BinConservatories are considered valuable living space additions to homes in the UK. They serve as perfect spots to enjoy your garden while sipping a refreshing drink on a hot summer day. They are particularly ideal for entertaining over a long summer evening.
Today, they’re so much more than sunrooms. They can accommodate growing families in a variety of ways. They can be used as offices, family rooms, children’s playrooms, and so much more. Unfortunately, the large expanse of glass can mean discomfort in some climates.
Under-utilization of Conservatories [Seasonal Use]
Most families, therefore, abandon their conservatories once the leaves begin to turn orange and brown and the temperatures start to plummet. But guess what? Autumn and winter shouldn’t imply that you have to give up that extra room in your house! Neither does it mean that you can’t enjoy the changing of the seasons in your garden through your wonderful sunroom.
In this post, we’re going to be looking at how you can enjoy a conservatory all year round with some warmth-boosting techniques and energy-efficient solutions. These won’t just keep you cosy during unfavourable seasons, they will also save you money in the long run. Let’s dive in:
9 Questions to Ask Yourself to Know Whether You Need to Spruce up Your Conservatory
Before we jump into the solutions, to know whether this one is for you, consider the following:
- Do you use your conservatory all year long?
- Do you take breaks from your conservatory during the cooler, wetter, darker months, or do the summertime temps grow too hot for you?
- If you take a break from your conservatory, why is that the case?
- Are winters so unbearably cold that a blanket just doesn’t cut it?
- Perhaps summers are just too hot, almost getting to the ‘boiling point’?
- Is your garden facing north or south?
- Do you detect a breeze when using the space?
- When it rains, does the roof make too much noise?
- Do you ever discover that your room leaks as a result of the erratic character of the British weather or a questionable joint or seal you’ve been wanting to fix?
If any of your answers point to seasonal use of your conservatory, we are here to help. Whether you abandon it once, twice, or many times in a year, we can help you make some simple and affordable modifications to turn it into an all-weather conservatory that can be used year-round.
3 Key Ways to Create a Year-round Useable Conservatory
With some simple modifications to improve the warming and cooling of your space, you can turn a seasonally used conservatory into an all-season conservatory. No matter what month it is, our helpful advice will help you to control the temperature in your conservatory for a more enjoyable experience. Here are 3 key ways to achieve this:
1. Consider the Location of the Conservatory
Your conservatory’s orientation in relation to the sun can affect how it absorbs and holds onto heat during the day. Conservatories with south and west exposures will warm up throughout the day, but to maintain comfortable temperatures in the summer, you may need to open more vents, doors and windows from Bramley Window Systems for affordable uPVC and aluminium glazing solutions.
Conservatories that face east and north, on the other hand, are more susceptible to colder temperatures. That’s because they lack direct sunshine and experience the cooler easterly air. As such, they would benefit from more insulation to keep them warm.
2. Walls
Conservatory walls require at least 50% glass to be considered a conservatory and to avoid review under building regulations. Unfortunately, glass is a poor insulator. That explains why conservatories are such headaches when it comes to maintaining the temperature.
To help reduce heat loss and heat gain, you’ve got to reduce the amount of visible glass. To do so, consider building a brick dwarf wall at the base of the conservatory. This reduces heat gain when the sun streams in during summer and reduces heat loss during winter. If you want to take things up a notch and improve your conservatory’s energy efficiency, you could also add some insulation to the brickwork, allowing for year-round use.
3. The Roof
The majority of heat is lost through your conservatory’s roof. Having said that, an insulated roof with vents can help you create an all-year-round conservatory. It keeps the heat in when it’s needed and reflects heat away when it’s not.
Enjoy Your Space All Year Long!
It’s the age of minimalism, and nobody wants to hold on to things they barely use. Having said that, it’s time to utilize your conservatory to its full potential. From an exercise room to a game room, ‘outdoor’ dining, playroom, and others, the list of ways to maximize your space is quite long. Simply improve the temperatures with this guide and you’re good to go!
