Each of these materials has a specific purpose for those who are building a greenhouse or conservatory, and it’s important to choose the correct materials for your individual project. No two conservatories have the exact same needs.

Mahogany

The species of mahogany we use is Sapele. It has long been prized for its rich grain, beautiful luster, and incredible durability. Sapele has shown an ability to withstand high-moisture environments and is rated by the British Board of Standards to have extremely high rot resistance. Grown in NW Africa, we only use wood that comes from monitored and sustained tree plantations. This material is best used in structures designed to display the beauty and warmth of natural wood. Great detail can be achieved in moldings and architecture using wood. Our structures are finished with micro-porous stains and paints that originate in Europe and are designed to allow the wood to breathe and maintain the finished surface for many years to come. In special circumstances, we will also use Red Grandis and Accoya for applications that best suit the project.

Aluminum 

Aluminum is a natural choice for a “maintenance-free” structure. Known for its rust resistance, aluminum provides great strength and endurance in our larger structures. Our aluminum is uniquely thermally broken, which means the inner wall of the aluminum never touches the exterior wall of aluminum. This thermal break means there is no conduction of cold or heat through the wall of the structure. We are one of the few companies in the USA offering such a product. The aluminum is baked at temperatures near 387 degrees to apply a powder-coat finish, which is one of the hardest paint surfaces known today. We also have thousands of colors to choose from, so your conservatory can uniquely complement existing colors on your home or millwork. Conservatory Craftsmen is an industry leader in offering this material.

Glass 

Glass is something that comes to mind almost immediately when a person thinks about a greenhouse or conservatory. Today’s glass is far more sophisticated than glass used on buildings in decades past, and there are a variety of different glass options depending on your needs. Some glass is designed to block the sunlight to keep things inside the conservatory sufficiently shaded, while other glass is made to transmit as much heat and light as possible. Whether you decide to go with leaded glass, stained glass, or another kind, be sure to choose the type of glass that is appropriate for your application. You will usually use different glass for a greenhouse than you would use for a pool enclosure.

There have been more industry innovations and improvements in glass than in any other building product. Today’s glass can have the thermal efficiency of an insulated 2×4 wall! The glass we choose for you is always tempered safety glass, assuring that you and your family will always be protected. Today’s glass can withstand the forces of nature we are all experiencing from climate change. All glass is insulated and coated to minimize solar gain. Our staff will advise you on the proper glass selection for the intended use of your space. Keep in mind that we can also tint glass, ceramic-paint glass, or even create stained glass with lead overlays.

Steel

A fourth material is now commonly used in our structures. Steel is required as our conservatories grow in size and scale. We shop-fabricate your steel sub-frame to the specifications of structural engineers.

In wood structures, we wrap the steel in timber to give a wood beam look. In many of our other structures, we offer ornamental steel to convey the look of old-world charm. 

However, whether the steel is included as a feature or a structural element, your safety and longevity are ensured when Conservatory Craftsmen install steel into your conservatory.