Planning a conservatory or orangery extension is an exciting time, but one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. By this, we mean that care should be taken with certain elements of its construction. Have you decided where your conservatory will be positioned and which way it will face? As Yorkshire’s conservatory and orangery experts, we’ll explain the importance of the direction of your house and how it can affect your conservatory or orangery.
Which direction does your house face?
This is one of the most important points to consider. As a country within the Northern Hemisphere, north facing orangeries or conservatories will remain fairly cool throughout the summer months, whereas south-facing orangeries or conservatories will become rather warm at the height of the Yorkshire summer season. So, it stands to reason that north facing conservatories or orangeries will be a lot colder in winter than south facing structures. It is worth noting that south facing conservatories can get a little chilly during the winter months. Investing in energy efficient features will help keep your conservatory at a comfortable temperature all year round and keep your energy bills down.
What’s the best direction to position an orangery or conservatory?
East facing orangeries or conservatories will catch the sun in the morning, whereas westerly placed extensions will catch the sun in the afternoon and the evenings. Therefore, the ideal positioning of a Yorkshire orangery or conservatory is in the south-east or the south-west as it will be bathed in sunlight for a portion of the day and will then have time to cool off.
North facing orangery or conservatory
If you have no option but to build your orangery or conservatory facing north, then you’ll need to consider effective insulation and good quality heating to retain warmth throughout the winter months. Specialist heat-reflective glass, double or triple glazing, tiled roof options, blinds, interior decoration and underfloor heating could also be utilized here to retain additional heat as well as prevent condensation, damp and mould from forming throughout the coldest months of the year.
South facing orangery or conservatory
If you have no option but to build your orangery or conservatory facing south, ventilation and solar reflective glass will play key roles in keeping the space cool throughout the hottest months of the year. Ventilation should include regularly opening windows and roof vents to allow the air to effectively flow through. Double French doors or sliding patio or bi-folding doors could also be utilized with south facing orangeries or conservatories, as these will allow the breeze to permeate throughout the space too. You may also wish to consider tiled roof options, roof blinds, air conditioners, dehumidifiers and the interior decoration to achieve sufficient year-round climate control.
How to keep a conservatory warm in winter
Here’s a few quick tips on keeping your conservatory warm throughout the winter months:
- Invest in better glazing.
- Minimise draughts as best as you can.
- Get busy with drapes and blinds and big blankets.
- Perhaps lay some new flooring.
- Insulate the conservatory roof.
- Opt for electric heating if you can.
- Be efficient with the radiator you already have.
How to keep a conservatory cool in summer
Here’s a few quick tips on keeping your conservatory cool throughout the summer months:
- Open window vents.
- Invest in some blinds.
- Circulate air with a fan.
- Reduce humidity levels with plants.
- Replace your conservatory roof.
Extend your living space with a conservatory or orangery
It really does pay to plan ahead! So, if you’d like to enhance your Yorkshire home this year the Global Windows team would love to play a part in your home improvement project. Don’t delay, contact us on 0800 610 1234 or send us a message online today.
Related reads:
6 benefits of a tiled conservatory for your South Yorkshire home
