Conservatories and other extensions that feature significant amounts of glass are hugely popular across the UK. They offer a sun trap that can be perfect for relaxing whilst enjoying the natural warmth and light of the sun.
Designs have come on significantly since the original Victorian designs and in the 1970s a trend emerged of adding them to homes as extensions.
Whilst looking great and offering the chance to enjoy the rare UK sun indoors, there are a few notable negatives associated with having one.
In this blog post, we’ll be looking at how you can manage temperature fluctuations and discussing the benefits of insulating your conservatories to help tackle the issue.
Conservatories That Get cold
A lot of conservatory extensions suffer from thermal issues. The most common of which is losing heat and becoming too cold, particularly in winter.
Generally speaking, glass is a poor insulator. Despite all modern conservatories including double glazing, there are common issues with drafts and heat loss.
This heat loss is further exacerbated via the glass ceiling. Whilst crucial to enjoying the sun, glass ceilings offer little heat retention. As heat rises, the conservatory roof allows it to escape and leave your home, resulting in a much cooler interior.
How to Keep Your Conservatory Warm
There are several ways to help keep your conservatory warm. These include simple solutions such as ensuring there is carpet or a rug in there, installing heating options like infrared heaters or underfloor heating and fitting draft excluders are to all doors and windows.
These are great options and will benefit your space, however adding additional heating elements is sure to drive up monthly energy bills.
The best way to combat this is through insulation. Traditional insulation ensures walls retain as much heat as possible, particularly in the roof. Where specialist insulation material is used for houses, conservatory glass can be insulated in a similar way using window insulation film.
By installing these films you can retain as much as 35% of the heat that is lost through the glass, keeping your room warmer at night and during the colder months.
Conservatories That Get Too Warm
Another common issue faced by conservatory owners is rooms that get too hot. This is usually the case during warm periods of weather and can often be mitigated by simply opening a window and creating a through-draft.
However, if the problem persists and requires further attention there are steps you can take.
The most obvious is to install blinds. Blinds can help to block the sun’s rays but still allow heat to build up. It gets trapped between the blind and the window glass, causing internal temperatures to rise. Blinds are also high maintenance as they are difficult to remove and clean. Some may argue that blocking the sunlight defeats the purpose of having a conservatory in the first place as they block both daylight and the view.
If this solution is not for you then consider installing solar control window films. These films are easily installed to either just the roof or the entire conservatory and help control the internal temperature.
Benefits of Installing Window Film
There are a whole host of benefits associated with installing window film on conservatories. Depending on your needs and which films you opt for you can expect to enjoy;
Energy Savings
If you install window insulation film you can expect to see savings on your monthly energy bills. On average, the payback period is around 5-6 years depending on the size of the property, the framework and the amount of film installed.
Optical Clarity
There are many products available for solar control including reflective and optically clear films. All offer excellent solar and UV protective properties and come with a manufacturer backed warranty of up to 10 years. These films offer clarity through the glass so you can sit and still enjoy the view through your conservatory.
UV Protection
Harmful UV rays are present in even the weakest sunlight. Solar Film has both UV and Infrared protection which are contributors to fading. Our films provide an extra layer of UV protection, allowing you to sit and enjoy the sun whilst minimising the risks to your skin and furnishings.
Heat & Glare Reduction
Heat gain and glare can be reduced by up to 85% and 90% respectively. Our full range of solar control window film offers both reflective and optically clear non-metallic films, which stop 97% of infrared heat and reject up to half of the total solar radiation.
Decorative
Many of our films come with the option for reflective, semi-reflective and non-reflective tints and colours. Along with these options, we can create a wide range of looks both on the exterior and interior. This is more popular on commercial projects, but is an option should you wish to make your conservatory unique.
You can also check out our range of digitally printed wallpaper and architectural films if you’re looking to change the look and feel of your property.
Easy to Install
All of our window films are quick and easy to install. This means that any disruption is minimised, all work is carried out quickly and quietly with no mess left behind once completed.
Get in touch with the team at Guardian Window Films today to discuss your options and receive a no-obligation quote. You can also keep up to date with the latest industry news on our blog.