers take little space so they can be installed such that they do not distract from your design.  The pack includes a heating pipe, which will not be visible after installation.  Covering the heating pipe provides more space and prevents it from being damaged.

Another easy option is an underfloor heating conservatory kit, which is pre-wired and designed to fit onto a radiator heating system.  A thermostat is also provided, which allows you to control the temperature and set a time for your heating to be in use.

If you decide to select hot water underfloor heating for your conservatory it may be more expensive as it may require a new boiler or extra plumbing. Electric underfloor heating may be the best option, as it is much easier to install and you do not have to worry about spending money on a new boiler or any extra plumbing.

Using the Victorian conservatory cill as a template dig the conservatory foundation down to solid ground a min 2′-6″ down removing most of the waste soil and clay into a skip and level the remaining earth to give a working area in which you can store your bricks and mortar boards. It also allows you to square any corners using a string line or tape measure

Concrete the foundation to the correct height approx 4 course down from the existing house damp course making sure it is level all the way round to make it easier for you to build your brickwork.

To ensure the concrete is level you can use timber pegs all the way round your foundation driven into the clay, when you pour your concrete simply use these timber pegs as your guide working from one peg to the next until you have finished.

Remember to wash all your tools and any paths patios and driveways once you have finished to remove any traces of the cement in the concrete otherwise they will be stained and very difficult to remove once the concrete has set

Build the brickwork up to the damp course level making sure your new brickwork is level, this will be used to get your conservatory floor level. Lay clean hardcore to the total area approx 6″ below the top of the brickwork and compact using a vibrating plate, then sand blind the total area using a soft sand so the visqueen sheeting does not get pierced, this also needs compacting using a vibrating plate. Cut to shape and lay in position the underfloor insulation

Lay visqueen sheeting over the floor insulation to the entire area including your new brickwork in case the next stage of concreting the floor splashes your new brickwork

Concrete the total area making sure you are level and flat, this can be achieved by using a piece of timber or aluminium as a screeding rail, once you have poured and levelled the concrete leave over night to harden, the surplus visqueen sheeting can be removed using a sharpe knife. To estimate the volume of concrete multiply the length x width x depth, if you have a conservatory floor area 3600 (12′) x 3000 (10′)x .150 (6″) deep you will need approx 1.62 cubic metres of concrete, to be on the safe side you would order from your local concrete supplier 2 cubic metres

Build the brickwork up to the required height including the internal blockwork making sure the brickwork is level and plumb on all the corners, lay the conservatory cill on top of your new brickwork to check the shape. Your new conservatory brickwork should be as close a colour as your existing house brick as possible, you can contact your local builders merchants who will send a brick match expert to your home to make sure you choose the correct bricks

For strength and added detail 130 degree squint corner brick can be purchased from your local builders merchants. The buff soldier course on this conservatory was added to match the same buff soldier course feature brickwork all the way round the existing house walls