The very first orangeries can be dated back to the 17th Century when they were originally used for growing orange trees.
Nowadays they’re used as very luxurious extended living spaces and are renowned for offering greater solidity than a traditional conservatory.
Two trademark features of a modern orangery are its exposed brickwork and the lantern section of the roof.
Because of the brickwork, many people regard an orangery as offering a more natural way of extending a property than adding a UPVC-built conservatory.
Installation
There isn’t a set time for orangery installation. How long it takes will depend on your specifications for the orangery.
The positioning of the orangery is the first thing that needs to be determined as the last thing you want is an orangery that gets over exposed to the sun. This will also determine the type of glazing used in the design.
Very precise measurements will be taken by a surveyor of the width, height and projection of the soon to be installed orangery.
Planning Permission
Your proposed orangery design will not require planning permission if it is a “permitted development”.
To be classed as a “permitted development”, the orangery must meet a number of limits and conditions, including the following:
- No more than half the area of land around the “original house” would be covered by additions or other buildings.
- No extension to be higher than the highest part of the roof.
- Maximum height of a single-storey rear extension of four metres.
- Maximum eaves and ridge height of extension no higher than existing house.
- No verandas, balconies or raised platforms.
You can view the full list of limits and conditions for orangery installations on the Planning Portal website.
If you find that your proposed orangery design doesn’t meet the necessary limits and conditions then you need to contact your local council for advice. Please don’t be tempted to commence with an installation without planning permission as you could be heavily fined and ordered to tear the structure down.
Maintenance
Most modern orangeries are crafted from UPVC or aluminium which are both maintenance-free materials.
The interior may need the occasional dusting and a wet cloth may be required to wipe away any marks, but other than that, you won’t need to worry about any sanding, staining, sealing or painting.
You can even get self-cleaning glass for the roof, which as the name suggests will clean itself. This will prevent you from having to go to the effort of cleaning the roof every few months.
Orangeries of all kinds at Eden…
We have a fabulous array of orangeries at Eden Windows with something to suit every aspiring orangery owner’s taste.
If you need any further information about orangeries you can either give us a call or visit our Kent showroom.
