As I show customers around my Conservatories, a comment often made its Too Hot in Summer and Too Cold in Winter, in a Conservatory.
Too Hot.
Any Conservatory under direct sunlight will take in the available heat gain, and if no ventilation will overheat.
This can be a problem if you are away from home all day and the Conservatory is locked up. Night Vents on the windows allow a flow of air while retaining security. A temp. controlled Roof Vent will allow warm air to escape. But ventilation and plenty of it is the solution, plenty of top opening vents in windows, open as many as needed to create a cross flow of air through the room.
Too Cold
Like any room in your house heating is required in Winter. Heat loss through the glass will add to your bills however with recent improvments in glass technology, things are improving.
I use a soft coat Low 'E' glass with Argon filling in the cavity. This gives the glass a U value of 1.1 which is a vast improvment on older double glazed units, which may have a U value of 2.5.
Triple glazed is also available as is Krypton Gas in the cavity, its now possible to get U values down to 0.7
Walls and floors need to be correctly insulated as well, so the days of Too Cold are a thing of the past.
Conservatory
Extra Space
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Conservatory V Sunroom
Often I am asked the difference between a Sunroom and a Conservatory.
Apart from the obvious Price difference, there are practical differences.
Location. The amount of direct sunlight to the site will be a defining theme. A north facing site is not suitable for a Conservatory, as it will benefit little from heat gain.
A south facing site is suitable for a Conservatory as it will benefit from heat gain, and if properly ventilated will be a valuable addition to a home.
Use. You should consider a Conservatory as being practical to use for 9/10 months of the year. In the coldest time of winter heat loss will make the Conservatory harder to heat.
A Sunroom however when properly insulated and heated will be like any other room in the house with the heating on in winter.
Price. A practical decision to be made depends on funds available, as a rule of thumb, a Sunroom will cost about E 10,000 more for the same amount of space.
So if available funds dictate a Conservatory, living space will be achieved at an affordable price
Apart from the obvious Price difference, there are practical differences.
Location. The amount of direct sunlight to the site will be a defining theme. A north facing site is not suitable for a Conservatory, as it will benefit little from heat gain.
A south facing site is suitable for a Conservatory as it will benefit from heat gain, and if properly ventilated will be a valuable addition to a home.
Use. You should consider a Conservatory as being practical to use for 9/10 months of the year. In the coldest time of winter heat loss will make the Conservatory harder to heat.
A Sunroom however when properly insulated and heated will be like any other room in the house with the heating on in winter.
Price. A practical decision to be made depends on funds available, as a rule of thumb, a Sunroom will cost about E 10,000 more for the same amount of space.
So if available funds dictate a Conservatory, living space will be achieved at an affordable price
Conservatories, Good Idea ?
Need extra space, Conservatory or Sunroom, what are the facts.
A Conservatory is an extention which allows natural light to continue to enter the original home. A Sunroom which has a solid roof may cut off natural light to the original home, depending on the configuration.
A Conservatory is an extention which allows natural light to continue to enter the original home. A Sunroom which has a solid roof may cut off natural light to the original home, depending on the configuration.
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