Why Choose a K2 Conservatory Roof System?

Firstly, there is the reassurance of dealing with a large and reputable company in your local Nottingham and Derby areas. Secondly, there is the peace of mind that comes from steadfast product and installation guarantees. Finally the impressive design freedom, proven track record and genuine commitment to quality, provide just a few reasons why you should use K2 and Lifestyle Windows and Conservatories.

Formed in 1999, K2 has grown at a rapid yet sustainable rate to become one of the UK's largest suppliers of advanced, fully sculptured conservatory systems, thanks to the unsurpassed standard of both our products and our service. In fact, last year alone we supplied nearly a fifth of all conservatories installed nationwide, whilst almost 200,000 homeowners to date have opted for a conservatory from the K2 range. Lifestyle Windows and Conservatories has been trading in Nottingham and Derby for almost 15 years, through a commitment to quality, value for money, simple stress free sales and hard work we have built a reputation as a company that can be trusted.

Plus, this enormous popularity isn't the only testament to our quality focused approach to our customers. Our products also meet BSI standards and are BBA accredited. In order to achieve this accredited status, widely recognised throughout the construction industry as the ultimate quality benchmark; both our products and our business had to undergo rigorous independent assessments by a government backed body.

In addition, K2 is part of The Burnden Group plc - £ multi-million company with operations across the world. By being part of such a sizeable organisation, we are able to offer our customers an extra degree of security and peace of mind.

K2 is also a company that operates at the cutting edge of the industry. To ensure continued improvements in the performance, appearance and capabilities of our conservatories, we invest heavily into product research and development.

Add to all of this a highly skilled team and an extensive product range incorporating the exclusive Aspire 35mm roof system, K2 can provide everything you need to create garden rooms, gazebos and summerhouses as well as conservatories.

K2 Glass Ltd is the specialist Conservatory Glass Manufacturing division of K2 Conservatory Systems Ltd. Lifestyle Windows and Conservatories has been using K2 Glass for three years and we have found it to be massively popular with customers. Consumers in Nottingham and Derby are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of glass roofing compared with polycarbonate. So far in 2008 we have installed more glass roofs than polycarbonate conservatory roofs.

Aside from aesthetics, Glass tends to have a much longer life span compared to other roofing products and coupled with the ease of maintenance; it is now a preferred option by many discerning consumers. In addition, the solar control benefits and the improved insulation properties have made the Celsius range by far the most popular in Nottingham and Derby.

The Celsius range - incorporating Celsius performance glass, Celsius Clear and Celsius Plus, was one of the first glazing options on the market to offer the unique combination of heat reflection and thermal insulation, but Celsius has even more benefits that help conservatories to become an all year round living space......which in recent experience is what conservatory buyers want from their new conservatory.

In keeping with our commitment to continued innovation, K2 has introduced a stunning new range of 'coated' smart glass that is perfect for use in conservatory roofs. The glass can help to keep homes cooler in summer and warmer in winter, whilst offering other benefits such as minimal maintenance, ease of cleaning and much more besides.

Impressive technological features combined with a subtle blue tint in the glass helps ensure that unwanted glare is kept to a minimum allowing for all year round enjoyment of the conservatory. Other features mean heat from inside the home is reflected back into the property, whilst excessive solar heat is deflected away. Celsius is one of the few glazing options on the market to offer this unique combination of heat reflection and thermal insulation. In short, consumers in Nottingham and Derby want all the benefits from a Celcius Plus Solar Control Glass Roof.

Bi-Folding Conservatory Doors

Concertina door combinations have always been a popular choice of door either as a patio door or as a way of opening up the side of a conservatory. However, they have almost always proved cost prohibitive due to the lengthy manufacturing time and complicated operating systems.

In recent months we have been asked more and more about concertina or bi-folding door combinations from consumers in Nottingham and Derby. After lengthy research we have found a suitable operating system that is far cheaper than other systems we have looked at and with this new system, our existing Deceuninck profiles can be used to fabricate the doors. This cuts down the manufacturing time and also means we can take advantage of the discounts we have with the Deceuninck system. It also means that the door can be fabricated to in 60mm or 70mm profiles in white, rosewood, mahogany or light oak....we can blend the Bi-Folding door profile in to any of our installations in Nottingham or Derby.

The operating systems is where the leap forward has been made and with this new hardware the bi-folding / concertina doors can be made in almost any combination from a full bi-folding / concertina door to a single door combined with a concertina door.

The main advantage of this bi-folding door is that it can be used to completely open up an aperture either from the house or from the conservatory without the constraints of French doors and sliding doors (i.e. size constraints and a constricted opening space). Not only will it give a feeling of light and space but it will also bring the garden into the conservatory, perfect for summer barbeques and for people who really enjoy the outdoors.

While this type of bi-folding / concertina door has made a huge leap forward and is much cheaper than it used to be it is still more expensive than French or sliding doors but we think the benefits of this type of door far outweigh the difference in price.

Lifestyle Windows and Conservatories making conservatories better for all our customers in Nottingham and Derby.....

K2's Aluminium Roofing System

K2’s new Aluminium System is designed with the fabricator, installer and consumer in mind. This new system has all the benefits of the K2 roofing system. Quality castings form part of the exterior including the boss end, cresting and finial while the ridge, valley and glazing bar top caps are aluminium extrusions which cap a PVCU sleeve to provide a consistent fit and an important thermal break. Dedicated aluminium end caps complete a very high quality finish to the exterior of the conservatory roof coupled with a powder coated high gloss finish. For the consumer this means greater choice and individuality and for the installer this is an important and new sales opportunity in a competitive market.

K2 Aluminium Roof Vent

The all new K2 Aluminium Roof Vent is set to become the industry's standard. Guaranteed not to leak, to be condensation free and with K2's trademark design aesthetics, the Vent is designed to complement any roof system. All this with a 10 year guarantee and 48 hour delivery in mainland

PVC Roof Vent

With the entire K2 range, you can expect innovative products that have been designed to perform. The K2 Roof Vent is a good example of this design ethos and offers the ability to withstand extremes of wind (300 Pascals) and rainfall (up to 5 inches an hour) without any leakage. It also offers slim sight lines, an integral drainage system and can be supplied with motors, thermostats and rain sensors for a fully automated solution

K2 Boss End Foam Trim

K2's new Boss End Foam Trim offers the marketplace a new method of finishing the roof at the position of the Boss End. The Trim, manufactured in closed cell foam, is supplied in the form of an adhesive-backed strip and suits all styles of conservatories incorporating standard Georgian and Victorian Boss Ends. The system is easy to install and offers an alternative means of masking the join between the Glazing Panels and the External Boss End Cover.

K2 25mm Conservatory Roof system

Now firmly acknowledged as one of the best products of its kind on the market, the K2 conservatory roof system is a fully sculptured, PVC-u system which utilises the minimum number of separate components - helping to increase both speed and ease of installation and fabrication. The system also enjoys BBA approval for White and Woodgrain products and has seen over 130 enhancements in the last year alone in-line with our commitment to continuous improvement.


L2 in a Pack Low Pitch Roof Kit

L2 in a Pack is quite simply the future of low pitch roof kits. Setting new and exciting standards for this type of product, this range offers an installation time of one hour or less thanks to its innovative and fitter friendly design. Additional benefits include greater design freedom and impressive levels of aesthetic appeal thanks to fully sculptured components.


Aspire 35mm Roof System

This product is aimed at the very top end of the market; Aspire has been created specifically for use in conjunction with 35mm polycarbonate. Its reliance on this thicker glazing gives the system greater levels of sound and thermal insulation. The system also incorporates a number of the latest enhancements made to the standard K2 roof, including an Eaves Beam modified to accept a pivotable Bolt Carrier and a ventilated polycarbonate End Trim.

Options Eaves Beam Trim

The Options range of decorative Eaves Beam Trims from K2, allows the homeowner to personalise a conservatory to their own style and taste. The Trims slide easily into the Eaves Beam Cover and are available in a wide variety of designs and colours to complement the choice of conservatory colour. Plus Options is easy to fit and remove, meaning they can be changed as often and whenever the customer

The Celsius Range of Performance Glass

The Celsius Range from K2 Glass Ltd makes the conservatory an all year round living space. The Celsius range was one of the first glazing options on the market to offer the unique combination of heat reflection AND thermal insulation, and includes Celsius, Celsius Clear and Celsius Plus.

Celsius

Celsius - With its blue tint and performance abilities, Celsius is the original high performance glazing. Thanks to its ability to reflect over 3 times more solar energy and to provide 50% more insulation than conventional glass, Celsius can help to keep conservatories cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Celsius Clear

Celsius Clear - a neutral glass ideally suited for side frames and certain roof installations. Celsius Clear is an economical, high performance glazing material designed to offer the impressive solar reflection energy efficiency and glare reduction benefits that have made the existing Celsius range so successful. Celsius Clear is a neutral glass that allows light to flood into the conservatory whilst maintaining a temperate ambience.

Celsius Plus

Celsius Plus - the ultimate performance glazing. This latest edition to the Celsius Performance Glass range has the ability to reflect approximately 3 times more solar energy than standard glass and provides over 50% thermal insulation, helping to dramatically reduce expensive heating bills.

K2 Architectural Systems

K2 is able to meet all your large span conservatory needs. Our specialist Architectural Systems division offers the products, experience and expertise to realise almost any structure that employs a glazed roof - including expansive conservatories, extensions to commercial properties such as pubs and restaurants and swimming pool enclosures.

D-I-Y Conservatories

D-I-Y is becoming a large part of the window, door and conservatory industry. With recent advances in design and technology installation has never been easier. All of the products and options that are detailed in the above sections are available for D-I-Y installation.

The most common way of constructing a D-I-Y conservatory is to have a friend or relative construct the base and walls and install the frames and roof yourself. Advances in product design are making this easier but a range of D-I-Y skills are still required, such as general assembly and fixing, joinery, glazing and lead flashing.

Obviously the main advantage from a D-I-Y installation is saving money and you can save a significant amount. (See price examples in the main menu for details) Alternatively you can get a more accurate quote tailored to your requirements by using our e-mail quotation service.

For D-I-Y quotations price is generally the driving factor in making a decision, but we would urge you to look closely at the product and specification before making a decision. You can view these details in the conservatory section of our website. It is also a good idea to look at the different glazing and ventilation options available to you, which are also listed in our conservatory products section.

Lifestyle top tips for D-I-Y:

• Don’t automatically go for the cheapest
• Look at the specification in detail
• Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation
• What guarantee is on offer
• What surveying service is available (Most important)

In our DIY range of conservatories we have two ranges of conservatories designed to meet the customers design and cosmetic requirements and the logistics of delivering a complex and bespoke product direct to site.

We supply a fully bespoke range with the products detailed in the above sections, however due logistics problems we can only supply this in our local area. As such we have introduced a range of modular and bespoke conservatories which can be delivered to site any where in the mainland UK and these ranges have been designed specifically for the DIY customer.

What is a modular conservatory?

Modular conservatories are a range of set designs and sizes which can be efficiently delivered to your door complete with detailed base plans and a comprehensive guarantee. They have been specifically designed for the DIY customer who knows exactly what he or she wants. You can view the product, size and specification of these designs in our modular section.

Surveying and Base Plans:

A big part of a successful conservatory build is how well the site has been surveyed, there are often several technical details that are overlooked which if are avoided make for a better conservatory. Our conservatory surveyors will visit site and identify and technical difficulties with the design and construction, you are also supplied with detailed base plans for your builder to work to.

A sales representative can also give advice on all aspects of design and construction as part of our free design and quotation service.

Conservatories | Hardwood | PVCU | UPVC | DIY Conservatory Quote
Lifestyle Windows, Doors and Conservatories offer an extensive range of conservatories for installation as well as DIY conservatory construction, UPVC/PVCU windows, doors and fascias. Online quotes available

Choosing Your Conservatory - 10 tips for success

There’s no disguising the fact that choosing a conservatory is a major decision. Get it right and you’ll enjoy many years of enjoyment from what could be the perfect addition to your home and your lifestyle.

So how do you ensure you make the right decision for your conservatory? Simple. You can start by reading these 10 tips compiled from the advice of interior designers, architects and gardening experts for your new conservatory.

1.	Think about the intended use for your conservatory.
	How do you envisage using your new conservatory? Will be it a playroom, a dining area, an office, a second living room or an all year round, all weather extension to the garden? The conservatory purpose doesn’t have to fit exclusively into one of these categories, but your conservatory’s ultimate day-to-day use will determine how large it needs to be as well which style, layout and materials will work best.
2.	Conservatory Design and Quotation
	Make sure that you receive detailed conservatory designs and quotations listing all the Conservatory specification; don’t be afraid to ask for the conservatory quotation breaking down so you can see how the price has been put together.
3.	Don’t automatically go for the cheapest Conservatory choice
	With conservatories, you tend to get what you pay for. As such, don’t automatically go for the ‘cheapest’ conservatory company unless its products and services also happen to be better than the conservatory competition. Another important factor to consider when appointing your conservatory installer should be their ability to meet your timescales. The last thing you want is an conservatory installation that will drag on and on, leaving your home looking like a building site for weeks or even months.
4.	Choose your materials wisely.
	The conservatory materials that make up your conservatory will have an enormous effect on its lifespan, practicality and usage. Conservatory frames tend to be PVCu for lasting performance and glazing can now be polycarbonate, clear glass or performance glass. Choose materials that are easy to clean and maintain – you’ll be thankful for this in the long-term. Bases are typically built in stone or brick; ensure your builder can match to your existing brickwork.
5.	Think about the conservatory position.
	Bear in mind the aspect – or position – of your conservatory. Conservatories that face south receive more sun than those facing north and as such the need for adequate ventilation and blinds is of uppermost importance. To help you regulate the temperature in a south facing conservatory, you might also want to think about using Celsius performance glass in the roof.
6.	Size matters for your conservatory.
	Once you’ve decided on the design and size of your new conservatory, get a second opinion from a friend or family member. Make sure your choice complements your home and has enough internal floor space to meets your requirements. In short, treat it as a fluid extension to your home rather than just an add-on.
7.	Consider your conservatory glazing options
	Carefully think about the type of conservatory glazing you’d like to use in your conservatory. Conservatory Normal glass and polycarbonate will allow solar heat to penetrate into your conservatory, potentially making the inside temperature hot summer days. To avoid this ‘greenhouse’ effect, whilst reducing heat loss in winter, opt for a performance glass such as Celsius for your Nottingham and derby conservatory.
8.	Conservatory Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation
	To help prevent the build of condensation in your conservatory, you need to ensure it has adequate conservatory ventilation. The K2 conservatory roof vent lets fresh air in whilst keeping the elements and insects out. As an alternative, you could also consider roof fans or an air conditioning unit if your budget will stretch to it.
9.	Check with your local authority.
	If you’re building a conservatory, you will not usually need planning permission (unless your property is listed, in a conservation area or it has already been extended). However it is always better to be safe than sorry. If you’re in any doubt, check as early as you can with your local authority or your chosen installer about this and any relevant building regulations.
10.	Call on the conservatory professionals
	Finally, always get your conservatory professionally designed and installed. Also be sure to use vetted installers who offer an insurance backed guarantee. With such a major and prized investment, it’s simply not worth taking the risk!

Conservatories | Hardwood | PVCU | UPVC | DIY Conservatory Quote
Lifestyle Windows, Doors and Conservatories offer an extensive range of conservatories for installation as well as DIY conservatory construction, UPVC/PVCU windows, doors and fascias. Online quotes available

Deceuninck Conservatories from Lifestyle Windows in Nottingham and Derby

All PVCU window and door systems look the same, don’t they? Deceuninck have a unique system available for conservatories which combines the quality of a modern Deceuninck extrusion and the looks of a traditional timber frame. We also have Deceuninck’s full range of chamfered profiles for a simpler frame finish for conservatories.

The right choice

Replacing windows and doors or the addition of a conservatory remains one of the most popular choices of adding style and value to your home. Choosing our latest decorative designs for conservatories will enable you to complement the style and look of your home by reproducing the appearance of traditional timber, without the maintenance headaches for conservatories. Your new frames are guaranteed not to warp, twist, rot or discolour, making your decision a sound investment. In addition to brilliant white you can choose from a range of wood-grain finishes for your conservatory. Alternatively, add a splash of colour to your home with one of our unique Decoroc surface coatings. All of these together mean almost endless design options available, making it possible to tailor our products to meet your exact requirements.

Quality with elegance

Choosing our decorative and chamfered frames with their unique sculptured styling ensures your choice of windows will bring elegance to any home conservatory. This beauty will not mean compromising performance, so you can be confident of supreme quality and security to match its good looks.

Durability with beauty

Viewed from inside or out, Deceuninck windows will transform the look of your rooms as well as your home as a whole. Illuminating interiors with natural light, providing comfort from the elements and affording security with peace of mind, are the essential criteria for all our window products for conservatories. These are the standards by which our reputation has been established; good looks great performance and long lasting peace of mind.

The Deceuninck 1800 series Decorative Window and Door System

Critics of PVCU have claimed, often rightly, that the character of a property is reduced by the use of modern PVCU system for conservatories. The introduction of this new decorative system facilitates the production of both more sensitive replacements and more stylish new installations for conservatories. Deceuninck have also been know for the unique colour of there systems for conservatories. The Deceuninck brilliant is know throughout the industry for the brightness of the white and standard of the finish on the conservatory frame. We do have Deceuninck standard chamfered systems available but the unique decorative lines of the 1800 system have proven extremely popular with our customers in recent years. Combined with our low sight line glazing gasket we challenge you to find a more attractive system.

Deceuninck quality for conservatories

We speak from experience; in 2001 we installed a new conservatory in Ilkeston, in the Nottingham and Debry area. The property already had a substantial conservatory but the owners wanted a change in colour and style. The existing conservatory was constructed using Deceuninck’s 1200 series system 14 years earlier. When the conservatory was dismantled it was in such good condition it was sold to one of our existing customers who re-fitted the conservatory on his property; which was also in the Nottingham and Derby area.

Conservatories | Hardwood | PVCU | UPVC | DIY Conservatory Quote
Lifestyle Windows, Doors and Conservatories offer an extensive range of conservatories for installation as well as DIY conservatory construction, UPVC/PVCU windows, doors and fascias. Online quotes available

Lifestyle Windows - Helping You Choose the Right Conservatory

With so many conservatory companies out there, choosing the perfect conservatory style, size and even supplier for your new investment can be a difficult and demanding task. However don’t worry Lifestyle Conservatories have put together what we think is a comprehensive and informative web-site to give you the facts about what we think are the best combination of products available.

Lifestyle Windows and Conservatories are a small family owned and operated business emphasizing on service and value for money. We are located in Ilkeston (Junction 25 M1) just between Nottingham and Derby but we install conservatories all over the East Midlands and deliver DIY conservatories nationwide. We are a conservatory company that has been built on a strong reputation for friendly staff, top quality products professionally installed and a desire to provide the levels of service worthy of recognition. We have been fortunate to be awarded the Customer Service Award from the Consumer Protection Association for our conservatories. This award is based on surveys that have been carried out directly with people we have done work for.

We are lucky to have built a team dedicated to providing the levels of service that our conservatory customers have come to expect, this shows in the amount of people who come back to us again and recommend Lifestyle to their friends and family, in fact most of our local work within the Nottingham and Derby areas, all comes from the recommendation of existing customers.

We do not employ “pressure” sales representatives, instead we simply offer honest advice and detailed written conservatory quotations. We believe the written estimate we produce for conservatories should be as detailed as possible, they often include eight or nine pages of detail specific to each conservatory, several colour 3D CAD drawings, a superimposed colour 3D CAD drawing onto a picture of the proposed elevation of the property and several pieces of additional literature all with advise and suggestions which may not have already been thought of. We have had excellent feed back for many years on the way the price is broken down, we always detail the finished build cost of the conservatory and then detail finishing items such as electric’s, plastering, flooring and heating as separate items so our customers can see just how they arrive at the final price . This also gives us a chance to include prices for ideas that will make the conservatory more usable all year round such as roof vents, upgraded roof glazing and argon gas filled glass units.

Our conservatory advice and the detail given in our written estimates helps potential customers identify the key areas of the conservatory product and design that we believe are the most important. Think practicality!!! Consider that when thinking about the floor space in a conservatory. Incorporating a dwarf wall? That 500mm is lost on the width and 250mm is lost on the projection and this can have a substantial impact on how much floor space you are actually left with. One of the most frequent comments made by our conservatory customers is “I’m surprised about how much time I spend in there, I wish I’d gone for a bigger conservatory”. An extra half meter or meter on your garden does not have a large impact but an extra half meter or meter on the conservatory has a huge impact to the useable floor space. In my opinion I would say the loss of floor space is why most people think about a Victorian design but order an Edwardian design. Consider that conservatories are now a room for all seasons, but only if they are designed with winter and summer in mind. Adequate ventilation in the side wall frames, roof ventilation, and a choice of roof glazing that provides you with a well insulated conservatory but also provides protection from the sun. One of our most popular options is to Argon gas fill the glass units at a very small cost to increase the efficiency of the glass unit. One of the most impressive options available is the solar control glazing available for the roof or the roof and the side wall frames. This impressive glass has been designed to keep conservatories warm in winter and cool in summer, one of the solar control options available cuts out a phenomenal 74% of solar heat through the conservatory roof.

When being asked about the style of the conservatory we often get asked “What do you think?” Well I always think that a conservatory should look like it was designed when the house was; the roof of the conservatory should incorporate aspects of the house roof and elements of the windows and doors in the house should be continued onto the conservatory. You can achieve this with small choices like the level of the transom or some small Georgian bar detail in the top lights of the conservatory. The important thing to remember with the style of the conservatory is that we are all different and we all have different preferences so look at all the options available and pick the one you like the most. This is another instance where our photo CAD design service is often proven as invaluable and can really help people visualize the finished conservatory, quite frequently we will go back to the drawing board when someone has had the chance to see their first ideas superimposed onto their property.

As part of your conservatory, Lifestyle can incorporate a number of additional trades and finishing requirements, from simply constructing your conservatory to installing all your internal finishings; at Lifestyle we have the knowledge to offer a total project managed conservatory. Internal finishing could typically involve the following, plastering, floor tiling, wood laminate flooring, solid oak flooring, electric’s, under floor heating, plumbing, skirting boards and decorating.

A popular alternative to a fully project managed conservatory is purchasing a DIY or self build conservatory. At Lifestyle we have two ranges of DIY conservatories available to you, our modular range which starts from as little £1774.00 including VAT and delivery, and a fully bespoke package with the same quality, standard of specification and product range that all our retail customers enjoy.

There’s no doubt that choosing a conservatory, or even to have a set of windows and doors replaced, is a major decision that needs due consideration and you need to get it right as you’ll have to live with the result for years to come. To this end we have compiled a list of our top ten tips of issues that need to be addressed before you jump in at the deep end, from sources such as interior designers, architects and gardening experts. This list, along with every other feature of Lifestyle Windows, Doors and Conservatories is available at our website. Please feel free to browse our pages and do not hesitate to contact us if you see anything you like or have any questions at all.

Conservatories | Hardwood | PVCU | UPVC | DIY Conservatory Quote
Lifestyle Windows, Doors and Conservatories offer an extensive range of conservatories for installation as well as DIY conservatory construction, UPVC/PVCU windows, doors and fascias. Online quotes available