Deciding on an outdoor structure for your home is a big decision, so we’ve put together some important points to take into consideration when making your choice.
Enjoying the Outdoors:
A perfectly designed and installed garden canopy, offers you an enhanced outdoor living area that can be used all year round without worrying about a downpour or getting too hot in the sun. Due to the openness of the design you can also enjoy the sights and sounds of your garden without the detachment that can be felt in a more enclosed structure. Sitting under this sheltered area, enjoying the lovely breeze, makes you feel close to nature and rejuvenates your senses.
Unlike a canopy, a conservatory provides a completely enclosed space which offers protection to outdoor noise as well as the weather; this can have its advantages if you live in a noisy area and wish to block the sound out. However, as it is a room which is joined onto your house, rather than an open canopy you rarely feel the same connection with the outdoors that a canopy can offer.
Creating Comfortable Living Space:
A conservatory is a great way to provide extra space in your home, it can be used as a dining or party area; however, because a conservatory is fully enclosed, on hot days it can become stuffy and uncomfortable to sit or eat in. A garden canopy also creates a great area where you can dine on warm evenings or hold parties and events, without concerning yourself about what the weather will do. And, due to its design it also can stay a lot cooler than a conservatory and lets all your guest have access to fresh air. You can also add lighting and heating to the area to allow the area to be used when the nights start to draw in or if there is an evening chill.
A garden canopy also provides a sheltered area in the colder months for furniture and also plants which need some protection from the cold.
Temperature Control
Another benefit which many people forget, or are simply not made aware of, is how a wall mounted canopy can help keep your indoor space cooler. By shading any windows underneath the canopy, this can block out the strong sunlight in the summer, keeping your interior cooler and more comfortable. Conservatories in contrast can cause your house to be warm in the Summer and actually cool the house down in winter. Condensation can also be a problem in conservatories, which can eventually lead to damage to any furniture which is housed in this area. This can be limited through the use of ventilation – such as our Air Active Ridge Vents, however even with such ventilation it can be very hard to keep a conservatory cool on very hot days.
Maintenance:
As a conservatory is effectively a new room in your house dust and dirt will build up in the room, as with any other room and so regular dusting or cleaning is recommended. In addition the windows of a conservatory need to be regularly cleaned to keep it looking presentable and allow a view into the garden. The roof of a conservatory also needs to be checked and cleaning every 3-6 months to keep it free from debris and prevent mildew and moss build up.
A canopy also requires the roof and the framework to be inspected every 3-6 months and cleaned, however this is the only maintenance needed. The area under the canopy may need to be swept if there is a build up of leaves, or a leaf-blower can be used, however as this is an outdoor area now conventional cleaning is really needed. Any furniture located under the canopy will be protected from the rain, however they may need the occasional dust from time to time.
As the area under a garden canopy is so easy to clean it also means you can do messy tasks such as potting plants under the canopy without worrying about the mess you make!
Installation:
A garden canopy is easy to install and is ready for use very soon after installation, allowing you to take advantage of the benefits a canopy offers almost straightway. A conservatory usually takes a longer time to install than a canopy, and is a much more expensive option.
Our Recommendation:
If you wish that you could spend more time enjoying your garden, but find you are restricted by the weather then we recommend a garden canopy as it is a cost effective option which allows access to fresh air whatever the weather and creates a great addition to your outdoor space. However if you enjoy spending time inside your house rather than the garden then a conservatory can be a good investment instead.
Our range of Simplicity canopy systems are ideal for use as garden canopies. Due to their robust aluminium framework they offer you a durable solution which is built to last – allowing you to take advantage of all the benefits it offers for many years to come! The Simplicity range can also be coloured to any RAL colour you require to create the look and feel you desire for your outdoor area. A Victorian decorative post sleeve is also available to add extra vintage character to your canopy, a perfect addition for more traditional styled buildings!
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