Ready to order conservatory (at last!) Roof vent question

[Housemum]

At last we are almost ready to sign on the dotted line for the blooming thing - I have had such headaches trying to work out what exactly we want!!!

So, roof vents - yes or no? Who has had problems with theirs? One friend with a conservatory (from one of the best firms locally) had hers leak after 3 years. Fixed straight away, but my concern is if that happens every 3 years it's not much good! Unless she was just unlucky.

Ventilation wise we are south east facing so it will get hot. I'm in at some point most days so can open windows at lunchtimes at least to ventilate. Other than that, I think the tilt and turn windows we're having do have a trickle vent position, but there's nothing up high.

Also, we have a nice clear view through the roof - the vents will "clutter" that

Do I get roof vents or not? Help!!!!

[Housemum]

Any ideas?

[VinoEsmeralda]

We have no vents. I think that if we ever move and get a conservatory I would have roof vents put in but have no experience with conservatories with vents....

[biryani]

I have a large southwest facing conservatory, which gets seriously hot, but I never would have considered vents in the ceiling. What happens when it rains? EWould vents make that much difference anyway to the heat build up? I just keep the doors open to mine - I have stuff in the (polycarbonate) roof that reflects heat and glare and keeps it cooler.Good luck - it sounds lovely>

[iCooed]

We have south facer. Roof vent with temp thing and rain sensor on outside wall

[Housemum]

Biryani - what the conservatory companies call vents are little windows in the roof that you either open manually, by remote control, or automatically (like iCooed's)

The theory is that as heat rises, opening these will draw the heat out. I'm not entirely convinced that the hot air will know it's supposed to go out of the two little windows!

[GrendelsMum]

Good quality greenhouses always have roof vents with automatic openers. Even pretty crappy greenhouses have roof vents, plus associated floor vents to get the draft going.

But then plants are much, much more sensitive and important than humans, so maybe humans don't need these fancy touches?

The hot air does tend to obey the laws of physics, try as it might to do otherwise

[Pannacotta]

Yes to roof vents, they are an excellent way to control air flow etc.

[Katymac]

You need roof vents - they are essential

But they leak

[trumpton]

Have south facing sunroom. No roof vents. Just open french windows and other windows . I wouldn't trust them not to leak. friends Have roof vents and they leak .

[footstep]

We have a roof vent (east facing conservatory). Makes a huge difference in this lovely weather - would be impossibly hot in there without the vent.

We've not had any problem with leaks so far (5 years).

[jeanjeannie]

LOL@grendlesmum and hot air obeying the law of physics

Yep - you need them. They can leak - much depends on who fits them and how careful they are and the quality of sealant. We've found that lots of sealant (that we even used)the over the last decade was pretty crappy. It's got lots better now.

Unless you've got loads of £$ then save money and go for a pole opening...less to go wrong...and then you get some excercise opening them But heck, yes to roof vents.

[Housemum]

Thank you (jeanjeannie I was hoping you'd come on here!)

Right, e-mail has been sent to favourite conservatory company now - all our specifications on there - let's see what the price is now

(Fingers will be crossed as we should have now got the prices right to get the kitchen and the conservatory done at the same time - total disruption but at least all at the same time, will live off microwaved soup for weeks)