A conservatory fit for all seasons; Keep your extension cool in summer and warm in winter.

Byline: Donny Sheridan

A conservatory is the obvious extension to your home. No matter how big or small, it provides the ideal room for enjoying panoramic views of your garden on a crisp winter's morning and a place to relax on summer mornings and nights.

But you will notice I did not mention summer days. During summer, when the sun is at its highest, it is almost impossible to enjoy sitting in a conservatory as the build-up of heat becomes so intense and the glare means you can forget about watching telly in there.

Conservatories are a costeffective way of extending your home giving you that much-needed extra space for the kids to play in or for you to relax in.

But if it costs a few thousand pounds to build it does seem a waste of money if it can only be used in the spring and autumn as it's too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer.

The best solution to deal with this problem is to install solar inserts. Reputable conservatory installers will be familiar with solar inserts and you should consider having them installed when the conservatory is built.

However, even for existing conservatories tec-sun solar inserts are really easy to install - it is not a difficult process at all.

There are two main types of conservatory roofs - glass and polycarbonate. Most people will have a polycarbonate roof as it is cheaper.

Glass roofs make the project more expensive as they weigh considerably more and the structure of the conservatory has to be designed to take the extra load.

You will notice that polycarbonate roofs have cavity channels in them and the tec-sun solar inserts are slotted into these. With the solar insert fitting kit, it is a straightforward job.

The inserts are basically a flexible tape made from materials that reflect the suns rays, while still allowing light to enter the room. That is the big bonus, it does let natural daylight into the room, unlike blinds where the room is darkened.

If you want to insert the solar inserts yourself, or have them professionally installed, contact ABACUS Agents Limited on 0141 556 0100 or visit them at Block A, Unit 3, Swanston Street Industrial Estate, Dalmarnock Glasgow G40 4HW.

This is a good starting point. You can go to their trade counter and see and feel for yourself the solar inserts and discover how simple and effective they are.

PRODUCTOF THE WEEK UniBond Speed Seal The main problem with silicon is that you need to leave it for 24 hours in order for it to cure, which can be apain. The boffins at Unibond have solved this problem with Speed Seal which sets much faster, allowing you to use your shower within two hours after application. It still has all the antimould properties associated with their other leading sealants.

DONNY'SLITTLE HELPER File cleaning brush When working with wood, especially with files, there is a tendency to bang out the embedded filings, which can damage the file or rasp. Avoid this poor practice by using afile cleaning brush. They only cost about pounds 2 to pounds 3 and can make all the difference. Then you'll be able to keep your files in perfect condition.