So, you have made the decision to extend your outdoor living space for your home? The next step is narrowing it down to one option – a glass veranda or a louvered pergola. Both options integrate beautifully to the British climate, although they have different purposes and suit different lifestyles.
What You are A Getting
A glass veranda is an extension to your home, add a covered space with transparent or tinted glass panels held in an aluminium frame. The glass is tempered and the structure is attached to your home’s wall. You are adding a feature that is glassed in with a modern look and far more connected to your garden than a traditional conservatory.
Louvered pergolas, on the other hand, have a more unique design. The roof is built with adjustable slats that you can open, close, or tilt to control exactly how much light and air you want in the space. No need to climb up to manually adjust anything, as they are fully motorised. When the weather turns, the louvres close and to create a waterproof seal.
Overview of Weather Considerations.
A glass veranda optimally protects you from rain while also allowing you to enjoy outdoor spaces. While it may seem like you wouldn’t want to sit under a glass enclosure during a rain storm, you would be kept completely dry yet able to enjoy the ambiance of a rainfall. The glass windbreak also serves to keep you protected from wind.
Louvere pergolas have a unique approach to rain management, as well. When the louvers are closed, they are fully waterproof and rain water is channeled away through the integrated gutter. If rain is falling during the time that is being closed, a drop or two may fall.
Those perfect summer evenings are culminating the full benefits of the louvered system as the louvers can be tilted to create dappled shade to a comfortable airflow. Temperature regulation is also a consideration of glass verandas, as they are designed to trap heat and may require mounting sliding panel doors for additional ventilation for comfort.
Cost of Glass Verandas
The initial cost of glass verandas is between £8,000 to £10,000 for a basic enclosure of 3m x 3m. This cost increases for additional features like integrated heating, LED light additions, and heating. The estimated cost of an adequately sized glass veranda that includes considerations for construction features, glass, and heating reaches a range of £15,000 to £20,000.
Louvered pergolas are almost always more expensive. Expect to spend at least £12,000 for a reasonable-sized one, while premium products with built in lighting, heating, and zip screen sides can go for more than £25,000. There is more to spend on the motorized mechanism and engineering needed to make those slats fully waterproof.
As for running costs, glass systems can show raindrops and pollen smudges, so they require more cleaning – and they usually need to be cleaned more often. Louvered systems are less prone to cosmetic maintenance, but the motorized parts should be serviced every few years.
What Works With Your House
Conventional and modern glass verandas look best as the lightweight glass and framed structures provide a sleak slim look. When placed with minimalist architecture and modern buildings they blend perfectly and even look good on older buildings as long as sufficient care is taken with the frame color and proportion.
Louvered pergolas provide more style flexibility as the slatted roof offers an edgy touch to the architecture. It can work across various property types. Matching the frame color to your windows is an option, and as it often looks more like an outdoor feature than an extension to the house it can work with older buildings too.
How You Will Actually Use It
Be honest about your habits when gardening. If you want to sit somewhere with a book when it’s pouring rain, or enjoy outdoor dining without any seasonal worry, getting a glass veranda is a good choice. You can add heaters to make it an outdoor space usable all year round.
Louvered pergolas suit people who want an outdoor space where they can tailor the amount of shelter they have to the current weather. Fully close it when you want to be protected from the elements, and when the weather is nice you can feel like you’re outside rather than in an encased structure. This is a good option to entertain guests as it allows for space to be adjusted to fit the weather.
How to make your decision
Identify exactly what it is you’re looking to solve. If it’s the weather, both options work. Glass verandas are better if you want a protected and reliable outdoor space for year round use. Louvered pergolas are for people who want something more like an outdoors room designed in an adaptable way.
Plan your budget for what your specific use is likely to be. If you’re likely to use it just as a fixed overhead cover, don\u2019t break the bank on a top-of-the-line louvered system with every add-on. Likewise, don\u2019t go with the cheapest glass veranda if you plan on using it year-round as you will probably end up spending a lot more in the long run.
Getting site visits is the most effective way to go about it from suppliers that have both systems. They will take a look at your garden, talk about what you want to use the space for, and show you what each system would look like on your house. Your garden deserves better than being a vacant space for more than half the year. The choice between fixed glass panels and those with adjustable louvres is up to your personal preferences, budget, and the way you want to get use from your outdoor space.
