Climate Control

Keeping your conservatory cool

Retaining your valuable heat during the winter is covered on our Insulation Values page but it is just as important to consider how you will control the temperature during the summer months.

Adding a new conservatory to your home will certainly increase your living space but you will need to consider carefully how you will control the climate inside the conservatory, especially during those long hot summer days.

There are several factors that will have an impact on individual requirements and these need to be reviewed at the design stage to ensure that you will be able to comfortably use the conservatory all year round.

North, South, East or West?

A south facing conservatory will endure long hours of direct sunlight during the summer months and requires careful thought when it comes to deciding on the type of roof glazing. The temperature inside could easily reach unbearable levels if no protection from the sun is specified. For polycarbonate roofs we would always recommend Heatguard or if you are considering a glass roof, Activ Blue solar control glass is the best option. These are covered in more detail below.

North facing conservatories will not receive much direct sunlight and clear polycarbonate or glass can usually be selected with confidence.

If your new conservatory will face East or West it is likely to receive some direct sunlight and Opal or Bronze polycarbonate may provide some assistance in helping to control the level of direct sunlight entering the conservatory.

OPENING WINDOW VENTS

CONSERVATORY ROOF

The Ultraframe conservatory roof includes a built-in eaves ventilation providing secure trickle ventilation to the roof space throughout the year.  Optional Ridgeflow ventilation(pictured) is thermostatically controlled and provides up to four changes of air to the roof space an hour.

All our diy conservatories are supplied with Ultraframe conservatory roof systems. You can watch a video showing the features and benefits of the Ultraframe conservatory roof by clicking here.

ROOF GLAZING OPTIONS

There are two main choices for the roof glazing of your conservatory, polycarbonate or glass. 35mm Polycarbonate has definite cost advantages over glass and is available in several finishes. Glass is the more expensive of the two but offers higher insulation and sound benefits and is also available in several specifications.

Polycarbonate Choices

35mm Clear Polycarbonate – Normally chosen for roofs where you intend to have roof blinds fitted.  Not recommended for south facing conservatories.  Light transmission 64%

35mm Opal Polycarbonate – Helps to diffuse ultra violet rays and a popular choice but not particularly effective for south facing conservatories.  Light transmission 40%

35mm Bronze Polycarbonate – A popular choice for woodgrain finish conservatories but offers little protection against direct sunlight.  There is also a Bronze/Opal option that provides Opal finish to the inside which provides improved performance.  Light transmission 41%

35mm Heatguard Polycarbonate – Especially recommended if you conservatory faces south, Heatguard has a reflective external coating which allows the light in but deflects solar radiation reducing solar heat gain through the roof by half when compared to other materials. Heatguard has an opal finish internally.

Glass Choices

Glass roofs are becoming a popular choice due to a wider range of options available including clear, anti-sun or the latest solar control glass with self cleaning coating. To ensure maximum energy efficiency we always provide a Low E glass to the inside and the sealed units are argon gas filled as standard.

24mm Triple Shield Glass Roof

By choosing Triple Shield Argon Gas filled Low E sealed units you will achieve the same high specification and performance for the roof as we supply as standard to the windows and doors in our conservatories. Triple Shield roofs can be supplied in you choice of clear, bronze or grey anti-sun tints.

Click here to download the Triple Shield fact sheet

24mm Activ™ Blue Solar Control Glass Roof

Specially designed for the optimum roof unit, Activ™ Blue is a revolutionary new glass that is perfect for use in conservatories.  It uses daylight and rainwater to breakdown and wash away organic dirt from exterior surfaces, making it ideal for hard to reach places that are difficult to clean.  Its unique blue colour also helps keep internal temperatures cool whilst still maintaining excellent light transmittance.

• Attractive blue colour offers excellent aesthetics and optimum performance
• Excellent solar control performance combined with good light transmission
• Uses daylight and rainwater to breakdown dirt and was away organic dirt from the exterior of the glass
• Works even on cloudy days and during the night
• Activ™ coating lasts the lifetime of the glass
• Easily cleaned during dry spells by hosing down
• Low exterior reflection improves aesthetics of the conservatory
• Combined with Triple Shield and Argon Filled provide a 1.2 U Value
  

Click here to  download the ActivT Blue fact sheet

Roof Vents

Adding opening roof vents will help increase the flow of air into the roof space on a hot summer's day. Roof vents are available manually operated or by electric remote control. A rain sensor unit can also be added that will ensure that the vents close automatically if rain is detected.

Air Conditioning

An air conditioning unit is a worthy consideration as not only will it help maintain a comfortable climate during the summer but most units also provide a background heating function for the colder months of the year.

UNDERFLOOR HEATING

 Underfloor heating systems are becoming very popular due to minimal cost and are easy to install.

CONSERVATORY BLINDS

Blinds will provide protection against direct sun light and also add a touch of class to any conservatory.

There are many sources for conservatory blinds available and here are links to two of our preferred suppliers:

ELECTRIC FANS

An electric fan will help to circulate cool air throughout the conservatory and is often used in conjunction with a central light fitting, providing a pleasing focal point for the centre of the roof.

The information provided on this page is intended as a guide to help you choose the best specification to suit your individual requirements - we hope it has been of help.