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Not Just for the Summer…How to Make Sure Your Conservatory is Pleasure All Year Round

05 January 2010

The recent and continuing cold weather spell brings home with a vengeance just how important it is to make sure you choose the right glazing and roofing materials to ensure your new DIY conservatory is warm and welcoming all year round.

Whether you're planning a small, simple lean-to or a big combination T shape, buying and building any DIY conservatory is a major investment of your time and money. Saving a few short-term pounds on a cheap specification may not represent the best longer-term value for money if it means your new conservatory is unusable for large parts of the year during cold (or hot) weather.

Conservatories glazed with frame units which are less than 26mm, or thin (25mm or less) polycarbonate may look like a bargain, but if you are relying on using the space all year round, as a dining room or office for example, then we recommend that you check the thermal values offered by potential conservatory suppliers.

Heat loss through building materials is measured in "U" values. The lower the value, the more efficient the insulation offered by the material. For example the U Value of 16mm polycarbonate used in some cheap DIY conservatories is a chilly 2.3, but this improves to a much warmer 1.4 U Value for the 32mm polycarbonate specified as standard by Centurion DIY Conservatories.

If you would like to be able to look up through your new conservatory roof and watch the snow falling then it's certainly worth looking at the U Values for the various glass options available, as they differ significantly and can make the difference between eating and enjoying your Christmas dinner in a comfortable relaxing environment and a conservatory too cold to venture into in winter. The U Value of standard 24mm toughened glass units is just 2.7, but Pilkington K low-e glass improves this to a creditable 1.8, For real efficiency Centurion recommends Reflex glass at 1.4 or for maximum benefit the outstanding Reflex+ which has a U Value of just 1.0 (www.reflexglass.co.uk)

One of the benefits of planning and building a DIY conservatory is that you have complete control over all aspects of design and construction. Most self-builders who build their own conservatory want to do the best possible job and take enormous pride in the finished project, and also recognise that their new conservatory will quickly become a favourite room not to be limited in use due to the weather. Choosing the right product is part of the process, but installing a well-specified conservatory onto poorly insulated walls or base will undo all the good work done by thicker polycarbonate or K glass. You should ensure that you lay polystyrene or similar insulation in the concrete conservatory base, and allow for at least 50mm insulation in cavity walls.

Any conservatory design, whether Lean-to, Victorian, Edwardian or P-shape or Gable can be used throughout the year as long as care is taken to use suitable materials. Call Centurion for advice on how to design in year-round use to your new conservatory. Freephone 0800 389 7261.