Everyone loves summer, right? The warm weather, the cool nights, the beach, the ice cream. There’s not much to dislike when it comes to everyone’s (well mostly everyone’s) favourite time of year. Except for one thing. The dreaded overheating that comes with your garden room!

If you have a garden room, you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about. You wake up to see the sun shining and the temperatures soaring, perfect. But as you make your way through your home and towards your glass room, you start to feel the heat like an uncooked egg simmering in the pan. When you finally get to your garden room, the hot thick air fills your lungs making it impossible to breathe while you scramble to the back door to let in some much-needed fresh air. Now, wouldn’t it amazing if you could enjoy your garden room all year round, no matter the weather? Well, if you do, then this blog is for you! Here, we’ll take a look at some of the things that you can do to keep your garden room cool this summer so that you can avoid overcooking during your afternoon nap.

Blind it up

Adding blinds to your garden room windows is the first way that you can keep it cool during the peak of summer. These can be installed to the sides as well as the roof of your sunroom, drastically reducing the temperature of the inside by blocking direct sunlight shining through your windows. Garden room blinds can sometimes be on the pricey side of life, but with these installed you can look forward to a much cooler sunroom, allowing you to enjoy it more and make greater use out of it. In this sense, you can view blinds as an investment, rather than an expense.

Ventilate

Another effective way of cooling your garden room during the summer is by adding a ventilation system that works to allow the hot air that has built up to escape easily. Ideal for those warmer mornings! You can purchase specialised vents that can be installed in the lower walls and in the ceiling of your garden room to initiate airflow, allowing the hot air to quickly and easily pass through.

Insulate

Garden rooms are often installed onto properties after the property has been built, meaning they don’t receive the same building features as the rest of the home, including insulation. This leads to increased temperatures inside the garden room when the weather begins to pick up, which can be avoided if proper insulation is added.

Here, multi-foil insulation can be used as a vapour-controlled blanket that not only keeps your garden room cool but also works to prevent damp, decrease glare and reduce the risk of your furnishings fading as a result of direct exposure to sunlight.

Add Air Conditioning

Installing a high-quality air conditioning unit is the final way that you can keep your sunroom cool during the summer. Albeit this is the most expensive option, it is by far the most effective and provides instant cool air whenever it is needed.

When considering an air-con unit, you must also think about the increased energy consumption that will occur as a result of using one, the professional installation and costs that are often required with the top-of-the-range units as well as any alterations that may be needed to your garden room for the unit to work effectively. 

And there you have it, the different ways that you can keep your garden room cool this summer! If you have a sunroom that tends to get on the warmer side during summer, be sure to follow these tips to create a cooler, more comfortable space.

If you are considering adding a glass room to your property before the summer begins, then considering these points before doing so will help avoid any overheating issues in the future.

Photo: Within Home

Before you start shopping for conservatory furniture or planning your first soiree for your newly added garden room, you need to design and plan the space. This step by step process breaks it down to the smallest detail, a process that will give you a fantastic conservatory. But where do you start?

What is your Plan and Budget?

A conservatory can be what you want it to be – an extra living room, a dining room, a gym, home office and so on – with its use a determining factor in type, style and size.

It is important that you set a budget right from the start and are realistic about what you can achieve for the money you have. It is probably better to have a well-designed and built conservatory with underfloor heating, for example, than one that is bigger but poorly designed and finished.

Photo: Within Home

What is your Style?

There are variations of style when it comes to conservatories too. Most people choose a style that is in keeping with their home. If you have a modern, newly built property, for example, a modern conservatory would make more sense than one finished with Victorian detailing.

Which way will your Conservatory Face?

A south-facing conservatory sounds idyllic – all that sun! – but in the height of summer can be unbearable unless you fit air conditioning etc. A north-facing conservatory will need heating (as will most conservatories).

As well as sun, consider what you will be looking at from the open conservatory doors, as well as where the door should be too.

Photo: Forves Rix Design

Which Materials will you Choose?

As well as uPVC conservatory frames, you can also opt for aluminium, as well as half-built brick walls and so on. Alongside your choice of style, you will find your budget plays a big part in this decision. You will also have to consider if  you opt for framed windows or do you want a vast expanse of glass for uninterrupted views of the garden?

What about Planning Consents?

Most local authorities allow conservatories as a consented addition to a home providing they don’t take up more than 25% of the garden. Make sure you have the right permit for your remodelling project. It is always wise to check before building work starts and certainly in the case of old or listed properties.

Photo: Conservatory Craftsmen

What Roofing Style will you opt For?

A conservatory is a room that is mainly glass and this has traditionally included a glazed roof. But to increase energy efficiency, many people are opting for either part glazed/part tiled roof or all tiled roof, complete with insulation. That said, there are examples of energy efficient glass that make for a great roof on a conservatory.

How will the Conservatory Connect to the Rest of the Home?

Many homeowners take the opportunity to use the addition of a conservatory to build an extension to their home. Imagine adding a stylish conservatory and creating a magnificent open plan kitchen/diner. It can be done with the correct planning permissions in place, and a build that meets all current regulations.

Have you Considered Energy Efficiency?

Gone are the days when a conservatory would be a draughty, plastic box fitted to the back of a property. They must and need to energy efficient in order to be a useful addition to your home but to also meet current energy efficiency requirements.

From sleek modern to the sumptuousness of traditional design, Rattan Direct appreciate the importance of the right conservatory furniture. Connect with them on Twitter.