Ventilation in a conservatory - Dri-master or Lofty remcon??

savethatcash

Hello MSEs.

I'm hoping someone could give me some advice please?
I'll provide a [STRIKE]bit[/STRIKE] a lot of background to set the scene...
* Living in N Yorkshire in a south facing 1930's double fronted semi with a North facing conservatory on the back (c. 3m x3m). Almost no sun reaches conservatory.
* The conservatory is currently separated from the kitchen diner by two external french doors by previous owners to meet building regs. The dining area is at front of house and kitchen in the middle between dining area and conservatory so when cooking, I think the water vapour is more likely pulled to conservatory (and the cooler roof?)
* 3 years ago we internally insulated the conservatory by using batons, insulation foil and plastic cladding, not perfect but made a huge difference compared to to the poly carbonate roof. We didn't pay much as all materials were purchased at cost from manufacturer and was worth the expense for the difference it made.
* Although we have a radiator in conservatory (connected to boiler), we still need a portable oil filled radiator on chilly days.
* Have dehumidifier on almost constantly during spring, autumn and winter to stop condensation on Windows and in corners of conservatory... It fills a lot.
* Conservatory is one full brick wall, dwarf wall round remaining two walls with windows and patio doors leading to garden.

We are now in a position where we can afford to install a lightweight tiled roof to the conservatory (maybe with a velux or two?)

Although the room will undoubtedly be warmer, will i still potentially have an issue with condensation and black spots in the corner?

Would installing an air brick help?

I have seen these air systems for a few hundred pounds (dri-master or lofty remcon) - does anyone know if this would help? And potentially disperse water vapour from the kitchen too? For the few hundred pounds I'm thinking it's going to be worth a try but wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts and resolutions.

I hope all this makes sense, and if you've managed to read all of this post... THANKS!

ComicGeek

Install a proper extract fan in your kitchen to get rid of the excess moisture at source.

Close the French doors between the house and conservatory when you're cooking, and when the conservatory's not being used. As it's north facing it's a drain on your heating rather than any benefit. It will always be colder than the rest of the house, trying to heat it to the same temperature is just a waste of money.

savethatcash

Thank you Comic Geek. Would you say, saving the money that I'd spend on a new roof and instead knock down and have a proper extension built?

The room is used a lot as a play room/extra TV room so kids are always in and out.

I was planning on removing the external type french doors and replace with internal french doors and remove the threshold so it's all o e level if that makes sense.

I don't want to spend the money on a new roof and regret not waiting a year to have a proper extension. I thought, yes, there's more glad than a normal room (2 sides) but having a proper roof would be just like an extension?!

Aylesbury_Duck

I don't understand why the conservatory is getting condensation from the kitchen? I thought you had French doors between them? Do you have the doors open, even at this time of year? If so, then of course the conservatory is going to get damp because the warm air will hit its cold surfaces. Good extraction in the kitchen is one important thing to do if you can, but keeping the conservatory isolated from the rest of the house in winter will have the biggest effect on its condensation and on your heating bills.

Aylesbury_Duck

savethatcash wrote: »

Thank you Comic Geek. Would you say, saving the money that I'd spend on a new roof and instead knock down and have a proper extension built?

The room is used a lot as a play room/extra TV room so kids are always in and out.

I was planning on removing the external type french doors and replace with internal french doors and remove the threshold so it's all o e level if that makes sense.

I don't want to spend the money on a new roof and regret not waiting a year to have a proper extension. I thought, yes, there's more glad than a normal room (2 sides) but having a proper roof would be just like an extension?!

Ah I see, you're using it as extra living space all year round.

Technically I don't think you're supposed to fit an internal door. To comply with the regs the conservatory is treated as an outbuilding, so any entrances to it from the house have to be "external standard". It's not something that is policed rigorously but it's something that would be queried if you ever sell the house. You can get proper, external-grade doors with a level threshold, I have one between my kitchen and conservatory.

Given your existing use for the conservatory and the fact that it's on the cold side of the house in a colder part of the country, yes, I would pull it down and build a proper extension when you can afford to do so.

Typhoon2000

We have something similar. A 5x4m Noth facing conservatory behind the kitchen which we use as a dinner and snug area. It has insulated light weight tiled roof, all double glazed windows and 3 radiators. The doors to the conservatory are permanently open and we haven’t any condensation at all. We do have a extractor hood above the hob which we use religiously.
The kitchen has two original single glazed stained glass windows, so
I would say the conservatory is warmer than the kitchen.