<b></b><p></p><p><b><b>Conservatory companies have long been frustrated by the seeming unwillingness of housebuilders to take advantage of their products. But is the trend changing? Allison Heller reports</b></b><br><b>Only around 2% of new homes have conservatories. Given that they are spacious, light filled rooms looked upon as a highly desirable feature of a house, and offer housebuilders higher profit margins than brick and mortar extensions, this is somewhat surprising. While manufacturers vary in their opinions on why this is the case, it is generally agreed that there is a perception among housebuilders that conservatories are a risky business.</b><br><b><b>Disbelief</b></b><br> &amp;“Housebuilders still don&amp;’t believe that conservatories are as popular as they are,&amp;” says Richard Goad, sales and marketing manager of Glevum Conservatories - which sells direct to the public as well as through major housebuilders including Wimpey, David Wilson, Bryant and Westbury. </p><p>&amp;“We keep selling over and over to the general public but housebuilders see it as a risk. As a standard part of a new home it will put up the price, therefore they have to be confident that it will add value.&amp;”</p><p>And the perception of risk runs deeper than figures on a balance sheet, according to Adam Firbank, marketing manager of conservatory manufacturer …