Can You Make A Conservatory Work?

Jfhandel

Hello All
Despite COVID and the resultant massacre of our savings, we're still aspiring to extend our house at some point in the near future.
We have a 25 year conservatory on the back which suffers all the usual problems of being too cold in winter or too hot in summer. Otherwise, its lovely and provides a lot of space and a lovely view/access to the garden, for the other 6 months of the year. Its got a dwarf wall, its actually plumbed into the central heating, and its double glazed, so it seems half decent.
We have the option to demolish this and put a proper extension on the back. Or, we can build onto the side of the house and make the most of the conservatory.
I'll admit I'm loathe to spend a fair whack of cash on the first option, seeing as it will result in a lot of expense to demolish a decent existing structure and to re-create the same floorspace, even if it will be usable for the whole year - sort of like gaining only half a room. So, I'm wondering whether its really possible to improve the current structure to make it more usable (I recognise that it will never be as good as a proper structure). Do things like roof blinds, new glass etc actually work?
I'd rather spend some cash on making what we already have much more usable, to allow us then to blow the serious money on genuinely creating brand new space vs re-creating it.
All advice welcomed!

452

It's unlikely there is any insulation in the floor and to get what you want to achieve may not be possible get someone to do the heat calculations. It's not clear whether if you keep it what your plans are, to build off it? You may find that the footings aren't up to current building regs to form part of your extension if you plan that. 

Personally I'd take it down myself and start again. The main structure and wall could be gone in a day.  

Jfhandel

452 said:

It's unlikely there is any insulation in the floor and to get what you want to achieve may not be possible get someone to do the heat calculations. It's not clear whether if you keep it what your plans are, to build off it? You may find that the footings aren't up to current building regs to form part of your extension if you plan that. 

Personally I'd take it down myself and start again. The main structure and wall could be gone in a day.  

It’s not the demolition I’d worry about, more the cost of cost of what replaces it! FWIW I’d assume nothing would be reusable. 

452

Jfhandel said:

452 said:

It's unlikely there is any insulation in the floor and to get what you want to achieve may not be possible get someone to do the heat calculations. It's not clear whether if you keep it what your plans are, to build off it? You may find that the footings aren't up to current building regs to form part of your extension if you plan that. 

Personally I'd take it down myself and start again. The main structure and wall could be gone in a day.  

It’s not the demolition I’d worry about, more the cost of cost of what replaces it! FWIW I’d assume nothing would be reusable. 

Well in that case I'd decide what you really want then see what you can afford then maybe you may need to compromise.

Having had a conservatory I would only ever have one again for outdoor space in spring and summer when it's too cold to actually sit outside. 

I cant see you being happy in the long run reusing parts of the conservatory have spent good money to do it. 

WaywardDriver

To make our conservatory more useable we replaced the original polycarbonate roof with lightweight tiles. This does reduce the incoming light but evens out some of the fluctuations in temperature to the extent we can use it year-round.

TELLIT01

Our conservatory is usable all year round, but is only 7 years old, has insulation in the floor along with underfloor heating.  We also used the most efficient glazing we could find.  Even in the worst weather we have experienced we've managed to keep the temperature above 16c.  We don't use is a huge amount during the winter months but just turning the underfloor heating a couple of degrees makes it totally usable. 

I would doubt it would be practical to 'upgrade' and existing conservatory which is 25 years old.