Why Your Glasgow Conservatory Is Too Cold In Winter

What makes a conservatory cold?

Heat loss through the roof makes a conservatory cold, because a polycarbonate roof has a U-value of roughly 2.6 W/m²K against 0.15 W/m²K for an insulated warm roof.

Roofs account for the largest surface area facing the open sky. Glasgow averages around 5°C in January and receives roughly 1,100 hours of sunshine a year, so a glass or polycarbonate roof radiates heat away for most of the heating season.

• Polycarbonate roof sheets: around 2.6 W/m²K
• Older double-glazed roof units: around 1.6 W/m²K
• Insulated tiled warm roof: around 0.15 W/m²K
• Uninsulated concrete base: continuous heat sink into the ground

Does secondary glazing fix a cold conservatory?

Secondary glazing reduces draughts but does not fix a cold conservatory, because it leaves the roof unchanged.

Frame upgrades help when the existing units have failed seals or blown panes. On their own they rarely change how the room feels in December.

What actually works in Scotland?

A warm roof replacement combined with an insulated floor and a dedicated heat source makes a conservatory usable all year in Scotland.

• Replace the roof with an insulated solid roof system
• Insulate the floor build-up or add underfloor heating
• Upgrade glazing to argon-filled units with a low-e coating
• Add a heat source that is separate from the main house circuit

How much does the fix cost?

A warm roof replacement in Glasgow typically costs between £8,900 and £16,000 depending on roof size and style.

That is a fraction of a full rebuild and it converts an unusable three-season room into a year-round one.