A conservatory sunroom will make an elegant addition to your home, and one that you will want to be able to use all year round. The design of your original home may limit where you can place the conservatory. You'll want to give some thought to where the sun rises and sets. Do you want your conservatory to face full west or not, for example?

One of the most frequent complaints about the conservatory, because of its glass ceiling as well its glass walls, is that it is simply too uncomfortably cold to use during the winter time. Indeed, most conservatories offered are specified to be 3-season only. If you want to be able to use your conservatory year round, make sure you purchase one that is actually designed for that purpose.

Such a conservatory is built with the latest materials that will enable you to enjoy your conservatory during the coldest of winters as well as the hottest of summers.

It's not just a question of being able to actually heat the conservatory enough to make it comfortable during the winter months. If you turn the heat on full blast, this can be achieved. But then you have a sky-rocketing energy bill to contend with.

Insulation is one key. Building codes in your area will tell you the bare minimum required for proper insulation, but it's always good to exceed these recommendations. The floor of the conservatory must be insulated. The frame, while possessing very little area of its own in comparison to the glass it holds, should also contain as much insulation as possible.

Your choice of windows is a very important one.

Your windows allow sunlight to enter the room, and they should also protect you from harmful UV rays. But they must do more than that. They must also provide insulation.

High Performance Glass is the solution. It is tempered for safety and strength and designed to protect against UV rays. It will also block summer heat, but allow winter light.

Glass and window frame together are important. You don't want windows that will leak around the frames after being subjected to a non-stop rainstorm. Should the wind be blowing violently outside your windows, you don't want to be able to hear those same windows rattling, or feel a cold draft through the glass.

And of course there is the question of security. In a room with glass walls, you don't want people to be able to pry one of the panels out and enter unopposed. The most well-designed windows will be so well-built that intruders will be unable to do so.

In short, there is a great deal to consider when having a conservatory attached to your house. Make sure you get all your questions answered from your contractor before you proceed.