Conservatory .. Do I or Dont I?

jaqui59

Hi everyone

Im contemplating a conservatory, but cant make a decision because im concerned about it not being useable in the summer, as the sun is in my garden most of the day.

There seems to be a lot of companies offering a solution using blinds, special glass, special film etc etc, and im just wondering if anybody out there has found any one of these solutions to actually work.

Any answers hugely appreciated

julianashcroft

My back garden gets the sun from first light to about 4pm in the summer and I'm having a conservatory built at the moment. I'm going for a Vertex Roof System to hopefully make it more bearable in the summer and warmer in the winter. I wont know how successful it will be until I have used it for about year though.

You can follow my 'slow' build blog through the 'homepage' link in my profile.

craig_benham

As you said there are many different things to help with this.

one of the best things we have come across are fans which can draw the air out and replace with fresh.

A couple of things that may make a difference, Have dwarf walls (less glass = less unbearable heat. Blue cool glass (or something of equivalent effect, have a look at Pilkingtons website to see some options http://www.pilkington.com/ )

Another alternative is to have a solid roof with large picture walls and a mini conservatory roof in the ceiling. this would be more expensive but would definitely allow you to control the temperature yourself.

Hope this helps

donna-j_2

Only if you have good blinds. Ours was south facing and even in February the light was blinding.

BlondeHeadOn

I've been looking at external blinds - ones like an awning fixed over the conservatory roof, with remote control so they can be rolled out or back as required. You can also get them with heat/light sensors so they automatically roll out when it's too sunny.

This seems like a sensible option to me, but I am still deciding on what I want for my own conservatory (still just at the rsearch stage as yet ...)

This kind of thing:

http://www.nationwideltd.co.uk/google/conservatory-roof-blinds.html

Although these look expensive - there are quite a lot of suppliers.

HTH

Johnhowell

We have a south facing conservatory, heat reflecting glass (Pilkington K, blue) to the roof panels, two roof lights electrically operated, lots of windows that can open, double doors, vertical blinds and an Air Source Heat Pump. This summer we have had 40C when arriving home, but open the door or some windows and it disipates quite quickly, otherwise put the heat pump for a few minutes and it is very useable. During the winter again a few minutes of Heat Pump and it is warm enough - we had a great Xmas day with the family.

John

2010

Last year I spent time and effort going through the pros and cons of buying a conservatory and consulting a few people who have them and sell them.

Conclusion:
Don`t waste your money.
Reason:
They are too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.

Please don`t post any nonsense about fans,heaters, special glass and window blinds.

moonrakerz

2010 wrote: »

Conclusion:
Don`t waste your money.
Reason:
They are too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.

Please don`t post any nonsense about fans,heaters, special glass and window blinds.

I won't post any nonsense if you stop posting simplistic nonsense yourself !

Sphynx

We have a 'sun room' at the back of our (new to us) house. Much more useable option (though I have never had a conservatory) and by the time you have spent on special glass, fans etc you probably could afford the extension.

h.cowell

I love the light from our conservatory, despite the arguments about 'too hot in summer' etc. We've just had our old plastic roof replaced with glass and it does heat up, unbearably so sometimes. We're planning to have a solar laminate coating put on the glass. Next option will be blinds.

For me the pros outway the cons of having a conservatory.

Pennylane

We were tempted to have one a few years ago but we have a very large & very light & sunny lounge anyway.

I wanted somewhere to escape and relax and love wood so we invested in a very nice, good-sized summerhouse across the garden instead. I actually love it being detached from the house - feels like I'm going on holiday!

It is wonderful in the summer and we use it loads. I go out there on sunny non-summer days too and have a little heater on. Lots of people are having these wooden "dens" all insulated and some even have stoves but I'm happy with mine as it is .... for now!