Adding a conservatory to your bungalow may be the ideal solution to increase your property size without having to move. Here we talk about what to consider when adding a conservatory to a bungalow.
Bungalows have height restrictions for conservatories except of course when adding on to the gable end. There are two simple and very effective solutions; construct a false gable in the house roof or create a conservatory design which will link to the bungalow using a box gutter.
Creating a false dormer in the bungalow roof conjures up images of stripping off the house roof, wet rainy days and hosts of structural issues. In fact it is a very simple job which can be completed in two days. None of the rafters need be cut in the house roof; simply rafters are added onto the existing roof. A template from the conservatory roof is constructed in the factory, and then the false gable on your home is completed before the conservatory arrives on site. The conservatory is then just another straightforward installation with the house roof already fully sealed. You should ask your builder or conservatory designer to walk you through this process, step by step.
The second method involves designing the conservatory so that the eave of the conservatory attaches to the eave of the house using a structural gutter. Depending on the measurements of the house the conservatory will either be joined to the fascia of the house or to the wall under the fascia board.
So is there a “best” method? Not really. It is a matter of taste, structural and other limitations. Some conservatories are more suited to one design than others. For example, if you aspire to a conservatory measuring say 20ft along the house then it will not be possible to construct a false dormer 20 ft wide. Older houses may also be unsuitable for dormers if, for example, the existing roof tiles or slates are no longer available or if the existing house roof felt is compromised.
Posted by David Bingham 
