Given that this summer has been one of the hottest on record in the UK, a lot of people with conservatories want to relax in them and enjoy the beautiful sunny weather.
However, whilst most people with bespoke conservatories can relax and enjoy the weather without many issues, some people, particularly those with older conservatories, can find the conditions unbearable.
Older conservatories with large glass roofs have a habit in summer of getting exceptionally hot, to the point that it is much cooler in direct sunlight than inside the building itself. Conversely, in winter, the conservatory can sometimes be extremely cold.
There are several reasons for these extremes in temperature, and also reasons why modern conservatories even if built with more traditional designs do not have this problem to the same degree.
The Greenhouse Effect
A lot of older conservatories are very similar in design to greenhouses, being primarily made of glass with a glass sloping roof. Because of this, during warm, sunny days, the glass not only lets in sunlight but also solar energy, which is absorbed by you and everything else in the room.
For certain kinds of greenhouses, this is an ideal way to ensure that plants have enough light and the right temperatures they need, but can lead to unpleasant levels of heat in a conservatory, as well as causing furniture to fade.
Whilst a tiled roof would solve the problem, more modern conservatory glazing can feature UV-blocking film or solar-controlled glass that reflects sunlight away from the conservatory, lowering the temperature without stopping you from enjoying blue skies.
Sunshine From The South
In the UK, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, but during the majority of the day, the south receives the vast majority of direct sunlight.
As such, if you have a south-facing garden, you are more likely to have a conservatory that received direct sunlight from the early morning until sunset, and therefore need to consider its temperature more than you might expect.
Poor Insulation
It can be difficult to consider why insulation might be the problem when the issue is heat, but what it is important to consider is that insulation works as a barrier not only to keep heat in but to stop it from coming through the walls.
This is often a problem with older conservatories because the glass that is used is not always designed with insulation in mind. Upgrading the glass and insulation can have a massive effect on the overall comfort of your conservatory.
Keep It Ventilated
During particularly warm days, rooms often heat up as a result of poor ventilation, where warm heat lingers and cannot escape. Keep doors and windows open when you can and allow fresh air to circulate as much as possible.
If excess heat is a regular issue, consider investing in an air conditioning solution to maintain that airflow and keep a space that absorbs a lot of heat cooler, more comfortable and more enjoyable than it would be otherwise.