P-Shape Style Conservatory Explained

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What is it?

A P-Shape, Link, Combination are all common names for this style. Sometimes referred to as, 'L' Shape when using a square front,(see 'Did you know?' section on the left for further information). The conservatory is the same basic design for all. It most commonly has a Victorian style combined with a Traditional Lean to, which gives it a distinctive shape.

Plan (Bird's eye) view of a P-Shape: Click here for a larger view

As with most common conservatory designs the P-Shape projects at right angles away from the property giving two straight sides which meet at their respective corner point on each side, this is where the remaining sides will carry on in each of it's respective directions to then begin to take their shape.

The roof is normally a pitch style (usually at around 25 degress from the horizontal) on the Victorian side. This means that it slopes upwards from it's sides meeting at a central ridge height. The roof around the front is also pitched, which is commonly known as a 'Hipped front' (refer to Victorian section for more detail). To the Traditional Lean to part of the layout, the roof is normally a forward single sloping roof. This means that it slopes upwards from the front of the conservatory meeting at the property wall. As the roof on the Traditional Lean to side meets at it's apex against the property wall the 'ridge' is more often referred to as the 'Wallplate' (refer to Traditional Lean to section for further detail). The Traditional lean to side often has a 'hipped' side (this detail is similar to an Edwardian corner section, (refer to Edwardian section for further explanation).

Where the two types of roof section combine they are joined together with what is known as a 'valley', this is method of joining roofs which both slope towards each other. The valley helps the water to rundown towards the front where the normal guttering is positioned. Look again at the bird's eye view above and notice the diagonal line between the Traditional lean to part and the Victorian part. This represents the valley (also notice the vertical line, centrally between the Victorian part, which is the Ridge).

If you feel your design is outside our standard styles, please call us on our Freephone 0800 917 2230 to discuss your specific requirements.

Advantages of the P-Shape Style

• Retains some of Victorian style qualities to enhance the original features of a Victorian era property whilst offering the greater width capability.
• Gives a softer aesthetic look to a conservatory with the 'hard' edges softened by way of the angled corners.
• Combines many different aspects of conservatory styles giving a grand design feel (from what is still essentially a quite simple principle).
• Ideal when one side of the conservatory is desired to function as a different purpose to the other.
• Perfect when increased depth can be achieved over just a portion of the width.
• Helps to blend with boundary lines if they are not straight or at an angle to the property position.
• Can have a double hipped roof if any height restrictions are at the property where the conservatory is to be sited.

• Generally has a maximum projection available on the 'tail' side so do not normally lend themselves to applications where projection is more desired in the Traditional lean to side.
• Generally has a maximum width available on the 'P' side so do not normally lend themselves to applications where width is more desired in the Victorian side.
• A large conservatory, does not normally lend itself to smaller gardens or where space is very limited.