Garden room extension specialists David Salisbury share useful advice on how you can incorporate smart technology features into your extension:
The continuing evolution of technology into our homes has been a growing and seemingly unstoppable trend of recent years.
Whilst many of these digital advances in home technologies have usually been associated with new builds or solid extensions, luxury conservatory and garden room manufacturers have been leading the way in ensuring these types of glazed extension can enjoy similar or even superior technological features.
Bespoke shading
Imagine walking into your favourite room, sitting in a comfortable chair and activating a remote controlled, powered blind so that you can read the newspaper in just the right amount of light.
Better still, how about the blinds in your conservatory set on timers to automatically work at set times of day. This smart technology has been available for a few years now and continues to develop and improve quality specification conservatories.
Furthermore, these smart powered blind options can be adapted to work around the whole home, retro-fitted to provide a stylish finish and offering multiple bespoke shading options, all controlled by an app on your phone.
Ventilation with automated roof vents
Long gone are the days of manually operated roof vents in a conservatory or similar type of glazed extension (although, of course, these are still available for any traditionalists out there).
Modern conservatory roof vents now come fully automated and can also be operated via sensors which detect temperature or rainfall and open or close accordingly.
Ventilation and fresh air is vitally important to both our mental and physical wellbeing – being able to automate this function in our homes is just another benefit of using smart technology to enhance modern living.
Underfloor heating
Underfloor heating is the ideal solution for a new conservatory or garden room extension.
Not only do they provide a wonderfully even and adjustable heat, they avert the need for any unsightly radiators (which can also impact on the interior layout of the new space).
Aside from all the usual thermostatic controls, modern heating solutions can also be activated via a smart phone app for the ultimate convenience. Furthermore, smart thermostats can help with energy bills and efficiency by providing heat at the most efficient times and temperature limits.
Lighting – both indoors & out
To create the ideal home and garden ambience, a lighting design scheme is as important indoors as it is out.
This is especially the case when considering a glazed extension, when lighting will have such a significant impact on the overall aesthetic, during evenings and at night.
Infrared lighting sensors have been around for quite a while but today’s discerning homeowners are engaging a lighting designer to create a more joined up scheme. Different lighting can be pre-programmed and set to operate at different times, in order to help create a variety of moods and atmospheres.
Key recommendations
For anyone planning a new home extension, it is well worth considering these smart home technologies from the outset and how your new living space might benefit from them.
Engage an experienced designer and try to future proof the design as best as possible – for example, even if not all of these technologies are required or adopted initially, the design can consider space for any future wiring and access that might be required.
Alternatively, retro fitting to improve an existing home or living space is just as feasible. Most quality blinds manufacturers will be equally used to designing shading solutions for older properties as they will be for new builds or extensions.
With all of these smart home technologies to consider, whether to provide enhanced comfort, improved wellbeing or assist with energy efficiency, it is not surprising that they are becoming an increasing feature of home improvement projects.
To learn more about incorporating smart technology into your garden room extension, chat with the David Salisbury team on 01278 764 444 or send them an email: sales@davidsalisbury.com.
