The goal of every conversion is to create an area that is usable throughout the year. Insulation is the essential addition to make that goal a reality. A room without insulation, but with a roof conversion, is a room with an aesthetically pleasing version of the same problem. The problem is an inefficient room with a bill that continues to grow because of the poor insulation.
Understanding the importance of insulation is key to making a room usable throughout the year as opposed to making a room that is aesthetically pleasing, but that no one wants to go in.
The Insulating Challenge of a Roof
It is a basic fact that, with every turn of the season, warmth rises and escapes through the roof. That is not a problem if the space is simply being used as storage. If, however, the space is used as a room and needs to be kept warm, that creates a challenge. The same problem exists with a conservatory roof. If it is single-glazed or a polycarbonate roof, then insulation is virtually nonexistent. This means that the warmth you have paid for all winter is escaping through the roof, while the sun is invading all summer.
In order to solve this problem, insulation needs to be added to the roof. This is calculated as a U-value. The lower the number, the better the insulation. While you do not need to memorize the numbers insulation, as long as the insulation is added meets the standard set by the building regulations, and ideally improved beyond the standards, then the insulation should be sufficient.
In a Loft Conversion
When converting a loft, insulation is placed on the slope of the roof and around the walls. In an unused loft, insulation is placed on the floor. There’s a trade-off. Insulation ensures the room is comfortable. However, it is one more thing occupying air space, which takes away from head height. The best loft conversions do this and strike the correct trade-off without users noticing.
We also insulate the walls of the dormers and flat roofs along the dormers, as well as the warm room’s edges and the cold outside. Modern roof windows are now double and triple glazed and lose less heat than roof windows of the past generations. We discuss the insulation technologies of the modern and older roof windows on the [loft conversions page →].
In a Conservatory Roof Conversion
This is the area where the differences are the most stark, as you are usually starting with an almost unfinished room. Replacing polycarbonate roofs with insulated tiled or solid roofs ends the room’s greenhouse effect. The insulation of a solid or tiled roof is the same insulation found in an extension. A conservatory room with an insulated roof now holds a relatively constant temperature.
That is what ultimately makes a conservatory usable in February. We discuss the various types of solid and tiled roofs on the [conservatory roof conversions page →].
Expenses
Insulated rooms help save on heating expenses. It gets more complicated beyond that. Cold or leaky rooms cause the boiler to work harder on heating the rooms. Insulating a new room helps stabilizes the temperatures of the entire home.
If someone says insulation will cut your heating expenses in half, you can be sure they are lying or guessing. The expense savings from improved insulation do take time to cumulate, however, you will almost always feel the difference.
Doing it Right
You won’t see the effect of insulation for years after it goes in. Failing to insulate causes cold spots and condensation. It makes sense to do it right the first time. Insulation is part of every conversion we do. Rather than looking at insulation as an add on, we think of it as integral.