Across the South West, countless old conservatories are becoming uninhabitable spaces. Due to inefficient roofing and glazing, they are far too hot in the summer and far too cold in the winter. If abandoned, these conservatories quickly become huge drains on a home’s energy. Heat escapes in swathes, and homeowners have to overwork their central heating systems just to keep the house warm. Or worse, they resort to expensive and energy-sapping portable heaters. However, there are several ways you can upgrade your existing conservatory to enhance its energy efficiency…
How can I save heat in my conservatory?
- Invest in a conservatory replacement roof
- Get new windows and/or doors for the conservatory
- Buy new furnishings such as curtains, rugs or integral blinds
All of these can help to reduce your energy bills and make your conservatory a comfortable living space again.
Conservatory replacement roofs
Thousands of conservatories from the 90s and early 2000s were manufactured with severely underperforming polycarbonate roofs. This material was never built to last and is a key contributor towards the inefficiency of many conservatories. As such, replacing the conservatory roof can help to significantly improve its thermal performance.
Tiled conservatory roofs
Tiles are incredibly effective when it comes to improving conservatory insulation. The solid and opaque layer they provide shelters the conservatory from the sun’s rays, preventing the conservatory from overheating. Furthermore, tiled conservatory roofs also prevent heat from escaping the conservatory, and draughts from getting in. Also offering benefits such as impeccable noise insulation, this is a fantastic option for improving your conservatory.
Energy-efficient glass roofs
More efficient conservatory glazing will also hugely contribute towards lowering energy bills. Thanks to modern advances in glazing technology, glass roofs are a preferable alternative to polycarbonate roofs. Our solar-control glass roofs help to reduce thermal transmission and prevent heat from escaping the home.
For a combination of both glass and tiled roofs, we also offer high-performance lantern roof systems which improve the energy efficiency and style of conservatories and orangeries.
New windows for conservatories
It’s estimated that 18% of a home’s heat is lost through old windows. Conservatories with inefficient glazing could certainly end up costing you a significant amount. If your conservatory was built over 15 years ago, it’s highly likely that its windows no longer meet the efficiency requirements of current new building regulations.
At Seal-Lite, all our windows achieve outstanding U-values as low as 0.8 W/m²k. This measures the rate of thermal transfusion. The lower the U-value, the less heat can infiltrate and escape the home. Investing in this superior standard of conservatory glazing could be a long-term solution to your conservatory’s inefficiency.
Our windows can be manufactured bespoke in either uPVC or aluminium. Both materials exhibit fantastic thermal efficiency and stunning aesthetics, available in a range of colours and finishes to suit any conservatory.
New doors for conservatories
Just like our windows, new doors can highly elevate a conservatory’s energy efficiency. Many conservatories are fitted with glazed doors to provide homeowners access to their gardens. It’s possible the sub-standard glazing or faulty mechanisms are causing heat to escape through the doors.
Seal-Lite can retroactively fit your existing conservatory with new options such as bifold doors, patio doors and French doors.
All of these exhibit the same incredibly thermal properties as our windows, as well as bringing a sense of modern style to your conservatory.
How else can I save heat in my conservatory?
The products detailed above are all long-term solutions to improve the energy efficiency of an old conservatory. However, if you are in need of a short-term solution that you can implement right now, there are several furnishings that can help to absorb heat and warm up the space. Some of these include:
- Heavier curtains
- Carpets
- Rugs
- Larger chairs
One particularly popular conservatory addition is integral blinds. Working in tandem with our double and triple-glazed window units, they help to further enhance the windows’ energy efficiency. Furthermore, they also give you total control of the amount of natural light that gets into your conservatory. They can also be integrated into the design of French doors.
Is it worth upgrading a conservatory?
Absolutely. With the recent hike in energy bills, an underperforming conservatory could end up costing you a fortune. Furthermore, a faulty conservatory could actually end up reducing the overall value of your property and make it difficult to sell when you decide to move. Therefore, it’s vital that you carry out the necessary renovations to save you money in the long run.
With decades of experience behind us, Seal-Lite can advise you on which improvements your conservatory requires in order to remain energy efficient. With a full range of conservatory styles available, we can even replace the whole conservatory if necessary.
Conservatory renovations from Bristol to Weston-Super-Mare
Whether you live in Nailsea, Clevedon, Portishead, or anywhere else in the South West, Seal-Lite can revive your old conservatory and make it a comfortable, energy-efficient space again.
If you have any more questions about our products or insurance, call our fantastic team on 01275 342 656 or contact us online.