For many homeowners, the most obvious reason for getting conservatory repairs carried out is to protect the space inside from the elements. If there are leaky joints through which rainwater can drip or gaps that the cold wind can get through, that is reason enough.

In addition, any cracks that exist in glass panels can also be unsightly, which is not what you want when guests visit. Such cracks could widen and fracture when the cold weather of winter returns a few months from now.

However, sometimes the damage is sufficient that it is not just a bit of cold or wet weather that can cause a problem. Sometimes, there is sufficient space for some unwanted guests to sneak in.

Of course, even in a solid brick home, there can sometimes be occasions in which slugs can make their way in. The simple solution, if you can identify where they gain entry, is to pour some salt there, creating a deadly barrier they won’t try to cross.

However, this may be a little harder in a conservatory, not least if they can slide inside a fault between two glass panes and come slithering up the inside window.

How Can Vermin Get Into Your Conservatory?

Vermin is a bigger issue.

  •       Rats or mice can be a big pest in the home, but they may also sneak into your conservatory through any weakness. As with slugs and snails, this could leave any plants in there, especially those bearing fruit, in peril.
  •       Foxes are also classed as vermin, and while they may be seen in rather more positive terms than rats, if the gap is big enough for them to sneak in, they could do a lot of damage.
  •       This would be particularly hazardous if you kept a rabbit or a guinea pig in the conservatory.
  •       Nor are foxes just meat eaters, so they may also go after any vegetable matter they can eat as well. 

If the gap is big enough to allow a fox in, which could happen if, for instance, a glass panel breaks loose, it could also allow a badger in, which will cause more damage as it looks for food.  

Cats may cause less damage, but if they are strays, they, like other intrusive mammals, could still foul the area inside the conservatory and bring fleas that can pester you or your own pets.

Why Might Roof Issues Drive You Batty?

Repairs to keep out animals that can sneak in at ground level will help stop these creatures, but problems with the roof should also be considered, as birds or bats could get in. Either could lead to significant damage being caused, as well as the mess of droppings.

Bats can be a particular problem. You might be able to move out some birds easily enough, but bats are protected in law and you would not be lawfully allowed to re-home them.

The roof of a conservatory may offer far fewer opportunities for roosting than a loft, but this is clearly something you are likely to want to avoid, not least if they can get into other parts of your home, such as the loft via the conservatory, for instance, if you live in a bungalow.

How Can You Keep Insects Out Of The Conservatory?

Sometimes, the airborne peril does not even need to be as big as a bird or bat. Even small gaps, the sorts that would also allow in drips and draughts, could permit entry to small insects.

Here in the south of England, we are relatively lucky in that there are not so many biting insects as may be found further north, especially in places like Scotland, where midges hang around in swarms of thousands ready to suck the blood of every passing human.

Nonetheless, there are still mosquitoes around, especially if you live near watercourses or areas of damp ground, and while the British versions don’t spread dangerous diseases like their tropical cousins do, their bites can still cause unpleasant itching and irritation.

These creatures may still be an issue if you go out in the garden on a summer evening, but at least if you can keep them out of the conservatory, you can get some respite inside.

Provided your conservatory was fitted properly, it would originally have offered complete air-tight and watertight protection once all doors, windows and skylights were closed.

If that is no longer the case, you could be paying the penalty with much more than cold and damp weather. It should be a microclimate and a place that suits you, not a haven for wildlife that can find ways to get in and roam, sleep or eat at your expense.

By getting repairs to your conservatory, you can see off all these pests and ensure that your home is not left vulnerable to unwelcome intrusions.