Problematic conservatory- what would you do?

orangecrush

Hi moneysavers,

tl;dr: Has anyone replaced a polycarbonate roof on a south facing conservatory? What did you replace it with and how has it worked out? 

Long version:

I would like some advice on what we could do with our conservatory. Ideally, want to use it all year round for the kids play stuff. It adjoins the open plan kitchen diner.

Currently the roof is polycarbonate. It is on its last legs; lots of condensation, draughty, rattly… Also the room faces south. Over the summer it got to 54 degrees in there regularly. My sons crayons melted. (He wasn’t chuffed as they were dinosaur shaped). In winter it is not significantly warmer than the outside. 

The room just isn’t useable for half the year and has become a dumping ground that makes me sad. 

We want to replace the roof, and have been given a quote of £2500 for new polycarbonate. The same guy quoted £4600 for a blue tinted double glazed roof and £6800 for a lightweight tiled roof. All are affordable, just. 

If we’re going to replace the roof anyway, I think we should upgrade to either glass or lightweight tiles - but I don’t know which. My goal is to mitigate the extremes of temperature  so no more 54 degree or 8 degree days. Logically a lightweight tile roof seems like the best way of achieving that, but I see all the arguments around those roofs being dodgy building control wise, being a fad, negating the point of a conservatory in the first place… In which case that leads us to double glazed roof, but I worry that we’ll still get extremes of temperature in there (maybe just 40 degrees instead of 54). 

We can’t afford an extension as we’re saving for a loft conversion which is our priority. So we’re making the best of it. We bought the house with the conservatory- we would not choose to have one ourselves!

Sorry for the brain dump. Thanks for any input! 

andre_xs

We use a conservatory as our dining room for nearly a year now (first winter). It's not very big (roughly 3m x 3.5m). It's a wooden one with tinted 'multilayered' polycarbonate sheets as roof. Some of our experiences:

1. To count as conservatory, you need a certain amount of glass/transparent elements. So if the roof is made from tiles, it may not count as conservatory anymore. Personally, what would worry me most is the potential impact on for example the buildings insurance.

2. Ours is draft proof, but in winter, it's just a couple of degree warmer than outside. I don't think you can't do anything against it except heating it continuously. We have our breakfast in there as well, and having one electric 2kW heater is usually sufficient to warm it up enough to have breakfast. But even if the air is warm, table, chairs, etc stay cold. Not ideal, but feasible/manageable, and we don't have any other option.

3. For the summer, we just stuck aluminium tin foil / kitchen foil under the roof sheets and installed blinds. That helps a lot, but it still can get very warm in there. But with these measures, there are really only a few days where you don't want to be in there even with open doors.

4. In our old (rented) property, there was a huge conservatory which also got way too hot. There, I actually put the cheapest and thinnest artifical lawn (more like a green carpet) on the roof (from the outside). Also helped a lot, but needed some maintenance after high winds.

I guess number 3 and 4 wouldn't jeopardize the classification as conservatory, because it's not a structural change. The structural roof is still transparent, even if non-transparent stuff is stuck onto it. BTW, both options don't look particularly nice or neat - but again, we didn't have too much choice...

Hudsonbutler

We changed from a double glazed roof to a metal tile light weight roof. The difference is unbelievable, we do have two large radiators in there and is open plan to the kitchen.  We have no dividing doors it's  completely open. 
The temperature fluctuations are gone, we are ssw facing and open fields to the rear. Best money we've spent and all with building control thrown in.

andre_xs

But that's now per definition an extension (non-transparent roof, open plan to kitchen, I presume radiators connected to main central heating of the house), and not a conservatory anymore.

Soot2006

Your conservatory sounds like mine, OP.  I came the conclusion that it would never be a "GREAT" space like an extension and so I decided to fix it up as best I could on the cheap to make it a "BETTER" space.  We added insulation under the polycarb roof and then white PVC sheeting so it looks nice - it makes a bit difference and cost under £1000 DIY and then £200 to a handyman to make it look OK haha. Not like a real roof, but nothing like it was before. We added reflective window screening to the south side and thermal blinds all round. We keep one small window open year round so no more condensation or damp.... So that makes it cold, so I use a portable ceramic heater when I need it not cold - heats the whole space within minutes. Mine is used as a utility room with washing machine, kitchen counters for extra space, etc, shoe storage, plants. The dogs play in there - would easily accommodate a kid's playroom. In the meantime, I spent my money on more long-term useful upgrades!

Annemos

Mine is only accessed from the outside. I had a new polycarbonate roof put on which is great and I just use it from about March to October. It is lovely when it is windy outside. 

Here's a question I have wondered about. If one was to decide to take it down later and not build a new one or an extension. 

How would one best deal with the concrete floor slab? 

There is only one brick in height between the top of the concrete floor and the Damp Course layer. Would you have to dig the whole lot up? Or do you think one could drill out and put a drainage gulley along there, next to the wall? 

Thank you. 

orangecrush

andre_xs said:

We use a conservatory as our dining room for nearly a year now (first winter). It's not very big (roughly 3m x 3.5m). It's a wooden one with tinted 'multilayered' polycarbonate sheets as roof. Some of our experiences:

1. To count as conservatory, you need a certain amount of glass/transparent elements. So if the roof is made from tiles, it may not count as conservatory anymore. Personally, what would worry me most is the potential impact on for example the buildings insurance.

2. Ours is draft proof, but in winter, it's just a couple of degree warmer than outside. I don't think you can't do anything against it except heating it continuously. We have our breakfast in there as well, and having one electric 2kW heater is usually sufficient to warm it up enough to have breakfast. But even if the air is warm, table, chairs, etc stay cold. Not ideal, but feasible/manageable, and we don't have any other option.

3. For the summer, we just stuck aluminium tin foil / kitchen foil under the roof sheets and installed blinds. That helps a lot, but it still can get very warm in there. But with these measures, there are really only a few days where you don't want to be in there even with open doors.

4. In our old (rented) property, there was a huge conservatory which also got way too hot. There, I actually put the cheapest and thinnest artifical lawn (more like a green carpet) on the roof (from the outside). Also helped a lot, but needed some maintenance after high winds.

I guess number 3 and 4 wouldn't jeopardize the classification as conservatory, because it's not a structural change. The structural roof is still transparent, even if non-transparent stuff is stuck onto it. BTW, both options don't look particularly nice or neat - but again, we didn't have too much choice...

Thanks! Those are really useful thoughts. I share your concern about what the tiles mean for the classification of the room - having said that ours already has a radiator, so it may be that the building control bridge is crossed already so in for a penny etc. 

We need to replace the roof anyway as the polycarbonate is cracked in places; the conservatory was built in 2013 so I think for polycarbonate that’s a decent innings. So for us it’s a case of, given we’re already replacing the roof, what can we do to make the best of it. I’m afraid I’m a bit house-proud and prefer nice and neat finishes 🤪

Hudsonbutler said:

We changed from a double glazed roof to a metal tile light weight roof. The difference is unbelievable, we do have two large radiators in there and is open plan to the kitchen.  We have no dividing doors it's  completely open. 
The temperature fluctuations are gone, we are ssw facing and open fields to the rear. Best money we've spent and all with building control thrown in.

That’s interesting! So even double glazed roof gave you extremes of temperature?

Good to know you’ve had a good experience with yours.

Soot2006 said:

Your conservatory sounds like mine, OP.  I came the conclusion that it would never be a "GREAT" space like an extension and so I decided to fix it up as best I could on the cheap to make it a "BETTER" space.  We added insulation under the polycarb roof and then white PVC sheeting so it looks nice - it makes a bit difference and cost under £1000 DIY and then £200 to a handyman to make it look OK haha. Not like a real roof, but nothing like it was before. We added reflective window screening to the south side and thermal blinds all round. We keep one small window open year round so no more condensation or damp.... So that makes it cold, so I use a portable ceramic heater when I need it not cold - heats the whole space within minutes. Mine is used as a utility room with washing machine, kitchen counters for extra space, etc, shoe storage, plants. The dogs play in there - would easily accommodate a kid's playroom. In the meantime, I spent my money on more long-term useful upgrades!

Thank you! That’s one of my concerns about spending four figures on this: is it going to make it what we need? The roof needs to be replaced anyway, so it’s just a case of “what with”. Your solution sounds innovative for sure! But I’m a bit particular about how things look, I’m not sure it would give us the finish we want. But it’s definitely worth considering! 

Annemos said:

Mine is only accessed from the outside. I had a new polycarbonate roof put on which is great and I just use it from about March to October. It is lovely when it is windy outside. 

Here's a question I have wondered about. If one was to decide to take it down later and not build a new one or an extension. 

How would one best deal with the concrete floor slab? 

There is only one brick in height between the top of the concrete floor and the Damp Course layer. Would you have to dig the whole lot up? Or do you think one could drill out and put a drainage gulley along there, next to the wall? 

Thank you. 

Please start your own thread with this question, as it doesn’t relate to my initial post and I don’t want it to get sidelined.
Thank you! 

Soot2006

Haha I am usually particular about how things look, but when it comes to thousands and thousands ... It actually looks like a normal ceiling (albeit plastic) from the inside and from the outside it just looks like a conservatory, so it's relatively inoffensive. Here a very pale and bland picture mid re-painting after the ceiling went in.  It's 270cm x 500cm so a useful space overall! (and yes, it's built across a bathroom window ... and over a drain ... we did not build it!) But it's become a very useful space to us nontheless

andre_xs

One more thought regarding the roof: I don't know for sure, because I don't have experience with it. But I think that as long as you have a transparent roof, it'll get too hot in there. No matter whether it's cheap polycarbonate or sophisticated coated glass. It may make it a bit better or worse, but the real difference is to have a 'proper' non-transparent ceiling. If it's a provisional job with something thin, apply it on the outside whenever possible. But please correct me if I'm wrong.

I think we have good polycarbonate. Brown dark colour, with 5 inner "chambers" or "layers". If we put the above mentioned aluminium kitchen foil on the inside, and the sun shines on it, it gets so hot that you can't touch it. It then radiates heat downwards.

We used to look around for the films you can apply yourself to the windows. Ratings of them are very mixed, with most saying that it doesn't make too much difference...

orangecrush

Soot2006 said:

Haha I am usually particular about how things look, but when it comes to thousands and thousands ... It actually looks like a normal ceiling (albeit plastic) from the inside and from the outside it just looks like a conservatory, so it's relatively inoffensive. Here a very pale and bland picture mid re-painting after the ceiling went in.  It's 270cm x 500cm so a useful space overall! (and yes, it's built across a bathroom window ... and over a drain ... we did not build it!) But it's become a very useful space to us nontheless

That actually looks lovely! So much nicer than it sounded, we’ll definitely look into that! andre_xs said:

One more thought regarding the roof: I don't know for sure, because I don't have experience with it. But I think that as long as you have a transparent roof, it'll get too hot in there. No matter whether it's cheap polycarbonate or sophisticated coated glass. It may make it a bit better or worse, but the real difference is to have a 'proper' non-transparent ceiling. If it's a provisional job with something thin, apply it on the outside whenever possible. But please correct me if I'm wrong.

I think we have good polycarbonate. Brown dark colour, with 5 inner "chambers" or "layers". If we put the above mentioned aluminium kitchen foil on the inside, and the sun shines on it, it gets so hot that you can't touch it. It then radiates heat downwards.

We used to look around for the films you can apply yourself to the windows. Ratings of them are very mixed, with most saying that it doesn't make too much difference...

Oh yes those films 🙄 We tried them over the summer and the heat melted the adhesive off and we found them all on the floor 😂 

You’ve hit the nail on the head with your first paragraph- I think that’s what I’m worried about. I don’t want to spend money on anything that is not going to being us a serious improvement, but we need the space to be usable. And don’t have the money for a proper extension! Rats. 

Hudsonbutler

Our roof now .no regrets.