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Insulating a conservatory...?
nick205 - 7/10/10 at 09:45 AM

Our conservatory is primarily a play space for the kids, but as you'd expect it's too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.

We've tackled the summer issue by fitting heat reflecting film on the inside of the (glass) roof and side windows (one side is an insulated cavity wall). This has made a big difference and keeps it useable through the summer months.

For the winter, heat is from 2x 2kW electric heaters. Expensive to run and of course the heat just pi55e5 off through the glass never to be felt again.

So...how can I better insulate it for the winter...?

Ideas so far include:

- fix panels of Kingspan board in between the roof joists - inside or outside???

- fit heavy/thick blinds of some sort

- fit underfloor heating (laminate floor) as the floor is what the kids sit on

- fit foil bubble wrap stuff like blinds


Any more ideas or practical solutions....???

BenB - 7/10/10 at 09:50 AM

Try looking the back of magazines like Gardeners World, they have quite a few people who advertise various products for this very purpose. Don't have a consevatory so don't know how good they are but hey...

nick205 - 7/10/10 at 09:57 AM

!!! good call, didn't think of it in that way, but it is just posh greenhouse after all

tegwin - 7/10/10 at 10:20 AM

Can you fit heavy fabric blinds on runners to close during the winter? The sort that consatina up at the top when you dont need them..

owelly - 7/10/10 at 10:22 AM

Buy the kids big warm coats....

nick205 - 7/10/10 at 10:44 AM

quote:
Originally posted by owelly
Buy the kids big warm coats....


To be fair, they don't actually complain, they just go a little Blue.

SeaBass - 7/10/10 at 11:10 AM

Concertina?

Guinness - 7/10/10 at 12:41 PM

Squirty builders foam.

On the floor, kids, walls, roof, inside and out. Lovely and toasty.

http://www.uretek.co.uk/

nick205 - 7/10/10 at 12:59 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Guinness
Squirty builders foam.

On the floor, kids, walls, roof, inside and out. Lovely and toasty.

http://www.uretek.co.uk/





I can just imagine trying to pick the lego bricks out of that.

jacko - 7/10/10 at 05:00 PM

Fan in the roof to blow the heat back down

stevebubs - 7/10/10 at 05:15 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Our conservatory is primarily a play space for the kids, but as you'd expect it's too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.

We've tackled the summer issue by fitting heat reflecting film on the inside of the (glass) roof and side windows (one side is an insulated cavity wall). This has made a big difference and keeps it useable through the summer months.

For the winter, heat is from 2x 2kW electric heaters. Expensive to run and of course the heat just pi55e5 off through the glass never to be felt again.

So...how can I better insulate it for the winter...?

Ideas so far include:

- fix panels of Kingspan board in between the roof joists - inside or outside???

- fit heavy/thick blinds of some sort

- fit underfloor heating (laminate floor) as the floor is what the kids sit on

- fit foil bubble wrap stuff like blinds


Any more ideas or practical solutions....???


My dad had the same issue. His solution was to replace the conservatory with a double glazed one...worked wonders....

jossey - 7/10/10 at 06:38 PM

the roof can be changed for a solar heating roof which magnifies the light a little more than normal.

my mum got her's done years ago.

be warned solar energy in summer makes it a sauna

cheers


dave

McLannahan - 7/10/10 at 06:40 PM

I saw this recently advertised in the Wiltshire Life magazine (reading it in the Doc's...It's not quite my cup of tea yet!)

http://www.roof-revive.co.uk

Looked excellent and thought it would probably sort ours too. Ours doesn't even get that warm in the summer though - it's the wrong side for the sun.

Not sure if this is within your budget but the idea is a good one!

HTH

bimbleuk - 8/10/10 at 09:35 AM

Winter solution for the kids!

Musuc Bag for kids

I'm tempted to get a big un for my self this winter to lounge around in.