Is your conservatory too hot to handle?
On those fabulous summer days when South Wales basks in the sun, older conservatories can bake in the heat.
Solar gain through polycarbonate roofs and older style glazing can mean that, even with every window and door open, your conservatory becomes a heat trap.
The good news is that these days, thanks to advances in construction design, you can create a room that doesn’t overheat with the arrival of the first swallow of summer and freeze in the depths of winter.
Bespoke design process
At Securahome it all begins with insulating the floor, then A+ grade energy-efficient windows, insulated columns or walls and, most importantly, a solid or part-solid-part-glazed, roof.
This makes not only for a more thermally efficient extension to your home, but a far more contemporary looking room. On page 3 of this newsletter, you will see an example of a bespoke sun-lounge created for Mr and Mrs Rees in Swansea.
Having completed the build in June 2016, a full year later Mr Rees explains that the sun-lounge is now their favourite room in the house – all year round.
If you are looking for a brand new conservatory or orangery, like Mr and Mrs Rees, then creating your dream room from scratch is now a truly bespoke process.
Our designers will consider how you will use the room, where you will have your furniture, external views and all of those finishing touches that make your house a home.
Renovate your conservatory
If you already have a conservatory, then the good news is that there is plenty you can do to transform it into your favourite room in the house.
For an existing conservatory, the best place to start is at the top – the roof.
This is where you’ll be losing – and gaining – most heat.
A solid or part-solid roof will make an enormous and immediate difference to your conservatory. Highly insulated, these roofs keep the sun out in summer, and the heat in during the cooler months.
There are a variety of styles to choose from, including traditional tiles and an ultra-modern grey, part-glazed roof.
With the part-glazed option you can choose exactly where the glass panels will be, maybe to bring natural light over a dining table, with shade over the TV screen or sofa? The choice is yours.
A solid roof also gives a real ‘designer’ look to the inside of your conservatory. With a smooth plaster-boarded ceiling and downlighters on the perimeter, the inside of the roof makes your conservatory feel more like a traditional home extension.
A+ energy efficiency
If the windows in your conservatory are older, then upgrading to A+ energy efficient units will make a difference to the ambient temperature of the room. This is also a great opportunity to change the look as well as the feel of the room.
Today’s double and triple glazed windows come in a wide variety of styles and finishes. The painted timber effect UPVC range is particularly popular, you can even opt for a colour outside and white within.
When it comes to doors, whether it’s a new room or an upgrade, bi-folding doors bring a contemporary edge to your home. Providing uninterrupted views of the garden all year round, they come into their own when flung open on a warm summer day to create a seamless connection between outside and in.
If you are inspired to create a new, bespoke extension or want to upgrade an existing conservatory, this is really just a flavour of what you could create. Speak to our designers and we will be able to create a 3D CAD design of your new dream room.
