In the second of our series of articles on taking care of your home improvements we cover Conservatories / Orangeries. We imagine you have been spending a lot of time in yours! We have been living in ours, it’s become a classroom, a gym and of course a home office; we are feeling very lucky to have one. As mentioned previously all Finesse products are all designed to be low maintenance allowing you to have more time to enjoy them rather than spending time on upkeep, the same goes with a conservatory from Finesse. We hope to provide simple steps to help you keep everything in ‘Finesse’ condition.
However, you will probably want to spend a little more time cleaning and taking pride in your conservatory – it is after all an asset to your house and your lifestyle. Regular cleaning can help maintain your conservatory and keep it looking as good as new; we recommend cleaning the outside about 4 times a year – and apart from the obvious cosmetic benefits, this will also reduce the likely cost for repairs.
Conservatories and Orangeries from Finesse Windows come with an option of self-cleaning glass on the roof sections, which the vast majority of our installations take up. Self-cleaning glass is coated with a substance which reacts with UV rays in daylight to breakdown organic dirt, which is then washed off by rain. The coating is integrated into the surface of the glass and is highly durable, though we do suggest you exercise a certain level of care when handling and maintaining. If there is a period of time without rain and you feel the glass needs to be cleaned, you can hose the roof down with water to activate the self-cleaning properties and remove the surface dirt.
Your standard cleaning process and checklist should be as follows:
Gutters – It is perfectly normal for your conservatory guttering to have an amount of standing water in it. It is designed to drain water away when it reaches a tipping point. However, it is really important to keep the guttering free from leaves and other debris as this can interfere with the drainage process and lead to leaks within your conservatory. To remove any vegetation or debris simply scoop out with your hand. The majority of leaks in conservatories are caused by blocked gutters, this is because when they are blocked the water cannot drain away and the water sits in the wrong place for too long or is forced to find another way to drain away. A common solutions is to fit a gutter brush as this stops leaves and other debris settling in the first place, they can be purchased from all home improvement stores.
uPVC Frames – If there is algae or dirt on the uPVC and it is not removed, it will become harder to return to its pristine condition when you do get round to cleaning it. Ensure you use a non-abrasive cleaning product (avoid solvent based products and cream cleaners) warm soapy water will normally suffice. Use a soft, clean cloth (try to avoid coloured cloths as the dye can stain the plastic). Do not use abrasive sponges as these will damage your frames, coloured foiled frames can be cleaned in the same way. If you have aluminium bi-fold doors cleaning is also simple, all they will need is a routine clean with warm soapy water, they also need to have their tracks free from debris, using a suitable vacuum cleaner with a thin attachment to remove any debris is the easiest thing to do.
Glass – Everyday dirt and grim should be removed with warm soapy water, then use a soft, clean cloth with a standard household glass cleaner to achieve a smear free finish. Take care when cleaning leaded units not to exert too much pressure on the lead so as not to scratch the surface or dislodge it from the unit. Warm soapy water and a soft cloth is all that’s needed, remember that lead is prone to patination so do not be alarmed if your lead changes colour over time, it is a natural process where lead reacts to the environment.
We hope the attached helps to give some practical advice on how to look after your conservatory – afterwards you can sit back and relax in your beautiful room. However, if you think that your conservatory is in need of more than a simple clean, then please contact us on 0121 451 3724, we would be delighted to offer our advice, and look at either a new conservatory or the refurbishment options available.
