Conservatory upgrade

[Equimum]

We bought our house last year, and it has a fairly large, rectangular conservatory with pitched-style glass roof. Like most conservatories, it is freezing in winter and far too hot in summer, so we are now looking at ways to make it a bit more useable. Has anyone upgraded/ insulated a conservatory with any success? If so, what did you do and would you recommend it?

In case it is relevant, one long side of the conservatory runs along the back of the house, with one short side built onto a proper extension. The other short side is sheltered by a six foot boundary wall. It has a pitched glass roof, double external doors, and four opening windows. It sits slightly lower than the main house (down two steps) and had a tiled floor.

TIA

We’ve upgraded all the glass and put in underfloor heating. It’s open plan and forms an “L” to our kitchen. It wasn’t cheap but we are really pleased with it as didn’t want to lose the light by changing it to a solid roof structure. We did the upgrade as part of major building works.

If it’s got the house on 2 sides already, I’d probably bite the bullet and change it into a properly built and insulated garden room that’s connected to the house.

Thanks ladies. I think we will gradually upgrade it to a proper room. A builder has suggested some stages, so starting with the roof, then insulating walls/ floor etc.

bouncy I would love to upgrade all the glass, but the cost seems enormous, and we could really do with making some significant improvements this year.

We put polystyrene insulation into the roof then a false plasterboard ceiling with loft insulation on top of that. From outside it just look white and inside a nice ceiling feels like more of a room now but it is darker as no light through the roof but big windows so ok. No more bleached toys anyway. And much warmer.

cago that’s something ourbuilder suggested to us. We are contemplating keeping an atrium to allow some light in. It’s good to know what you did actually does make it warmer. That certainly seems a more affordable option than replacing with specialist glass (as lovely as the light is).

We spent roughly £300 but we did do it ourselves.

We have an open plan conservatory with a plastic roof. Last jan we battened it off and put in a false tongue and groove ceiling with foil insulation - it’s made a massive difference. So far no condensation issues, obviously we have lost light but it’s been worth it to have been toasty in this cold weather. Like above, cost around £300. Is still give my right arm to knock it down and put a proper extension up though!

Thanks. That’s good to hear your costs too. I don’t think we’d be brave enough to do it ourselves, but been quoted around £1k for straightforward insulation & ceiling or £1200 for atrium.

That's not too bad then for labour charge.

In our last house we changed the polycarb roof to a double glazed glass roof, with some kind of coating that alleged to keep it cooler in summer and warmer in winter. It worked brilliantly and turned it into a very usable, year round room.