Conservatory help

CheekyB_2

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy my first house in the next 8-12 months. One of the properties I'm looking at is property number 19067112 on rightmove: rightmove.co.uk / property-for-sale / property-19067112.html

One key thing I'm after is a decent amount of room for a dining table for evening dinners and hosting nights in with games etc - which, with this property, the conservatory could potentially do. However, my knowledge of conservatories and what makes a good or bad one is zilch. So, I'd really appreciate if anyone could lend their knowledge or experience with conservatories to suggest whether this one could act as a feasible dining room all year round and suggest any clarification questions to ask the seller. I've already asked about how it is heated, and at the moment the seller uses a plug in heater as and when needed.

Conservatory details:

- South-west facing, with the north side bricked
- 10'9" x 10'2" (3.28m x 3.1m)
- Brick and timber double glazed construction with french doors leading to garden
- Stone slabbed flooring

Many thanks!

Johnhowell

You could consider installing a Air Source Heat Pump (inverter) that will cool in summer and heat in winter.

Our conservatory - 5m x 5m is very usable. Had a couple of Christams days now with 12 family members around. We run the unit for 10minutes on high fan and then reduce to ultra low for the rest of the day - which is very quiet.

We have Karndean flooring - which is neither cold in winter nor too hot in summer direct sun. We thought slabbin would be very cold in winter.

Good luck,
John

CheekyB_2

Johnhowell wrote: »

You could consider installing a Air Source Heat Pump (inverter) that will cool in summer and heat in winter.

Our conservatory - 5m x 5m is very usable. Had a couple of Christams days now with 12 family members around. We run the unit for 10minutes on high fan and then reduce to ultra low for the rest of the day - which is very quiet.

We have Karndean flooring - which is neither cold in winter nor too hot in summer direct sun. We thought slabbin would be very cold in winter.

Good luck,
John

Thanks for the reply John. Any idea as to what sort of questions I should ask to find out whether the conservatory has been built properly and therefore work out what (if any) extra work is needed to make it a usable dining room year round?

docmatt

It's a timber built conny so it will have been built to some kind of standard to support the roof. From the pics it's hard to see what it's like. If it's double glazed and the roof doesn't leak then to be honest that's all that matters. We have an electric plug in heater for ours which is the same size as yours and it soon heats up.

All you need is the same and you've got your room ready for entertaining guests. You could always upgrade to a pvcu one when you have some spare money in the pot.

So main question is does it leak?

docmatt

The stone floor will be cold in the winter but a pair of slippers will sort that out!

CheekyB_2

docmatt wrote: »

It's a timber built conny so it will have been built to some kind of standard to support the roof. From the pics it's hard to see what it's like. If it's double glazed and the roof doesn't leak then to be honest that's all that matters. We have an electric plug in heater for ours which is the same size as yours and it soon heats up.

All you need is the same and you've got your room ready for entertaining guests. You could always upgrade to a pvcu one when you have some spare money in the pot.

So main question is does it leak?

It is apparently double glazed. My worry is how hot it gets in summer and how cold it gets in winter and the extra running costs in dealing with that - I don't want to simply be (literally) burning money away.

Does anyone have any experience with how south-west facing conservatories act in winter and how to minimise heat loss?

CheekyB_2

Found a newly advertised property today, and guess what? It also has a conservatory! Details found at: woodsestateagents.co.uk / SearchPropertyDetails.aspx?propid=AWK5441

Again, I have no idea as to if this conservatory is well designed or not and would serve my requirements. It is north-east facing, which I assme would be poor for evenings - however, both side walls are flly brick, which I assume is good?

I've searched so much online, but not been able to find anyting as to what makes a well-designed conservatory, depending on whether it is north/south/east/west facing. If anyone could have some pointers, that'd be really helpful.

devotee

CheekyB wrote: »

It is apparently double glazed. My worry is how hot it gets in summer and how cold it gets in winter and the extra running costs in dealing with that - I don't want to simply be (literally) burning money away.

Does anyone have any experience with how south-west facing conservatories act in winter and how to minimise heat loss?

I'd be more worried that you'd be cooking in the summer! Get some blinds.

Install the radiator and you'll be fine for winter.

My friend has a north facing conservatory adjacent to the kitchen (side return infill) and contrary what most people tell you, it's fine all year around, not too hot in the summer and fine in the winter.

CheekyB_2

devotee wrote: »

I'd be more worried that you'd be cooking in the summer! Get some blinds.

Install the radiator and you'll be fine for winter.

My friend has a north facing conservatory adjacent to the kitchen (side return infill) and contrary what most people tell you, it's fine all year around, not too hot in the summer and fine in the winter.

Any experiences of north west ones? I'd use it mostly in the evenings and I'd be worried that, especially in Winter, it'd be absolutely freezing in the evening and cost a bomb to heat.

devotee

If there's double glazing, especially the roof, you'd be fine. Yo will get some sun in every location, just not constant sun like in south.
Also it depends on the size of the room and the furnishings. Plus you have radiators.... think you worry too much!

CheekyB_2

devotee wrote: »

If there's double glazing, especially the roof, you'd be fine. Yo will get some sun in every location, just not constant sun like in south.
Also it depends on the size of the room and the furnishings. Plus you have radiators.... think you worry too much!

Maybe I am worrying to much

It's just that this is my first home purchase, and I've heard so many conflicting things about conservatories. In addition, I've never lived in a place with one before - so I can't use my own experience and I don't want to screw it up and have to live with a nightmare!