The following is a list of terms that may be used within this website or that you may hear when discussing conservatories.
Terms - 0 to D
- 2 facet conservatory
A conservatory which has 2 sides to the front.
- 3 facet conservatory
A conservatory which has 3 sides to the front.
- 5 facet conservatory
A conservatory which has 5 sides to the front.
- Air conditioning
A system which can generate both temperature controlled cold and warm air via a fan.
- Argon Gas
An inert gas used in sealed units with high insulating properties.
- Base wall
A cavity brickwork wall onto which the conservatory will sit between 300 mm to 750 mm high.
- Boundary line
This is normally the dividing line between properties normally the fence or another physical barrier.
- Building regulations
Written permission from a local authority permitting construction of a house, extension or conservatory.
- Clear float glass
When you look at clear float glass head on, it appears transparent and colourless. Viewed on the edge it has an inherent green tinge and the thicker the glass, the more noticable the tinge. The green tinge is caused by the iron oxide found in the raw materials from which the glass is produced.
- Colour Wash
A term used to paint a wall (a term used in the 1930’s-1960.s to white washed ceilings).
- Combination conservatory
Normally a conservatory that possesses two or more conservatory styles within it e.g. 3 facets and sun lounge.
- Cresting
A decorative upright moulding on the top of a conservatory which also helps to stop the birds from sitting on the roof.
- Crown top conservatory
A large 3 facet conservatory which incorporates a small flat roof at the top to allow structurally for this larger design.
- DPC
Damp Proof Course normally laid 150 mm above ground level.
- DPM
Damp Proof Membrane this is laid between the sand blinding of the hardcore and the oversite concrete to prevent damp from rising up through the floor.
- Dental moulding
A decorative moulding normally below the guttering of the conservatory.
- Double glazed unit
Two pains of glass hermetically sealed with a gap between them also known as a sealed unit.
- Dwarf wall
A cavity brickwork wall onto which the conservatory will sit between 300 mm to 750 mm high.
Terms - E to J
- Equal site lines
This is when both open and non opening parts of a window both look the same.
- Eves beam
The beam above the window frames of the conservatory which supports the roof.
- External Cill
A special moulded section at the bottom of a window or door that allows the rainwater to run off and not run down the brickwork of the base wall making it damp.
- Finial
The pointed part of the cresting.
- Flank wall
Normally a side wall of a conservatory built on or near a boundary.
- Flashing
Normally a lead covering between the roof of a conservatory and the brickwork of the house onto which it is fixed which prevents rainwater from penetrating down the back of the conservatory.
- Footings
The brickwork from the top of the foundation to the D.P.C. of the conservatory.
- Foundation
The concrete strip cast into the ground onto which the footings the conservatory are built.
- Frames
Structural window frames manufactured to accept the weight of the conservatory roof.
- Gable conservatory
A conservatory that has a gable front (like the end of some houses that forms a point).
- Garden Room
A conservatory that has a roof that slopes from the rear to the front.
- Georgian Bar
uPVC or timber bars that divide a window into sections e.g. A Georgian window.
- Glazing bars
uPVC or timber bars that divide a window into sections e.g. A Georgian window.
- Glazing Beading
A uPVC or timber cover beading which secures the sealed unit (glass) into the window frame.
- Gutter
A device to collect rainwater from the roof of the conservatory.
- Inspection Chamber
Usually a chamber which contains underground sewage pipes or services.
- Internal cill
A window board or tiling that covers the cavity at the top of a dwarf wall.
Terms - K to O
- K glass
Pilkington "K" Glass varies from normal clear glass as one side of the glass has a special metal coating, known as a low emissitivity coating. This microscopic metal coating (which is almost indistinguishable from normal clear glass) allows through short-wave radiation, like sunlight, but reflects long-wave radiation, such as heat from fires and radiators, back into your conservatory making it easier to keep warm. As this coating on the glass makes the surface warmer to the touch, condensation is also reduced.
- Lead in time
A period of time allowed before the next stage takes place i.e. placing an order and then waiting for a delivery.
- Lean-to Conservatory
A style of conservatory. Also known as Sunlounge or Mediterranean. Lean-to conservatories are quick and easy to install and can be a practical and less expensive solution. Lean-to roofs slop down from the rear to the front.
- Low iron glass
Low iron glass is extremely clear, offering much higher transparency than clear float glass. The increased clarity is achieved by removing most of the iron oxide from the materials used to produce the glass. The improved clairty is most noticable when both types of glass are compared against a coloured background. Low Iron glass allows more light through than clear float glass.
- Manhole
Usually a chamber which contains underground sewage pipes or services.
- Mastic
A silicon bead which is injected by hand to seal a small gap and to form a seal between the uPVC frames of conservatories to the brickwork of the house.
- Mortar
The material used to bond bricks together when building a brick wall.
- Multipoint locking
A locking system for doors and windows that locks in at least two points normally windows has 3 positions and doors 5 positions inc 5 leaver dead lock.
- Oversite
The construction of the concrete floor to the conservatory.
Terms - P to T
- Piled foundation
A specialist foundation used where ground conditions are poor e.g. a brown field site.
- Planning permission
Written permission from a local authority permitting development of a house, extension or conservatory.
- Plastering
A smooth finish which is laid onto a brick or block wall which can be decorated.
- Polycarbonate
A plastic roof covering for a conservatory roof which is supplied in clear opal and bronze.
- Portal
A gate way or opening.
- Ring beam
The beam above the window frames of the conservatory which supports the roof.
- Roof Ventilator
A opening window in the roof of a conservatory to allow ventilation.
- Sash
An opening part of a window.
- Screed
A smooth light sharp sand and cement finish laid onto the oversite when all the major building works have been completed onto which you can lay floor tiles or carpet etc.
- Sealed manhole cover
A special metal double sealed cover with 4 screws fixed to the top of the chamber level with the floor finish preventing gas from the chamber entering the conservatory or any other room.
- Sealed unit
Two pains of glass hermetically sealed with a gap between them also known as a double glazed unit.
- Self cleaning glass
Self cleaning glass breaks down and loosens even heavy organic soiling. The secret lies in it’s special coating, which breaks down organic dirt when activated by UV light. By doing this it also reduces the adherence of inorganic dirt. The rain then plays it’s part by spreading droplets out to form a sheet to which dirt particles are picked up and washed away. It even works on cloudy days and at night!
- Skirting boards
Timber moulded boards which are fitted at the bottom of walls and then decorated.
- Solar Factor or Solar Gain
Refers to the increase in temperature that results from sunlight. It is the most important factor in measuring a windows energy efficiency and is measured as g-Value.
- Squint Brick
A special made angled brick which can be used in building a base wall of a 3 facet Victorian conservatory.
- Sun lounge
A conservatory that has a roof that slopes from the rear to the front.
Terms - T to Z
- Tie Bar
A metal rod or timber member to prevent the conservatory from spreading (Lateral movement the sides of the conservatory moving away from each other).
- Top fanlight
The top part of a window above the transom bar.
- Top hung sash
An opening window either hung below a transom bar or a full length opening window not to be confused with a fanlight which is a small opening window.
- Transom Bar
The part of the window which divides the window in two.
- u-Value
A factor used for calculating heat loss the lower the u-Value the higher the insulation.
- Unequal site lines
This is when the opening part of a window stands proud of the non opening parts of the window.
- Wall ties
Metal restraint wires approximately 3 mm thick which link the two cavity walls together to give it strength and assist in weathering.
