Is your conservatory too hot? The 2018 summer in the UK has been fantastic with weeks of sunshine and high temperatures. While a conservatory is a huge benefit in your home, often the benefit of this valuable extra room and light-filled space can disappoint. What can you do when your conservatory is too hot, and you want to make the most of it all year round?
Understanding what makes a conservatory too hot.
Despite conservatories falling short of being the promised all year round extra room, they remain one of the best ways to add much-needed extra space in your home. Conservatories are also cheaper than building a new extension and let in more light as well. If your property is short on space, there are still many great reasons to think about having a new conservatory.
If you have an old conservatory that is too hot, the problem is worse. One of the reasons is glass and material technology. Here are just some of the differences between your old conservatory and a current generation model. Understanding the differences between your old conservatory and a new one is useful in getting to grips with what makes a conservatory too hot.
In the middle of summer one of the biggest problems begins with not even being able to walk into your conservatory. It feels like a greenhouse. There are other problems too. Your furniture fabrics and curtains fade. Laminate or synthetic floor tiles can warp in the heat. Even your houseplants draw in heat.
If you are avoiding your conservatory in the summer and it feels like a sauna rather than a garden room, we can help. Our sophisticated Thermotec insulated aluminium roof allows you to sit in your conservatory enjoying the summer sun as well as a breeze in an altogether better conservatory.
Technology and knowledge improve your too hot conservatory.
Today we know more about what makes a conservatory too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.
| Feature | Old Conservatory | New Conservatory |
|---|---|---|
| Framework | Steel Reinforced PVCu Poorly insulated aluminium |
Multi-chamber better-insulated PVCu Vastly improved thermally insulated aluminium |
| Basework or Dwarf Walls | Sometimes built with basic insulation | Benefits of enhanced insulation materials |
| Roof Glass | Basic glass units with no insulation properties Old polycarbonate prone to retaining heat and discolouration |
Better glass technology with thermal properties More glass options such as triple glazing Solar control glass options |
| Technology | Old conservatories have old technology and less know-how | Better science and understanding of what makes a conservatory too hot |
Therefore, if you have an old conservatory, don’t be frustrated with materials and glass having old technology. Remember that the most significant cause of what makes a conservatory too hot is the sheer amount of glass. If your conservatory is too cold in the winter as well, the same applies. Glass remains the most prominent component of any conservatory as well as polycarbonate or glass in the roof. These materials do not sufficiently regulate the temperature in the structure. Glass or polycarbonate is the significant reason why:
- Your conservatory temperature is hard to control.
- You do not use your conservatory as you want to.
- Heating and cooling a conservatory costs money, so you may avoid doing so.
- The temperature in the summer is like a greenhouse.
For a conservatory that’s too hot in the summer, the roof is the contributing factor rather than the windows and doors. Poorly insulated glazing materials make old conservatories challenging to insulate and regulate the temperature. So what can you do for a conservatory that is too hot and like a greenhouse in the summer?
Solutions to fix a conservatory that is too hot in the summer.
The conservatory refurbishment market provides a range of solutions. Modern products do solve some of the issues around what makes a conservatory too hot during the summer. However, they have advantages and disadvantages.
| Product | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| New Glass or Triple Glazing | Better thermal insulation than your existing glass or polycarbonate | Creates a slightly more comfortable conservatory but still hot in the summer. Triple glazing won’t work with old conservatories. |
| New Solar Control Glass | Better solar control | Creates a slightly more comfortable conservatory but still hot in the summer. Solar glass may not fit every type of old conservatory |
| New Insulated Tiled Roof | Provides better insulation than existing glass or polycarbonate | Costly and disruptive, with redecoration needed. Its weight may make it unsuitable for old conservatories May need planning permission |
| Aluminium Insulated Roof Panels | Many immediate advantages when replacing old glass or polycarbonate | Small loss of light as your roof is now solid |
You can continue to enjoy your conservatory all year round.
To cure the problems making a conservatory too hot in the home, you will need to replace your conservatory roof. The roof is the biggest cause of solar gain. Fitting a solid roof will give you many immediate and noticeable benefits.
Aluminium insulated roof panels address the problem of conservatories being hot, cold, noisy and uncomfortable. They are lightweight, cost-effective and built to last.
Contact us for a quotation on your conservatory or call us to discuss your requirements.
