Conservatory Roofs

becs

just a recap on the planning thing. Planning permission is only required if the area is above a certain amount of the total property size. Below this is permitted development. Building regs would be required if less than 50% of the total wall area is glass. The dwarf wall that we have done is only 150mm higher than normal and doesn't make that much difference as the conservatory windows are still considerably more than 50% of the wall height. Having the wall at 750mm means it is same height as dining table so makes it alot more room like.

coolagarry

I seem to be in a minority. We have a 3m x 3m conservatory with dwarf walls and a triple something poly roof and we love it. (The pitter p[atter of the rain is really soothing) It is south facing and is generally unheated - divided from the dining room by the original patio doors.
We don't use it much in the winter but when we do I just run a small fan heater and it warms up in about 30mins.. No condensation. It cost about £5,000 but I tiled the floor myself.
We have four of these chairs in it http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S19840158
and as well as the central light and fan which was included in the price we have an additional light http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0022174/Trail/searchtext%3ELIGHTING.htm
for reading a book etc or when softer lighting is required.

I genuinely wouldnt change anything if I was doing it again.

redballoon_2

we used to have a very thin electric heater in there which we never used.

hoping to have a radiator put in but the trouble is all the walls are glass and only a tiny bit is bricked at the very bottom so the radiator would be seen from outside, i guess you can buy short long rads?

hadnt thought about underfloor heating to be honest so that may be an option. we have carpet down at the moment which is coming up soon!

DaveHemmerman

Ive been to the bank today can got the money so all been well will be getting started in the next few weeks, really excited now. We get the sun from 12pm-sundown so will be really useful, will be getting at least one big radiatior underfloor heating. Has anyone got a roof hatch to let the heat out in summer?

rtw123

Hi Dave

Have you decided if you are going for a glass roof or not? I think if you can afford it then glass is the better option. Our quote was £800 more for a glass roof so think we will be going ahead with this.

Are you keeping an external door separating your cons from main house? We want to remove ours but building regs won't allow it so having to have a re-think at the moment :mad:

amyface

becs wrote: »

Building regs would be required if less than 50% of the total wall area is glass.

Please people - don't necessirily take this as being factually accurate for your circumstances and obtain your own understanding - good starting points are to speak to your local council, search this forum and get sufficient information to understand the issues specific to yourself. .

If you want to comply with building regs (which is arguably the 'best thing' - to know your structure is built to a certain standard) you need a set of external standard doors between the house and the conservatory and treat it as unheated space.If you remove the doors into your existing home - you have to demonstrate the new area complies with heat loss regulations, which is very difficult with glass roofing, even the Pilkington 'K' glass.

Emmalou

Hi
As an alternative to bi-fold doors, what about doors with parliament hinges if space allows? Saw them in one of the last two issues of Move or Improve.

They just allow the doors to be pushed back completely flush with the wall rather than jut out into a room - but of course you have to have enough wall space to do this. You could then put furniture up against the doors, but still have the option to close the doors when it gets chilly - and of course keep the building inspector happy!

We decided against a conservatory because our house faces south west which is the hottest aspect apparently and it will be crucial living space, not an added extra. We are currently having a sun room built instead (with a solid roof).

Naughty suggestion, but could you not keep internal doors on until the building inspector visits and then take them off? Then when you sell, or decide you want some separation, you just rehang them (as somebody else suggeted I see).

rtw123

Hi Emmalou

Thanks for your advice re the doors, I will have to look into these and also the bi-fold ones. Building regs state that the doors have to be external doors in order to comply so will have a look at some websites to see what they are like.

To be honest it bugs me really that our next door neighbours have open plan and they didn't get building regs - I'm just too honest for my own good as my hubby would quite willingly remove the doors without getting approval and just sort it out when we need to sell. I know a lot of people do this so maybe this is something I may have to consider!

wasbrokegettingbetter

I don't know if this is of any interest, but we had a biggish conservatory put up late last year and had an argon filled double glazed glass roof.
It seemed a lot extra at the time (about £1100) but it has definitely been worth it.
We can see the sky but we don't need those fiddly blinds to keep the sun out in summer.
When I checked up blinds would have cost nearly as much and driven me mad.
It has a radiator and has been used every day right through the winter and the heating costs have not been too high.
It was never unbearable in summer.
Its the best improvement we have ever made to our house.

mrsmagoo_3

We had Tinted Celcius Glass in our conservatory roof, also fitted an aircon/heater unit. This has been used a max of 6 times during the winter and for no more than 30mins a time. We are very pleased with how efficient it all is...only pain is cleaning it.