Do you actually use your conservatory?

[HairyPits]

We’re looking at buying this year and I really want a conservatory.

The way I see it - it’s an extra lovely room, the dog can stay in it while he’s wet and muddy and if I do dog boarding, which I hope to, it could be a room (along with kitchen/hard floor areas) the dog(s) are in, without the rest of the house getting muddy and totally dusty.

However, I am also conscious that many are roasting in summer and freezing in winter. How to you make sure this doesn’t happen and how much do you actually use your conservatory?
Do you love it or regret it?

@DramaAlpaca

Mine is more of a sun room, in that it has a ceiling like a normal room but is glazed all round apart from the side that adjoins the house. It's south facing, so can get hot in summer during the day but is lovely in spring & autumn.

It's heated, it opens into the garden and we use it all the time. Over the years it's been a playroom, a gym, and now the kids have flown the nest it's a lovely space to sit in, with table and chairs and nice lighting.

If it had been a traditional glass conservatory it wouldn't have been as versatile, I don't think.

This is what mine is like, but I wasn’t sure how to describe it!

We use ours all year round - it has our dining table in one bit, then the rest is a playroom for DC. It has skylights and french doors, so we throw everything open when it’s really hot. The only thing that hacks me off is we stupidly chose a cheap carpet that feels like it’s going to melt in summer 🤦‍♀️ Should probably change it to lino.

We also have a radiator and it holds it’s heat really well in winter.

Our plan is to put in some decent footings (more than you'd need for a conservatory) and put up a decent conservatory with glass roof which will be our dining room. Then, if we find it is too hot in the summer and cold in the winter we will get one of those companies to put on solid roof with a couple of velux windows. Hopefully that will work. We just can't afford an extension for this room sadly as we have several other things we need to do to make our home wheelchair accessible.

who sits about in a room without a tv?

Lots and lots of people! What an odd thing to think.

I'd never have one again. I had a glass roof, under floor heating and wall radiators but it was roasting in summer and freezing in winter. Ended up as storage space.

I adore mine I have turned it into a little Mediterranean sanctuary. I always sit in there to read as its so light and bright.

Ours is south facing and opens onto a sheltered courtyard patio that I'm making into a little slice of abroad.

I have a small south facing one that I use for extra storage, plus it was a home office during Lockdown One. Yes it got quite warm, but with french doors and windows open, plus there is a pull down roof blind, it was absolutely fine. it's quite small so very easy to heat during winter with a portable heater. It is currently being used as a second greenhouse and is overflowing with seedlings I will use it to grow chilli peppers over the summer as my real greenhouse is full! It is also a very useful drying room. However I don't think I've ever just sat in there with a book and a cup of tea - too full of washing and plants I suppose!

Has anyone used that company for the conservatory roofing insulation that Anna Ryder-Richardson advertises?

If you have underfloor heating and radiators and it is cold, the heating is wrong for the space. Mine can get a bit nippy near the glass but is otherwise useable all year.

Ours has 6ft foundations due to soil and a tree nearby. You need whatever building regs say. You cannot get a usable conservatory for less money than standard build that is usableallyear because you need a high spec. Get it right from day one and donit do it if you cano afford it. Why spend money on a poor building that you thenhave to change? That is just stupid. Please accept that thee are not cheap buildings to build, maintain or indeed alter if theyare cheap construction.

All standard roofs can be highly insultated. Glass roofs need the highest quality argon filled glass. Self cleaning too. They are not insulated for obvious reasons.

Ours is crap, it’s a hardwood one and built on the north side of the house ( previous owners ). I swear it’s colder in there than outside sometimes we just use it for storage and a punch bag , I’m knocking it down next summer and extending.