Kitchen opened up to conservatory

Rambosmum

We saw a house like this recently, very well done and looked lovely but I worried about the heating cost implications - the EPC was dreadful so it was an instant no for me.

SuzieSue

I would never buy a house with this set up. I am amazed by the previous posts where people have said that it does not make their house colder or affect their heating bills. All I can think is that the people saying this don't feel the cold as much as I do.

I have a conservatory which is separated by doors from the house and would never use it between October and March as it is far too cold and would cost too much to heat.

rtho782

If you get a decent conservatory, triple glazed for example, with a glazed roof, and half height brick with cavity on the walls, etc there isn't really much reason for it to lose much heat at all.

SuzieSue

rtho782 wrote: »

If you get a decent conservatory, triple glazed for example, with a glazed roof, and half height brick with cavity on the walls, etc there isn't really much reason for it to lose much heat at all.

I have a decent conservatory with an Activ blue glass roof but it still loses a lot of heat. I don't have triple glazed windows but the roof is the main problem with all conservatories which is why it is against building regulations to have them open to the rest of the house.

HouseBuyer77

Indeed it does heavily depend upon construction.

Mine has what I think are cavity (certainly double width at least, not single skin) half height walls on one side, with a full height brick wall on the other side, double glazing and thick polycarbonate roofing (maybe not as good as glass, but trapped air insulates all the same).

EPCs will tell you very little about how well a conservatory will keep in heat. Quality of construction also important. Could have all the bells and whistles but if it's put together poorly it'll still leak heat.

Davesnave

If this sort of thing is done properly, i.e. involving Building Control, they will usually want the insulation values beefed up elsewhere in the house to compensate.

glasgowdan

Our conservatory is a proper useable room in winter. It's a big room with two radiators. No draughts. The only time it's not comfy is during the hotter summer days, but we'd be outside on those days.

It's positively cosy. It's minus 5 just now and I'm perfectly relaxed having my morning coffee in there.

It's all down to the quality of build and materials.

flea72

I have full height cavity wall on one external wall, all others are dwarf. However i only have polycarb roof (couldnt afford glass). Current temp in conservatory is 19c, so not cold. Heating is by radiator, from central heating. Pay £50/m for gas (cooking/heating/hot water), so no i dont think that is too bad for a 3bed semi

Davesnave

glasgowdan wrote: »

It's positively cosy. It's minus 5 just now and I'm perfectly relaxed having my morning coffee in there.

Isn't it a bit late for morning coffee?

Your post says 21.10.

wolfplayer

glasgowdan wrote: »

Our conservatory is a proper useable room in winter. It's a big room with two radiators. No draughts. The only time it's not comfy is during the hotter summer days, but we'd be outside on those days.

It's positively cosy. It's minus 5 just now and I'm perfectly relaxed having my morning coffee in there.

It's all down to the quality of build and materials.

All glass allows the passage of heat.

Fine in Summer as it shines in.

Winter and heat just leaks out.

Perhaps fine if you're at full belt with the heating in there.