Conservatory on the north side of the house is it a good idea?

[Wailywailywaily]

Just day dreaming about it really, we only have one wall that a conservatory could go on and it faces north. It gets no sun for most of the year. So I was thinking, that since conservatories tend to get too hot anyway, maybe it would work? Tempted to add a wood burner for the winter though.
Anyone got one on a similar aspect?

We had one. It was fab. Great light (artists rave about north facing light) and it was very rarely too hot in there even in high summer. My MIL, however, had a south facing one and could barely use it in the hottest 3 month of the year as it was stifling. If you're building it, then factor in the cost for a) high side walls (makes it feel more like a "real" room), b) good uplighting (ditto) and as many fitted zig-zag blinds as you can fit into your price bracket. And patio doors that you can open >150 degrees: ours only opened to 90 and it was v bad for kids banging on the hinges!

We had a north/east one in previous house. Was great in the summer and very 'liveable' in. Winter was so cold you could hang meat in there. Your idea of a wood burner might work if you could hang some heavy curtains and work a winter 'cosy' look.

What's going to happen to the room the conservatory leads from? My worry is it would make that room incredibly dark.

Yes, shoe mine did make the room it led off a bit darker, but not incredibly so.

ooh that's a useful thread!
thenight I'm also interested in the effect of the room that leads to conservatory - when you say it was freezing in winter, do you think it made the adjacent room colder than it would be? In my case, a living/dining room.

effect ON the room

"What's going to happen to the room the conservatory leads from? My worry is it would make that room incredibly dark."

If there is just a wall now, having a conservatory would make the room considerably lighter because they would knock through and have patio doors.

I would suggest that you build a conservatory with a proper roof so that it offers better insulation for when you heat it.

Our conservatory faces south east, but on cool but sunny days when it gets warm in the conservatory we just open the door from the living room into the conservatory and the heat comes into the house and warms it up.

I think a north facing conservatory would be too chilly for me without some form of heating.

WE have a north facing conservatory-style extension and it is excellent because it is lovely and light in there instead of being a dark room.
Investing in glass is key to keeping out heat/ sun glare
or keeping in warmth (check U value).
To keep warm -
Good thick insulation under the floor, half walls with insulation or perhaps a full wall.
Electric underfloor heating is an option to consider - depends on how much you will use it - or the wood stove, or just an electric oil filled radiator.
Also, if you are thinking of blinds it is worth knowing that really good blinds that keep out sun/heat and keep in warmth are very expensive.

Thanks everyone for your great advice. I was thinking of an Orangery style conservatory with a high wall on the side that would overlook our neighbour and bifold doors onto the other side- people keep telling me they are expensive but no one has actually said how expensive.

For those of you who have them do you have any plants in there? am I being too ambitious to think I can have a lemon tree

Re the plants... that was the best bit about my north facing conservatory. I had it full of HUGE plants. I bought tiny cheap ones for a few quid and they grew to monsters within a year or two. I had a vine up what would be the old outside house wall that scrambled over the ceiling. I bought a banana plant for £2 and within five years it had huge leaves and was 8ft tall - it even produced bunches of very small sweet bananas.

I have a north and East facing orangery. With a glass roof it can get pretty warm. I would absolutely have underfloor heating and the best glass you can afford. Our is a mega expensive green oak one, but I love it. We have wide openings into the two rooms off it. No doors. Keeps everything light and spacious. However, this might not be to everyone's taste.

Milly that sounds awesome, I'm but our sixties semi would look a bit odd with something that classy on the side.

thenightsky very reassuring re the plants, I'd love a vine!