conservatory ventilation

QuestionsQuestions

Hi.

We are getting a conservatory built. one side will be full height wall. the other side dwarf wall with 3 opening windows and the front patio doors with full glass either side these will be fixed to brick piers at the front. My question is about ventilation.
It will have a lean to roof and the conservatory company say roof ventilation is more hassle than its worth - however, I want it to be an all year room so it have pilkington blue k glass etc and underfloor heating but as it is south east facing I am concerned with it over heating in the summer..other than roof vents what are my options...? I thought about brick vents but i dont really have any clue..hence this post..can any body offer advice please..

Thanks:D

Silver-Surfer_2

Are you having a glass roof?

happy35

I have a blue glass roof and no vents, I open the windows and it is fine.

Furts

You need to check out your windows. Is at least one facing the prevailing wind, are they evenly spaced, will they purge the conservatory of hot air, are they proper opening windows, and not just a few top hung vent window?

I would always recommend copious trickle vents - ideally one per frame unit. On a typical conservatory this will give you say six.

All this should have been discussed with you by your conservatory company. If it has not then you should be asking why not.

cyclonebri1

As above, you need cross ventilation to change the air more frequently.
I wouldn't go with brickwork vents, the heat will be greatest at high level so top opening windows are the key in my view.
Mine is a free standing conservatory with 1 side 75% brick but with 2 opening windows, this means we have openers to each of the 4 sides, we simply modulate these to suit day to day conditions and I can genuinely say we don't have an over heat situation.

QuestionsQuestions

It will be a pilkington blue glass roof. will ventilation be compromised if we only have openers on 2 sides e.g. at the front and on the side as the other wall adjoining the house if a full height brick (cant have small top windows - as we planned as next door are having an extension too so access to clean would be nil).
Thanks again

cyclonebri1

QuestionsQuestions wrote: »

It will be a pilkington blue glass roof. will ventilation be compromised if we only have openers on 2 sides e.g. at the front and on the side as the other wall adjoining the house if a full height brick (cant have small top windows - as we planned as next door are having an extension too so access to clean would be nil).
Thanks again

You are obviously spending a few bob and want to use it all year round so it's your decision, why be put off by the supplying/installing bods, it's not them that have to live with it, I don't have 1 because of my above post but my daughter does, it's electric and controlled remotely, works for her.;);)

Furts

QuestionsQuestions wrote: »

It will be a pilkington blue glass roof. will ventilation be compromised if we only have openers on 2 sides e.g. at the front and on the side as the other wall adjoining the house if a full height brick (cant have small top windows - as we planned as next door are having an extension too so access to clean would be nil).
Thanks again

Every conservatory is bespoke, and should be designed to suit the property. You must get a design that you are happy with - this is vital, and it is also what you are paying for even if you are not aware of the cost of this design, it being hidden in the overall quote.

You have to consider the roof pitches, roof shape, access, future maintenance, cleaning, orientation, shading and so on.

Ventilation is a key area and sorry bri, but you are wrong on the top openers. This is somewhat old fashioned, and people require proper full height cooling breeze, no cool head warm body, nor vision obstructed by the top opening window frame. Full height, unobstructed units are the answer, set on dwarf walls.

Nobody on this Forum can answer your queries in full detail because they have not surveyed your property. This survey and design is usually left to the conservatory installers. In countless cases they could not give a t-ss about this, and bad design is the norm. The fact that you are asking questions suggests you are unhappy with your chosen conservatory company. I suggest you do some deep thinking about their competence and suitability.

Silver-Surfer_2

If you want a room you can use all year round why are you having a conservatory?

QuestionsQuestions

Hi All, thank you for all your comments.
I want a glass room for the light mainly..I was going to go with a vaulted glass ceiling but it is still dark compared to full glass and from what I have read about pilkington K blue activ glass it is effective in creating a room that can be used all year round...although I have no direct experience of whether this is true or not! The conservatory company originally thought the openings on each side of the conservatory would be adequate but since this we have found out next door are extending hence the reason to build a full height brick wall without windows. The front would be all glass for the view (5m) and its a lean to design so i just wanted to know what other people have done.
Thanks again

Furts

QuestionsQuestions wrote: »

Hi All, thank you for all your comments.
I want a glass room for the light mainly..I was going to go with a vaulted glass ceiling but it is still dark compared to full glass and from what I have read about pilkington K blue activ glass it is effective in creating a room that can be used all year round...although I have no direct experience of whether this is true or not! The conservatory company originally thought the openings on each side of the conservatory would be adequate but since this we have found out next door are extending hence the reason to build a full height brick wall without windows. The front would be all glass for the view (5m) and its a lean to design so i just wanted to know what other people have done.
Thanks again

It is possible you are being taken in by the sales spin from Pilkington.

In simple terms, it is not the glass that maters but the area of the glass. Your lean to design will minimise the roof area and thus the heat losses in winter and heat gain in summer.

What glass goes in this is down to you. On a recent conservatory I was involved in there was a choice of at least six types - all claimed with different U Values, and the choice was really based on what could be justified, or afforded.