Conservatories have always been considered as a relatively cheap way of adding extra space you property. Unfortunately, conservatories tend to be too hot in the summer and uncomfortably cold in the winter.
Many people are very fond of the idea of building an additional room in their home, but they are not sure if they can afford one as conservatory prices are usually relatively high. Building a conservatory that you can relax through the year will indeed require better planning and a larger budget as many factors have to be considered, such as the thickness of the walls, the insulation problems that the excess amount of glass creates, the soundproofing.
Furthermore, homeowners considering building a conservatory usually fear that they will end up with a room that will not be possible to warm in the winter and keep cold in the summer. There is no need to worry anymore because building a conservatory room that can accommodate you all year long is more than possible today with proper insulation.
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Types of Conservatory Insulation
Whether we are talking about a wall, roof, or floor, you should know that conservatory insulation can be applied. To understand the whole process, let us look at the detailed list while keeping in mind how much money you have in your budget.
Floor
The main thing when it comes to the insulation of a conservatory floor is the timing. The best way of doing this is to put at least a 100mm polystyrene layer down before the concrete works. This extra layer will be crucial during the winter, allowing the room to keep the heat more effortless. Not to mention that with insulation like that, which will also diminish the need to put a rug or a carpet down. You can still do it for decorative reasons, of course, but the need will not be there. There is “green Polystyrene” as well if you are after an eco-friendly solution.
Brick Wall
When insulating a conservatory, the walling process is usually a two-part endeavor. The professional builder will usually install an insulated cavity wall into the elevated dwarf wall to ensure that the insulation is perfect. This installation will offer the best combination of efficiency and practicality. After that part is done, you can improve the insulation even further by buying eco-thermal uPVC or polycarbonate panels which they will use for the exterior of the room. This will add even more to the “heat-trapping” effect, which is the goal of the whole insulation process. The longer those walls can trap the heat, the higher the energy efficiency and the lower your bills.
Windows
Double glazing works for most rooms, but it is not necessarily the best idea when discussing conservatory window insulation. 
For that, you may want to opt for triple glazing. Granted, the prices will be higher, but you could save that money within a year or two with perfect insulation. Another option is using argon-injected insulation. They add an extra layer of gas between the two panes of a double glazed window, making them more resistant to losing precious heat.
Insulated blinds
One of the easiest and cheapest ways to control the temperature in your conservatory is to add some form of blinds or drapes between your rafters, as they can reduce the amount of heat that escapes. Heavy fabrics are particularly good at keeping the conservatory warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
However, keep in mind that fabrics are not that effective at keeping the heat in during the frigid winter months, which means that it might feel cold inside if there is no heating in place. There is also the risk of condensation that usually forms on the underside of the conservatory roof, which can damage your blinds, making them damp and turning them moldy.
Replacing your conservatory roof
Insulating your existing conservatory roof can serve you temporarily if a quick fix is what you want. But if you want to avoid the aforementioned risks and want more than two hours of comfortable temperature in your conservatory, then it is recommended that you replace the roof glazing with a solid roof conservatory. It is more expensive but is more durable and attractive. You would be able to cut down on your energy bills, and it may add value to your property.
The weight of traditional roofing materials always poses a problem; hence, people opt for modern alternatives that better serve your conservatory. A lot of contractors now choose the Metrotile roofs as a replacement for existing conservatory roofs due to their many benefits, which include:
- A beautiful finish
- Faster installation time
- Reduced energy bills as a result of good insulation
- Inclusion of burglary and vandalism protection
- The highest possible external fire-resistance rating
- All the advantages of a traditional roof, excluding the excess weight on the structure and foundations of the conservatory
- Excellent protection to counter extreme weather conditions
- A weatherproof guarantee of 40 years
- Easy incorporation of ventilation and lighting systems and Velux windows will keep your conservatory light and warm in winter and cool in summer.
Conservatory roof insulation
Does insulating a conservatory roof work?
Conservatories have the major challenge of extreme coldness or hotness at most times. You will get about two hours of convenient temperature in a day for a typical south-facing conservatory, except you employ the service of someone to cool or heat it. The polycarbonate or glass walls provide only a little insulation, so it is advised that you add insulation to the roofing of your conservatory that is already in use.
Insulating your existing conservatory roof, although there are different risks attached to fitting plasterboard and insulation into your already existing glass or polycarbonate roof nevertheless, is possible.
You may discover an accumulation of condensation underneath the glazing in winter. This will eventually damage your plasterboard ceiling when it drips on the insulation.
Condensation cannot be gotten rid of totally. Who can only reduce it to a minimum by cross ventilation? Polycarbonate roofs seem to last for only about ten years, after which they begin to let water through them. So we can say that conservatory roofs are not particularly built to last.
Within this period of ten years, glass roofs start to go through rubber gasket deterioration. Once your roof starts to leak and the water gets to your plasterboard ceiling, it is sure to collapse with time.
When you are insulating a conservatory, sometimes you have to make some tough decisions. Luckily conservatory roof insulation is not one of those instances. When it comes to this, the process is pretty straightforward. There are two right choices, going glass or polycarbonate. Regardless of your choice, the panels should be around 32-35 mm thick so that the heat will have a harder time getting away. You can have chambered walls in the panels; that’s a technique very similar to what they use in double glazing, with the idea once again being trapping the heat. Bellow will find the most common question/answers to help you form a decision.
Questions/Answers
Conservatory insulation cost
Whether you need conservatory roof insulation, conservatory wall insulation, or you want to insulate conservatory windows, the first step is always to get a quote from a conservatory insulation specialist. The prices can vary tremendously, so getting a wide range of offers should always be your priority. Of course, price is not everything; you should always seek the best value/cost ratio.