Adding a roof to my conservatory - does it make a difference

frank_olaf

I recently bought a house which has a conservatory attached to the lounge and kitchen (there is a door between the lounge and conservatory but not between the kitchen and the conservatory).

As it has been getting colder these last few weeks, I've noticed how cold it gets in the conservatory, especially in the morning and in the evening/night. I'm starting to look into solutions for this and have come across tile effect roof solutions like Guardian, supalite roof and the like.

I am in the process of getting quotes for these but I was wondering if anyone could share their experience with these? Does adding a tile effect roof and insulation like this actually work? Is the conservatory warmer in winter and cooler in the summer, as they all promise?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

SplanK

I know its not an answer to the question you asked, but is there no option to add a door between the kitchen and the conservatory?

SailorSam

Watch out for the cowboys who do that type of job 'cos a proper roof is going to be a lot heavier so they need to strenghen underneath.

frank_olaf

SplanK wrote: »

I know its not an answer to the question you asked, but is there no option to add a door between the kitchen and the conservatory?

I think that would be possible and would help keep the rest of the house warm but it would still mean the conservatory is really cold and pretty much unusable in the winter.

notakid

Hi
We had a brick built veranda built on the back of our house with a plastic roof. It was freezing in the winter and as we have a north/west facing garden it was unusable in the winter. We recently had a roof put on instead and removed the door from the kitchen making it open plan It is much warmer now and part of the house. However we also had the walls insulated too.
I know its not quite the same but it has really made a difference.

mpet

We had the same issue, bought a house with a sizeable conservatory. I don't like conservatories, but it would have been quite expensive to remove, re-do patio, remove plaster/render from external wall etc. We had a few quotes for replacement roofs and went with Cosy Roof. It wasn't cheap, but this is now a usable space. In the summer - it was like a greenhouse, but the roof has made it very comfortable. In winter - it was freezing, but the roof (along with the addition of a radiator) has made it a warm room.


In my opinion, if the conservatory is of a decent quality/size, it is worth doing.

edwink

A friend of mine had a roof put on her conservatory. Not sure who did the roof though or what type it is. The problem she now has it that it has made the conservatory dark and because her kitchen is attached to it behind it (if that makes sense). She now has to have the kitchen light on all day because it is now dark in there. On the plus side she added heating to the conservatory and now she is able to sit in there all year, in fact she now uses it as her dining room.


Hope that is some help.

notakid

We had windows put into the roof made a world of difference for light

frank_olaf

Thanks very much for all the comments so far.

Davesnave

Obviously, if insulated walls and a roof with roof lights are added, that's not at all the same thing as the OP originally suggested.

The various half-way house, lightweight roofs are a grey area, both from a structural and a planning POV. However many people think they are the best thing since sliced bread, while others liken them to putting lipstick on a pig. They won't make a kitchen/conservatory, as described, meet current building regs.

One thing is for sure: put an opaque roof on to a formerly clear structure and light levels in any room behind will reduce significantly.

LindaMary

We lined under our perpex panels with radiator foil and then clad over that with very lightweight white pvc cladding pinned to the roofing struts, if that makes sense? Still looks unchanged from the outside but retains the heat in winter and reduces the heat and sun in summer. Cost about £150 to achieve and looks really good.