Fitting out a conservatory: advice on the interior and exterior design of your conservatory

It is possible to make a few interior or exterior alterations to a conservatory, while taking care not to neglect the quality of the installations.

Types of heating

Several types of conservatory heating can be used in a conservatory: heat pump, electric radiator, underfloor heating, etc.

We strongly advise against the use of mobile heating systems, such as freestanding gas or oil stoves. These systems give off a lot of water vapour and therefore require very specific ventilation.

Which heating system to choose?

Pompe à chaleur, chauffage véranda Akena

Heat pump

Radiator

Plancher chauffant, chauffage véranda Akena

Underfloor heating

Chauffage, poêle à granulés Véranda Akena

Pellet stove

Stoves or inserts

Stoves or inserts can be used, provided the smoke is exhausted to the outside via a flue that does not cross the conservatory roof or fronts. When designing a conservatory, always think practical.

The advantage of this heating system is that it has a ‘cooling’ function, ideal for hot periods. It is also environmentally friendly (using outside air as the main source of energy) and economical (electricity bills are cut by a factor of 3 on average).

Find out more from approved installers (your electrician, for example, may be approved). If this installation was not planned when your conservatory was designed, the connections between the inside and outside of the house will have to be made through the masonry of the house (sleeves in the slab, wall, low walls, etc.).

Under no circumstances should the installer use the conservatory structure for these connections. Installers should never drill holes in the conservatory structure without the prior agreement of the conservatory manufacturer, as they would then be responsible for making it watertight and the guarantees would no longer apply.

Aluminium profiles can be used to fix blinds or curtains to the conservatory for the ultimate in decoration. As these profiles are equipped with a thermal break system, it is essential not to remove this break. The screw must therefore pass through only one wall of the profile. Advice on fitting interior blinds and curtains can be found in the AKENA conservatories guide ‘Pour tout savoir de l'entretien à l'aménagement’ which will be given to you when your AKENA conservatory is installed.

Akena Véranda - Décoration salle à manger

The tiles

When tiling after the conservatory has been built, take care not to obstruct the opening of the French doors and the sliding of the leaves.

Tip: If the slab is not insulated, it is preferable to provide insulation between the screed and the tiling.

Parquet floors

Parquet floors, whether floating or not, are subject to considerable expansion. A parquet floor installed in a conservatory can undulate, weighing on the base of the front and causing the screws to come loose, leading to water or air leaks.

To avoid this, it is essential to maintain a gap of around 10 mm between the aluminium profiles and the parquet around the edges. Take care not to obstruct the opening of French doors or the sliding of leaves.

Tip: to fit out a conservatory and cover the perimeter of the floor, you can glue an attractive rope around the edge to fill the gap and absorb movement.

Electrical installations

If electrical installations are made in the conservatory, the structure must be earthed. The power supply must be protected by an earthed 20 milliamp circuit breaker. Cables should be HO5.

Advice on installing electrical systems can be found in the AKENA guide ‘Pour tout savoir de l'entretien à l'aménagement’ which will be given to you when your AKENA conservatory is installed.

When converting a conservatory and painting the interior, do not use solvents or paint strippers inside the conservatory. Too high a concentration of fumes could crack the roof panels.

Non-laminated glazing can cause discolouration of furniture, fabrics and wood. Installing curtains, blinds or any other concealing element will help protect your valuable furniture.