The insulation value of your new uPVC conservatory, as well as its capacity to keep heat inside during the cooler months of the year, is becoming an ever more important consideration in light of the ever-increasing costs associated with heating a home.

If you are thinking about adding conservatory insulation cost to your house during the warmer months of the year, you should keep in mind that you will need to find an effective way to heat it during the colder months so that you can use it as an extension of your house throughout the entire year. If you do not do this, you will not be able to make full use of the space.

Your Conservatory's Heating System

One thing you should think about is how you will heat the conservatory, but the thing that will matter the most is how well the conservatory will keep the heat inside. If your valuable heat is going to be lost through the glass, roof, or frames of the conservatory, there is not much point in adding an expensive heating solution such as underfloor heating.

This is of utmost significance at the cheaper end of the market, where it is still possible to purchase a conservatory with a basic design that does not incorporate any kind of heat-retaining glass and has a roof that is glazed with polycarbonate measuring either 16 or 25 millimetres in thickness. These products may give the impression of being inexpensive conservatories; however, because they lack good insulation properties, it is possible that they will be very expensive to heat during the colder months of the year, or they may even be "off-limits" during this time period.

Insulation for Conservatories in the UK

Insulation values or 'U' values are currently used to measure a product's heat transfer in the United Kingdom. The lower the 'U' value, the better the insulation value, which means that less of your valuable heating will be lost 'through' the product. Insulation values can also be measured in terms of R-values.

The following are likely to be the target "U" values for the three primary components that make up an energy-efficient PVCU conservatory:

Glass Conservatory Roof = 1.1 watts per square meter

a Polycarbonate Conservatory Roof equals 1.5 watts per square meter per kelvin

 PVCU Frames = 1.8w m/2k

1.1 watts per square meter and kilowatts

However, you do not need to spend an excessive amount of time worrying about the technical details when selecting a provider for your conservatory. The requirements are able to be condensed into the following typical minimum specifications for each component, which will provide values that are comparable to 'U':

Insulation for the Conservatory Roof

Even if you choose solar control glass for the exterior surface of the glass conservatory roof, you should still include a low-E glass surface on the interior of the glass. For the best possible insulation, hermetically sealed units should preferably be filled with argon gas.

The 35mm thickness of a polycarbonate conservatory roof is more energy-efficient than either the 16mm or the 25mm thickness.

Sealed Units ought to have heat-retaining glass such as K glass or, even better, a soft-coat Low E glass at the very least. This is the bare minimum requirement. Argon gas should ideally be used to fill the units for optimal performance, but helium can also be used.

Insulation for the Windows of the Conservatory

A rating system that is less complicated and more straightforward is currently being implemented, which will result in the performance ratings of PVCU windows and doors being updated. The new window energy ratings are very similar to those that can already be found on a wide variety of electrical products. Both types of ratings use a seven-band scale ranging from A to G, with A representing the highest level of energy efficiency. This system is not mandated by law, but rather is being implemented voluntarily to provide customers with the ability to make educated choices regarding the energy efficiency of products that are in direct competition with one another.

There are currently no building regulations in place in England and Wales that apply to conservatories. This means that, in contrast to replacement windows and doors for your home, there are no enforced standards of insulation that are applicable to conservatories.

Checking the insulation value or energy performance rating of the components used in the manufacture of your new conservatory is ultimately very much in your best interests to ensure that it does not become a "white elephant" during the colder months of the year. This is because the purpose of adding a new conservatory to your property will doubtless be to increase your living space all year round. However, since this will undoubtedly be the case, it is very important that you do so.

Insulation for PVCu Conservatories and Orangeries

There are PVCu conservatories on the market that are available at extremely low prices, particularly in the do-it-yourself (DIY) or self-build conservatory sector, which features very competitive pricing. You will need to carefully consider the performance of each product in addition to its price, as the selection and the differences in specification can be overwhelming for someone who is not experienced in the field.

Because there won't be much you can do to improve the energy efficiency of this permanent addition to your home once it has been installed, the insulation value of your new conservatory is a very important point to consider when you are in the planning stage.

When selecting a sunroom provider, it is important to consider the insulation value of the panels. Sun-Room Ireland offers bespoke solutions with the best price and a 10-year guarantee. Their specially designed roof insulation and multi-layered reflective insulation system can transform your existing conservatory.