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AIBU?

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Original poster

To hate my conservatory?

54 replies

Lunchtimeburrito · 30/06/2017 09:45

Had wanted one for years.
We spent a small fortune having one built 10 years ago. Looks lovely, we spent a lot having the proper blinds fitted etc.
Problems is, we never use it!
It's south facing, boiling hot in the summer and so bright you have to wear sunglasses. Come winter time it's so, so cold. We have a massive radiator in it but it costs a small fortune to heat.
Got a quote to add ceiling and changing the roof to a tiled one so we can make it into a garden/summer room but was quoted £8k 😢
So, basically it's a nice looking spare room, wish I'd spent the money on a new kitchen instead!

OP posts:
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6
Rinoachicken · 30/06/2017 12:02

I have a south facing conservatory, glass roof, which is tinged slightly but makes no difference as it still gets to 40 in summer and is unusable.

It was put in by the previous tenants who part owned the property but now it's back with the council (I'm a council tenant) and I can't afford to have it taken down or replace the roof or anything.

If anyone has any ideas I'd be very grateful. I've been tempted to paint the roof glass white, would that help??

Rinoachicken · 30/06/2017 12:07

Using solar reflective paint I meant - a tin of which costs about £50 on amazon

Shosha1 · 30/06/2017 12:15

Our conservatory is our main living room.
It's south facing, but the doors are always open, and we use fans in the summer.
We only have one radiator in there and to be honest it's not on that much, as find the sun even in the winter keeps it warm.

It opens into the kitchen / diner ( former tiny kitchen and sitting room) and find in the winter if we have the oven on we usually have to open the French doors.

Mycarsmellsoflavender · 30/06/2017 12:18

We use ours for drying clothes in too. Pretty much all year round. South west facing.

Now have a small sofa too - there are plenty of rainy days in summer when it's nice to sit out there and read - I much prefer natural light. And sunny winter days when you get them are lovely - I sometimes take my lunch out there in winter even though it's unheated.

I think it depends how much space you've got in the rest of the house as to what you do with it. There's no doubt that garden rooms are more useable for more of the time so if you need the extra space then do it. But since you've spent a lot on it including blinds and if it's still in good condition, you'll feel like you've wasted a lot of money. I wonder if it would have to be rebuilt to support a heavier tiled roof. Don't roof blinds have largely the same effect?

Shosha1 · 30/06/2017 12:20

Our conservatory

To hate my conservatory?
To hate my conservatory?
To hate my conservatory?
missyB1 · 30/06/2017 12:23

Ours was put on by the previous owners and is the full width of the house. Fancy glass, supposedly climate control facility blah blah .. I hate it!! It's houses my ironing board and the dogs stuff and some of ds toys. It's impossible to keep the roof clean and the flies are constantly coming in. I will never ever buy another house with a conservatory!

rollonthesummer · 30/06/2017 12:23

Daft question, but what is a garden room?!

AsleepAtMyDesk · 30/06/2017 12:32

Shosha that looks lovely! Really warm and friendly.
rollon I don't know what a garden room is but I imagine it is like a conservatory but built better.

eggsandwich · 30/06/2017 12:46

We had a conservatory put on in our last house, didn't really think it through as we also had a south facing garden, it was attached to the lounge and in the summer even with the doors open the heat was awful despite having expensive blinds that were meant to keep the heat out.

If we had stayed I think we would of got rid of the conservatory and just extended the property instead, but I would never have another one and I think it would actually put me off buying a property if it had one.

Original poster
Lunchtimeburrito · 30/06/2017 13:52

Shosha that's lovely, really colourful and inviting. How did you get your curtain poles up, did you drill into the plastic? Would love curtains in mine it would make it look much nicer (still be hot though!)

OP posts:
Grenoble124 · 30/06/2017 13:58

My father has one. It is used as a living room so when I visit I have to sit in it all day. It is usually stifling in sun but very warm in the winter. I hate it but you can definitely get it warmer.

Shosha1 · 30/06/2017 14:08

Curtain poles are drilled into plastic, and fixed with special screws. DH did it. The poles are not actual curtain poles either. They are really long plumbing pipes so that they fitted without to many joins

Therealslimshady1 · 30/06/2017 14:17

We have a south facing conservatory (South coast so lots,of sun) added onto our living room and love it.

It is rarely too hot.

It has a "normal" tiled roof, I think that makes quite a big difference. Our next door neighbours have a glass roof and really regret it.

Should not cost £8k though

Deux · 30/06/2017 15:14

If you really want to use it then you need to change the roof for a proper roof or stop the sun getting in through the roof somehow.

No amount of fancy-schmanzy glass and blinds is going to significantly eliminate solar gain as evidenced by all these posts.

The trouble is that it's not always possible to swap the roof for a conventional tiled roof as such a roof is too heavy for the walls and usually foundations are shallow.

There are ways round this. So a specialist company that uses light weight materials. Or a conventional roof but extended over the footprint of the conservatory supported on pillars and the back of the house.

I'd suggest getting some builders round and ask their opinions.

There's also the quick and dirty option of insulation under plasterboard then skimmed and fitted on the inside. This might be a good option if you do think you'll want to build an extension.

I only know all this as we had our large W/SW facing conservatory pulled down and replaced with an extension.

nina2b · 30/06/2017 15:15

I think they are awful. Would never have such a thing.

brexitstolemyfuture · 30/06/2017 15:19

Very 90s, haven't known anyone get one in years. People just get extensions with huge doors and skylights these days.

InDubiousBattle · 30/06/2017 15:25

When we moved into our (rented)house I was so looking forward to having a conservatory! It's quite nice in there today.....and about three other days a year! The rest of the time it is seventh circle of hell hot or artic-see-your-breath cold. I mistakenly left a box of the kids crayons in there one (not incredibly warm)Summers day and came back to a pot of wax mess.

Ethereall · 30/06/2017 15:28

This is our south west facing conservatory. I absolute love it. It's my sanctuary. It does get a bit too hot some days but on the whole it's fine. In the winter it's wonderful to sit out in with the winter sunlight. Luckily it is heated and really helps with my SAD.

To hate my conservatory?
To hate my conservatory?
To hate my conservatory?
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 30/06/2017 15:29

I hate mine too, it's useable as on the cool side of the house but takes so much to keep it clean.

I wonder if you talk to a local builder rather than a 'specific company' wether the quote would be less?

PrivatePike · 30/06/2017 15:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

UrsulaPandress · 30/06/2017 15:35

I love my conservatory. Open all the doors and windows on hot days and it's fab.

Lanie23 · 16/03/2018 21:13

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sleepylittlebunnies · 16/03/2018 21:46

We only have a lounge and kitchen downstairs so if it wasn’t for our full width of house conservatory we would feel very cramped. It has poly carb roof, plastered and painted/wallpapered walls and solid oak flooring. We fitted made to measure blinds ordered online for £200. We’ve got a tall radiator at one end and air con fitted to the other which also pumps out heat in the winter. It’s the kids play room and houses most of their toys, has a massive table and chairs and a big corner sofa at the other end where the TV and games consoles are. It is used daily and also enables us to have big family parties at home.

youvegottobekidding · 16/03/2018 22:12

I'd love love a conservatory, nothing too big, just a smallish one, so I can house my clothes arier and ds football table. I imagine it'll be several years before we ever get one though! 😕

NewYearNewMe18 · 16/03/2018 22:50

Done properly they are an additional room at low cost