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We movd into our new new house mid december and that has one, dwarf walls, all glass walls and reflective glass roof. We get sun from late morning until the end of the day.
Its been baltic since we moved in. So cold infact that i broke the door handle trying to lock the door in the night after letting the dog out. We're in two minds about what to do with it. Build a proper extension where it is and open the kitchen up or change the design a bit. We have started looking into putting a different roof on it. Its basically a plastic solid insulated roof with mock tile effect roof (sounds great when you put it like that!!) with a couple of sky lights. Have been told they make the room much warmer. Might be worth a look.
skiprat
Same as ours, but as I said first thing we did was spur a rad off the house. Keeps it above freezing.
I don't think you are 'allowed' to have them open to the house without exterior quality doors unless it complies with certain insulation requirements.
We did an extension about four years ago - originally discussed a conservatory but opted for a slate roof (with Velux) with loads of glass to two sides and a solid wall adjoining the neighbour's property.
It is also open-plan - we orinally planned concertina doors in the opening but during the build decided we wanted it open so we went back to the planning office and they approved it on the basis that we had to fit DG with some special gas in it. Obviously this was more expensive than standard DG but it was cheaper than the doors we were going to fit.
And we are very relieved we didn't do the conservatory as it remains perfectly warm in winter and not too hot in the summer.
Here's a pic...
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I know someone who had a large conservatory built - it cut out most the light making the lounge dark and gloomy. They ended up having 2 new windows fitted to get some light into the room.
We inherited on when we moved into our current house. It's a good quality one - dwarf walls, hardwood frame and reflective glazing all round.
We set it up as a the kids playroom.
When we get enough cash saved up, we're going to knock it down and build a proper extension. It's too cold in winter and an oven in summer (south facing). Prior to owning one, I'd always quite fancied the idea. Not now though.
Grandparnts have two, one's got a propper roof and no door to the house though so that's probably proerly insulated.
They use them all year round so must be warm enough. They do live in a large, but fairly dark cottage though so it's appealing compared to the living room in anything but freezing weather/rain.
They're also really good gardeners. Not just a lawn and borders, there must be hundreds/thousands of plants, a pond, couple of sumemr houses, chicken hutch (with chickens) dovecote etc and a view out into the mountains. So the conservatory is actualy somewhere you can enjoy that on a less than brilliant day.
A client of mine had one, too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter until I put a false ceiling in it with insulation on top....overjoyed he was, bloody fantastic. He can use it all year round.
Did this to my conservatory too. We use it everyday, it is the kids/music room.
you're all thinking about it wrong. In winter they are in fact a giant walk in fridge. And as such a great place to keep yer booze.