Conservatory hatred!!

[LovingTheSunshine]

Yep, HATE our conservatory as it is too hot in summer/too cold in winter. the glare from the sun is annoying too. Have been looking into putting a lightweight tiled roof on - anybody done this? The foundations are 1m deep. Also, is Pilkington glass as good as the salesman was harping on? Thanks

[OneLittleBabyTerror]

I love my conservatory except in winter. It's an extension to the garden really. I have outdoor furniture in it, with DD outdoor toys (sand and water table kind of thing).

Is the Pilkington glass for the roof? We've got a glass roof with those anti-glare whatever high tech name you say glass. It looks brilliant because you can see through to the sky and clouds. But it won't really stop the glare, and it won't keep it cool when the sun is shining into it. We wear our sunglasses in the conservatory. But DH and I are kiwis so we are very good with the British heat.

As for keeping it warm in the winter, I doubt the roof will do much. It's how well the whole conservatory is insulated, isn't it? Is the wall in it as good as your house? How about the floor? Is it well insulated? Otherwise, you'll be spending a lot just heating it up.

[OneLittleBabyTerror]

For the heat, I mean we both find 25-30C very comfortable, while our english friends would whine how hot it is.

[reluctanttownie]

Have you got roof blinds and heating out there? We have Pilkington glass in ours with some added sun film thing on it, but without roof blinds and underfloot heating it would still be unusable for much of the year. We also have voiles at the windows for particularly bright days. As it is, though, it's my favourite room and usable all year round although we tend not to sit out there on absolutely freezing winter nights to save on the underfloor heating as you do really have to crank it up when it gets very cold. (V pricey thanks to no one advising us to get a hot water water rather than electric system). In the hot summer we throw the doors open and it's not too hot.

[Tansie]

Do try and find a way of cutting the glare in your conservatory. As a poster says, a roof may not be the answer but a 'good' conservatory is a joy! We bought our house 2 years ago, and I moaned a bit about how I wish that, instead of spending £8000 on this, they'd put a 'sun room' in but now, we use it all the time! It extends our 'garden' appreciation by 4 months each year (we were in it in Nov last year, back in in March- it isn't heated). We have that expensive pilkingtons anti-glare glass.

Sure, in the height of summer, it'd be unbearably hot in there but we throw the doors wide, open the skylight and the slit windows and it's fine- not to sit in but it is no longer a furnace.

[OneLittleBabyTerror]

March to november sounds right to me too. It's really good if you think of it as a garden room. Ours not heated, but we have a good convection heater to use in it when needed. It does keep the conservatory warm while it's on, but I can just feel the money draining away! We only use it when we need the space with guests.

[OneLittleBabyTerror]

We just have the doors and windows wide open too when it's very sunny. The breeze makes the conservatory very comfortable.

[Tansie]

What direction does your conservatory face, loving? Ours is SE so loses its direct sunlight by early to mid afternoon in the summer.

[Mendeleyev]

We've just had our conservatory roof insulated. They put 2 layers of insulation and then covered it up with uPVC. So we still have the conservatory roof shape. It cost just over a grand. It's made it more comfortable light wise already. We have our dining table in there and on sunny days it could be unbearable. It's still light in there but the awful glare had gone. Our hope is that it will be warmer in winter as we really need the space. We're going to look into hooking it into our central heating system. The company were called eclipse roof.

[Miller1977]

We love our conservatory, I definitely think if you are looking at getting one, not to cut corners. In our old house we have a what you could call a conservatory of some sort, but it was more like a greenhouse! Hence we didn't use it much. You have to get the right roof to make it worthwhile

[fussychica]

We couldn't live without ours as the house is quite small. We use it all the time - it's heated in winter and has blinds which cut glare and do insulate a bit. If we found it too hot in summer I'd just add an aircon unit but it's not been an issue THIS summer!

[Miller1977]

Yeah, it hasn't been an issue this summer has it! Although you nevre know, apparently its getting better next week, so you may need to get the aircon out after all!

[LovingTheSunshine]

It is a big conservatory 20 x 10 approx, so a fantastic space...just wish it wasn't a conservatory!! It has dwarf walls on 3 sides, 1 vent & the small windows at the top of all the side windows can open. We have an air conditioning unit & blinds on the windows but not the roof. Sounds good but we have a SW facing garden so we have sun late morning until late night. HOT. I'd much prefer a proper roof in there...the sun glares through the roof & I don't want to have to wear sunglasses. We've had a quote of £8k to replace the roof/frame with Pilkington glass - does anyone think that is steep? the guy went form saying about £2k for a ne roof to saying a new roof would not be cheap & then returning with his quote. I know the glare issue will not be solved & putting blinds on the roof will combat the glare but not the heat as it has already entered the conservatory & is trapped behind the blinds. I wish it was a summer room!!!

[tricot39]

Special glass will help a little but like lipstick on a gorilla it is not going to be a massive transformation.

You need a solid roof or external blinds to stop the heat getting in. Once it is through you are hot so internal blinds will only help with glare rather than temperature.

I would investigate the insulated upvc roof if that is all the weight the walls will take.

[LovingTheSunshine]

That's what I keep saying to my husband in that a proper roof is the way to go. We had a builder round last week who said he knows somebody who may be able to help so we will ring him on Monday. So hard finding!!

[MelanieWiggles]

Don't mean to hijack the thread but we are putting in a conservatory type kitchen extension (large roof lantern with brick surround as opposed to full glass roof) and I am worried as I also have a SW facing garden which does -when the sun shines - get very warm. I had intended putting in pale glass tiles - would I be better from a glare perspective to get a darker floor covering (wood / slate) ?

[MelanieWiggles]

Sorry, not glass tiles - porcelain tiles.

[Llareggub]

The heat in my conservatory isn't particularly an issue, as I tend to keep the doors open all the time. I have tall walls either side so only one wall of glass and an anti-glare roof. My main problem with ours is that it was built as an extension to the house, so in winter the house gets freezing. I am hoping to sell and move before next winter as the cost of heating it is prohibitive.

I also don't like how it becomes a cemetery for insects. Yuck.

[OneLittleBabyTerror]

OP I can see the problem if it's SW facing. Ours is SE so it's only mornings we need sunglasses. By the afternoon it's just nice and warm. We don't have any blinds for it at all. We both just love the large expanse of glass.

[Tansie]

Melanie I'd probably not put pale tiles in. Can you put your flooring in last, after the lantern is built so you can actually test it out before making an expensive mistake? Cover the floor with pale sheets, then try with something darker?

My in laws had a similar-sounding set-up where they put in a pale floor covering to 'bring the light into the house' BUT you had to shield your eyes when you walked into the room, the glare from the floor was so much! A darker carpet sorted it.

[nickyone]

With regards to the heat and glare in conservatories I would thoroughly recommend installing solar control window film to the glass roof and side panes which reduces heat and glare by as much as 80%.
Recommend Guardian Films (0121 693 4747).

[kjg24]

I am getting a North facing conservatory but the builders have put on an anti-glare roof, can anyone advise if this will reduce the heat inside the conservatory? Am looking to use ot from about March - October each year but am thinking direct sun is not really an issue so do I need anti-glare? Thak you

[Sallylondon]

@Kjg24 - if it’s north facing, surely the conservatory site must sit in the shade of your house almost all day?
I am not a fan of conservatories and would always tread with caution - though mine is south facing and gets ridiculously hot. North facing, you might be ok.
Def advise you start a new thread (rather than hijack this old one) - call it “North facing conservatory” and perhaps you’ll attract some posters who actually have first hand experience of one.

[FatBarry]

I'm having a tiled roof put on mine as we speak. The tiles are on, the electrics first fix was done Friday, the soffits and guttering are being done tomorrow and the plasterers come Tuesday. I reckon the whole thing will take about 10 days including a day each for the scaffolding up and down. 9k in total, and I have to say, I am more than a little bit thrilled with it so far.