Conservatory opinions

[Supermofo]

Mrs is getting ideas about a conservatory, I wouldn't mind but I've never come across one that isn't cold in winter/too hot in summer. Are modern ones usable all year round? Owner of the company who did our windows came over today and said with modern tinted glass, heating they are a usable space all year round, but she would say that!

Mrs is thinking walls down either side with glass roof and bi-folding doors.

If I end up working from home full time/most of the time I can see me moving out there but don't want to freeze/ boil.

[demographic]

Can't say I'm a fan of em, as you say. Too hot in summer and cold in winter.
For me a better idea has a proper roof, decent insulation in the roof so the high sun doesn't heat it up too much during summer, that insulation helps keep them cool during summer as well as warm during winter.

So for me, windows all round but a proper roof is better.

[Mussels]

I have friends who use one all year round, I've been there in all seasons and it's always comfortable. Not sure what the difference is as all the others I can remember are like you suggested.

[demographic]

I have friends who use one all year round, I've been there in all seasons and it's always comfortable. Not sure what the difference is as all the others I can remember are like you suggested.

Facing North and they spend a fortune heating it in winter?

[KungFooBob]

For the cost of a decent conservatory, you'd probably pick up a decent 2nd hand Panigale, just sayin'

[Supermofo]

For the cost of a decent conservatory, you'd probably pick up a decent 2nd hand Panigale, just sayin'

Pushing against an open door there!

[Mussels]

I have friends who use one all year round, I've been there in all seasons and it's always comfortable. Not sure what the difference is as all the others I can remember are like you suggested.

Facing North and they spend a fortune heating it in winter?

Just checked and it is north facing so the later is probably also true.

[Horse]

Facing North and they spend a fortune heating it in winter?

Friends had one built South facing. Wife bought some of those lovely huge 'church' candles. First sunny day they suffered severe brewers droop.

[demographic]

Facing North and they spend a fortune heating it in winter?

Friends had one built South facing. Wife bought some of those lovely huge 'church' candles. First sunny day they suffered severe brewers droop.

I'm not saying every single one is like I suggested, just all the ones I've been in.
Putting a proper roof on and ideally with large soffit overhangs so only the low sun shines directly into a sun room (or house for that matter) lessens the overly hot in summer problem and insulates in winter whilst still allowing the low winter sun to warm the place.

If your calling it an orangery though, I'll ask you what citrus fruit it has growing cos if there's none its just a sunrooom.

[Mr Moofo]

I had mine removed - it was shit - even though well built. It was like a nuclear power plant in summer and a heat sink in winter. Having them properly roofed with anything up polycarbonate also helps.
Just don’t do it ...

[Mussels]

My last house had a conservatory and a lean-to, we never used the conservatory but my wife often sat out under the lean-to so that's all I'm going to put on this house.

[Horse]

Mrs is thinking walls down either side with glass roof and bi-folding doors.

Re-reading, that's not a conservatory. Go a couple of small steps (solid roof, with lanterns or velux, etc, which would require better foundations) further and you have a decent extension.

However, think about how you will use the new room - and how use of the ex-room / new corridor will change.

[Bigyin]

We had a conservatory on one of the old houses and it was as expected, too hot in summer, freezing in winter.

We looked at putting a decent roof on but would need deeper foundations and whole new structure to support the weight although modern stuff has got lighter and stronger

We ended up converting it to a proper room by building a structure inside it to take insulation and boarded the walls and most of the ceiling for a fraction of the cost of taking it down and building an extension. It became all year usable and was a fully fitted kitchen by the time we sold the house

[Horse]

and was a fully fitted kitchen by the time we sold the house

Yorick or Wratty will be along shortly

[Bigyin]

and was a fully fitted kitchen by the time we sold the house

Yorick or Wratty will be along shortly

Yeah, cant wait .......again

[Silly Car]

and was a fully fitted kitchen by the time we sold the house

Yorick or Wratty will be along shortly

Yeah, cant wait .......again

[Horse]

and was a fully fitted kitchen by the time we sold the house

Yorick or Wratty will be along shortly

Yeah, cant wait .......again

While we wait