Conservatory vs Sun room

CamillaRhodes

Hi y'all, I'd appreciate your advice in making a decision. We're getting a small extension built on the back of our terraced house (to contain a downstairs toilet and utility space) and are planning on putting a small conservatory along the back of the house to connect it all up. Dimensions will be approx 2.6m deep (out from the house) and 3.8m wide (across the house). Our garden isn't large so we're unwilling to lose any more space off it than that. It's east facing, and the room that will be 'blocked off' by the conservatory is the kitchen.

From the beginning, we'd intended to get a lean-to conservatory, as I really like the 'outdoors' feeling you get in a conservatory. However, our builder who's doing the extension is suggesting that a sun room, i.e. with a solid roof with velux windows in it, would add value to the house more than a conservatory would. As it's such a small space, he reckons that two large velux windows (1.6m x .98m) would give us almost as much light as a conservatory roof, and will be easier to clean, easier to keep cool / warm, etc.

I've heard the arguments before about sun rooms being easier to keep cool / warm, but as it's only a small space to heat / air, I wasn't so worried about this. My big concern is the light; I really don't want to make the kitchen much darker, and I really want a conservatory/sun room that feels like you're outside (as we're losing outside space, but I imagined we would get more use from an indoor/outdoor room than from our current decking, which sits unloved for 10 months of the year).

The costs seem to be coming in round about the same whichever option we go for. So I guess my question is whether I should be investing all this money in something which is more to my taste, but possibly less practical (conservatory, with all-glass roof) rather than something which other (most) people would prefer, and would add value to my house, making it easier to sell in a few years time (we only imagine ourselves being here another 5-7 years).

Your opinions would be appreciated, as myself and the fella just can't decide which we should go for.

Mearfada

hi there.. if you are not looking at staying long term i would be inclined to go with the option that will add value and real usable space to the house...besides conservatories tend to be nice in the summer but the sun room would be a more comfortable space all year round. i would suggest asking the builder if he has any previous projects he could show you in order to get a handle on the light situation from roof windows with this type of extension as this from your post seems to be the substantive issue. if you were staying long term revising the entire layout so the kitchen forms part of the extension with the utility and toilet going where the kitchen is at present..decisions decisions best of luck anyway

clappyhappy

A friend of ours was adding an extension a couple of years ago. They both wanted a conservatory, we and a few other friends tried to get them to put in a sunroom, but to no avail. Now 3 years later they regret not putting in a sun room. It is very difficult to keep the glass clean, bird poo, leaves, moss, rain stains etc. the heat is fabulous but it's just as good in a sun room.

It's your home and your money and it's whatever makes you happy, but from our experience a sunroom is the way to go. Best of luck

sky6

I put a conservatory on the back of our last house 10 x 20 ft. While it was lovely and bright, trust me you will not be able to sit in it during most of the Summer. It just got way to hot in there. ( and I love the heat ) In the Winter it was the opposite too cold, even with a large double rad installed. Go for the Sun room with Velux windows.
Velux windows do allow an awful lot of light in more than you would think.
As said ask the Builder to show you somewhere he has built already or installed Velux in before.

BryanF

A sunroom that will only get morning light? Is this correct OP?

CamillaRhodes

3 for 3 for the sun room, pretty much a consensus so far eh?

BryanF - it's east facing, but the area where it will be (it's currently decking) gets the sun from morning til about 2pm. Would this sway you somewhat?

BryanF

CamillaRhodes wrote: »

3 for 3 for the sun room, pretty much a consensus so far eh?

BryanF - it's east facing, but the area where it will be (it's currently decking) gets the sun from morning til about 2pm. Would this sway you somewhat?

Yes. insulated roof, with velux if required. Place large windows to south wall & smaller window east wall. No glazing to north.

So from 2pm in the summer and say 11/12 in the winter you won't have sun in your sunroom...have you considered consulting an an architect?

CamillaRhodes

Thanks for the reply Bryan. We've had an architect draw up the plan for the extension, and it included a conservatory rather than an sun room.

We won't have windows on any side other than east-facing and roof, as the house is terraced so the south and north walls will be the boundary walls with our neighbours' garden walls, and the west-side is our house.

sky6

Our Conservatory was East,North East facing and it was still to hot. All glass Roof and Front and one side was also Glass.It was lovely in the morning for Breakfast or to read in but then got too hot.

CamillaRhodes

Ok, seems we're better to go for a sun room - consider me convinced

One more follow-up, if you guys don't mind - what do you think of bi-folding doors? I love how they look, and the openness might compensate somewhat for the closed-in roof in terms of airiness.

But i've read some negatives about them. I'd appreciate your guidance, if any of you got them (or chose not to) on your sun rooms! Thanks!

martinn123

Before you make a final decision, get the Architect to explain or illustrate the loss of light to the Kitchen.
As you describe it the kitchen is only getting natural light, in the morning, the Sunroom will dilute most of this, even with a Velux, the Sunroom is often the better option, but the loss of light will or should be a big deciding factor, especially with new walls on both sides, to your boundaries.

Plus I am surprised the Builder says both are in the same price range, that should not be the case, a Conservatory roof is a lot less expensive.

gary114

Hi sky6,
You should look into getting your roof insulated,no overheating or sun glare and much warmer in winter.

martinn123

gary114 wrote: »

Hi sky6,
You should look into getting your roof insulated,no overheating or sun glare and much warmer in winter.

And how would you propose, that would be done ?

If it's a glass roof, how do you add insulation?

Do you take off the existing structure, reinforce the existing windows door etc, to take the additional weight, of whatever you are replacing it with, or just hope for the best.

Condensation??

Do tell.

gctest50

martinn123 wrote: »

And how would you propose, that would be done ?

If it's a glass roof, how do you add insulation?

Do you take off the existing structure, reinforce the existing windows door etc, to take the additional weight, of whatever you are replacing it with, or just hope for the best.

Condensation??

Do tell.

be less weight than the glass no ?

gary114

Only going by a friends conservatory which they use as a dining room.
They got a thermal pvc panel system fitted internally about two years ago.
We stayed with them for two days last week and had brek,lunch,and tea in their conservatory each day and it was a lovely temp day and night.
The radiator is turned off full time and the doors from the house left open to provide the heat source.
I spoke to the company who fitted it and he said the material weight for my conservatory roof would be approx 35lbs.
Regarding light / no noticeable light difference in conservatory itself,but there would be a slight drop of light to the kitchen obviously, which he would show us by putting a temporary cover over the roof area
My friends kitchen is by no means dark and it has a magnolia ish paint on walls.
He went on to say that by using the white ceiling panelling it will reflect some light back into the room.
There are probably pros and cons with everything but I can sacrifice a slight drop in light to compensate for a conservatory that's warm and has a comfortable temp in the summer.

martinn123

gary114 wrote: »

Only going by a friends conservatory which they use as a dining room.
They got a thermal pvc panel system fitted internally about two years ago.

spoke to the company who fitted it and he said the material weight for my conservatory roof would be approx 35lbs.

What is the PVC Panel fitted to?

Does the original Roof structure remain in place?

Is the External Glass still in place?

If so the original Roof was not designed to have PVC panels screwed onto it internally.

gary114

Hi,
The panelling is fitted to the existing roof sections.
Original roof structure stays in place.
External glass remains in place.
As for the design aspect Im not concerned about 35lbs of weight spread out over 120sq feet of roof.
The roof would have a design strength way over 35ibs anyway for eg a heavy fall of snow.
Also talking about design,how companies are still able to convince people to buy conservatories which freeze in winter and roast in summer is beyond me.
A quick search on google has everyone asking the same questions overheating/cold.
PS previous house owner had our one fitted.

martinn123

gary114 wrote: »

Hi,
The panelling is fitted to the existing roof sections.
Original roof structure stays in place.
External glass remains in place.
As for the design aspect Im not concerned about 35lbs of weight spread out over 120sq feet of roof.
The roof would have a design strength way over 35ibs anyway for eg a heavy fall of snow.
.

I have seen this system, and I think what you are describing in screwing panels to the underside of the existing Aluminium rafters.
They were not designed to have anything screwed onto them, this can lead to leaks, and Condensation is also an issue.

If you are unhappy with your current roof, I suggest you replace it, ensuring the windows below can support the new roof.

Systems such as you describe, are in my view, a waste of money.

dosebier

We are hoping to do an extension on the back of the house too and I pondered with the thought of a conservatory or Sun room.
Neighbour has a conservatory which is freezing and leaking in winter, they eventually had to put a french door between house and conservatory to stop the heat draining from the house.

We are going for a sun room for sure, proper tiled roof.

gary114

Spoke to company about your suggestions last night.
They said the panelling is fixed with a flat head screw which has a rubber washer on it
to prevent water ingress which with a 6mm screw it would not go deep enough to penetrate the internal channel which is sealed anyways.
The same as external roofing panels used in commercial buildings and corrugated sheeting on agricultural buildings.
The ridge on all conservatories are vented and can get wind blown rain,and vented at the gutter also.
If its leaking and not from wind blown rain then it can only be a damaged or perished seal.
He suggested on a leaking conservatory the only accurate way to find the leak is have someone inside, and put a water hose on a particular area at a time.
Your suggestion for replacing the roof is fine but the quotes we received are half the price of a new conservatory/and the fitting time of a week.
I can only go on my friends experience with their insulated conservatory roof and its nice and warm,no leaks,condensation,and a fraction of the cost with a one day fitting.
I have booked in to get job done now.

martinn123

gary114 wrote: »

Spoke to company about your suggestions last night.
They said the panelling is fixed with a flat head screw which has a rubber washer on it
to prevent water ingress which with a 6mm screw it would not go deep enough to penetrate the internal channel which is sealed anyways.
The same as external roofing panels used in commercial buildings and corrugated sheeting on agricultural buildings.
The ridge on all conservatories are vented and can get wind blown rain,and vented at the gutter also.
If its leaking and not from wind blown rain then it can only be a damaged or perished seal.
He suggested on a leaking conservatory the only accurate way to find the leak is have someone inside, and put a water hose on a particular area at a time.
Your suggestion for replacing the roof is fine but the quotes we received are half the price of a new conservatory/and the fitting time of a week.
I can only go on my friends experience with their insulated conservatory roof and its nice and warm,no leaks,condensation,and a fraction of the cost with a one day fitting.
I have booked in to get job done now.

Well the best of luck with it, maybe post here again, and let us know how the job goes.

I am particularly interested in how a ''Thermal PVC Panel'' is held in place by a 6mm screw.

sydthebeat

Snake oil comes to mind

gary114

Will do.
If it only lasted 5 years I could get it done 4 times, ie 20yrs for the
price of the roof off job which is not an option at the moment anyways.
Your points were helpful martin thanks,i think the need to get the conservatory to a level where we actually want to be in it and can afford to achieve it is my priority.
I am confident the job will be fit for purpose going by our friends experience to date.

martinn123

gary114 wrote: »

Will do.
If it only lasted 5 years I could get it done 4 times, ie 20yrs for the
price of the roof off job which is not an option at the moment anyways.
Your points were helpful martin thanks,i think the need to get the conservatory to a level where we actually want to be in it and can afford to achieve it is my priority.
I am confident the job will be fit for purpose going by our friends experience to date.

Yes, I understand your point, and attitude, however In my opinion you may devalue the value of your home by an inferior alteration to your existing roof.

These types of sub-standard alterations have proved problematic, where condensation, structural issues, etc, have had an impact, on the extension.

In UK there are structural standards which must be achieved, so one Irish Co, has two products one for Ireland, and a heavier product for UK, what does that tell you.

Do more research, rather than rely on your neighbours.

But think a 6 mm screw with a 1mm washer will barely secure a 4mm panel of which 2mm in PVC and 2mm of Insulation. With no room for expansion, wind deflection or Snow load.

2mm of insulation?

gary114

The conservatory ive used as a reference has no condensation issue,it obviously is pretty much air tight/no cold air meeting hot,which is the top priority for the installation.
A badly fitted roof im sure would cause condensation through air gaps/leaks.
Its also situated on the coast 150 yards from the beach/wind deflection.
Are the roofs unstable through wind deflection ???.
I could be wrong on screw size.
I have done loads of research through boards and other sites and this system could be badly fitted and give trouble like everything in life.
That said I got different quotes,
saw a completed job,
spoke with owner,
stayed in the house for two days.

robnet77

hi gary114, if you are still active on this forum, could you say how your experience has been so far with the insulated roof please? thanks.

gary114

Hi,
Yes,went ahead and got insulated roof.
We have used the room all winter,its now warm and retains the heat.
The hot days we had it remained very comfortable/no overheating.
Great additional room for the kids to use.
All in delighted with the result,looks well also,best money ive spent imo.
Our fitter was telling me he refits 1 or 2 per month on average due to bad fitting.
He called us a month after fitting to check we were happy with the job.

robnet77

gary114 wrote: »

Hi,
Yes,went ahead and got insulated roof.
We have used the room all winter,its now warm and retains the heat.
The hot days we had it remained very comfortable/no overheating.
Great additional room for the kids to use.
All in delighted with the result,looks well also,best money ive spent imo.
Our fitter was telling me he refits 1 or 2 per month on average due to bad fitting.
He called us a month after fitting to check we were happy with the job.

thanks for the info!

Could you pm me your fitter's contact number please?