Enhance Your Home with Conservatory Guttering

Over the last few years, more and more people have become aware of the importance of having strong and reliable guttering on their homes, and to a smaller extent, mini guttering on their sheds and greenhouses. However, an area that we often see get overlooked is the conservatory. In this guide, we'll explain the benefits of looking after your conservatory gutters and additional building products that can keep your conservatory space safe.

How does conservatory guttering differ from regular roof guttering?

Regular house guttering that you see fitted in the UK is most commonly made from PVC and is usually either half-round or square gutter. Other profiles have become more popular in recent years though, such as deep flow guttering. However, when it comes to conservatory gutters, one of the most common, if not the most common profiles used is ogee guttering, and this is for multiple reasons:

• Modern aesthetic: The elegant and moulded shape of ogee-style gutters aligns well with the designs of modern conservatories and home extensions. White ogee is especially popular as it goes so well with the white glazing bars.

• High capacity: Ogee guttering can hold more than twice as much water as regular half-round gutters, which is an important factor to consider for conservatories since they often have steep Victorian or apex roof styles.

• Flow rate: FloPlast's ogee system has a flow rate of 2.4 litres of water per second, so not only can these gutters hold a lot of water, but they can drain it very efficiently.

Whilst ogee guttering can be used on regular building roofs, it is nowhere near as common as its usage on conservatories.

Why is guttering so important for a conservatory?

Guttering is important for conservatories for many of the same reasons as they are important for houses, though there are a few extra things to consider:

• Maintaining structural integrity: without efficient water diversion, rainwater can end up seeping into the conservatory walls and cause water damage to the structure over time.

• Preventing mould & damp: If water is able to enter the conservatory due to overflowing or damaged gutters, it can quickly lead to mould and damp in your living space. So a long-lasting and modern gutter system is essential. FloPlast's ogee system boasts both of these benefits alongside a stylish appearance.

• Reduce water pooling outside: The last thing you want when you step out of your conservatory into your garden is to tread in a puddle. An efficient and high-capacity guttering system will channel rainwater into the downpipe and drain quickly, preventing overflow that will cause water to spill out and pool around your conservatory.

Why FloPlast's Ogee guttering is a perfect solution

We've already discussed some of the benefits of FloPlast's ogee system such as the stylish appearance and high flow rate, but there's also:

• Watertight seals: Each ogee gutter union, corner joint and running outlet from FloPlast has rubber seals that create a watertight connection when they are joined with a length or other component, which prevents gutter leaks.

• Compatible with conservatories: Many conservatories have unique top-hung fascia brackets, which are designed to fit over the top of the gutter rather than the bottom, providing a more clean appearance. FloPlast's ogee guttering is one of the rainwater systems that is compatible with these types of brackets.

• 5 Colours available: Although white ogee guttering is the most popular colour, black, brown, anthracite grey and even cast iron effect are also available, though the latter is more commonly used on houses.

• Wide range of accessories: Alongside the full system, there's also a variety of accessories that are compatible with FloPlast guttering that can provide further protection from rainwater-related issues such as gutter guard or gutter brushes that prevent leaves from clogging up the downpipe if there are a lot of trees in your area.

• Long-lasting: FloPlast's ogee UPVC gutter carries a 10-year guarantee.

Improving your conservatory with additional building products

Once your conservatory's new guttering system is in order, you can enhance the interior of your extended living space with a wide variety of products:

Flooring for conservatories

When it comes to flooring in a conservatory, the best options are those that provide the most comfort whilst also being suitable for a home extension. Wooden flooring, whilst on the cheaper end, is not the best choice since like all wood, it can warp and distort, which will only be amplified by the frequent temperature changes in conservatories. Carpet may be the most comfortable choice, but it is not ideal when you may be coming in from the garden with wet shoes.

We would recommend either laminate or vinyl flooring, as both of these materials do not shift or warp from temperature or moisture changes. They are also easy to maintain and are well suited to underfloor heating.

Underfloor heating is becoming increasingly popular in conservatories and in most cases is essential if you plan to enjoy the space all year round. The mats and kits are available in a huge variety of sizes to suit any project and there are variants for many different floor types including vinyl and laminate but also lino, tiles and carpet.

Roof lanterns

Roof lanterns are a common sight on conservatories, especially those that don't already have a clear roof. They can enhance your living space in a multitude of ways, the first of which is that they greatly increase the amount of natural light in the room. Roof lanterns can also help to keep your conservatory warmer in the winter on sunny days. Both of these benefits increase the energy efficiency of your home since less artificial heating and lighting will be required.

Polycarbonate sheets

Polycarbonate sheets can be used as an alternative roofing material to glass on conservatories. It has a number of benefits over glass:

• Weight: Polycarbonate panels are much lighter than glass and therefore place less stress on the structure and frame of the conservatory.

• Insulating: Multiwall polycarbonate can keep your conservatory warmer in colder months thanks to its internal chambers that trap air within.

• Multiple colours available: Polycarbonate can be purchased in clear, which is the most popular option, however other colours such as opal and bronze are available, which provide a choice on how much light you want to enter your conservatory.

Rubber & GRP Roofing

Fibreglass or GRP roofing is a popular type of flat roofing used on home extensions and conservatories. Whilst it may not let as much light or warmth in as a glass or polycarbonate roof on its own, it can be paired with a roof lantern to retain these benefits. GRP is also an extremely strong roofing material that is resistant to all types of weathering. It comes with a whole host of other benefits such as being fire retardant, UV resistant and our GRP roofing from Cromar holds a 25-year guarantee when installed by a Cromar-approved tradesman.

Internal Cladding

Internal cladding can be used in conservatories and home extensions to spruce them up and provide an extra cosy feel. One of the most aesthetically appealing and contemporary options is slat walls, which are a decorative type of wall panel that features wooden ribs. They can be installed either horizontally or vertically for different patterns and other decorations can be mounted on them such as extra shelving, plants or picture frames.

Water butts

A water butt can be used alongside conservatory guttering in order to harvest the rainwater that runs down from the roof rather than draining it all away. This harvested rainwater can then be used for a variety of practical purposes such as watering plants and cleaning vehicles. Water butts are connected to the downpipe via a rainwater diverter that is fitted in the downpipe - check out our how to install a water butt video for more information.