Conservatories can be wonderful spaces in any home.
They give you natural lighting, a good view of your garden and are often more informal, chill out zones.
The problem comes with the weather when it reaches the more extreme ends of the spectrum. Any type of weather that’s too hot or too cold usually means your conservatory is unusable.
Conservatory roof insulation panels address this problem.
My conservatory currently isn’t insulated but I’ve been looking at insulation roof panels as a way of keeping a more regular temperature in the conservatory throughout the year.
Why do you need conservatory roof insulation?
The major problem in a conservatory has everything to do with heat.
When it’s hot, conservatories tend to heat up like greenhouses because of all the glass.
On the other hand, when it’s too cold your conservatory will suffer from rapid heat loss and condensation.
The roof is the prime area where heat is lost. This is because warm air rises. Adding conservatory roof insulation panels will help keep the heat in which will make for a more comfortable space.
Conservatory Roof Insulation Panels
There are many ways to insulate a conservatory.
Conservatory roofing insulation systems can include polycarbonate sheets, aluminum foil and thermal wadding.
Although these cheaper options provide insulation, they aren’t as effective as solid roof replacement and roof insulation panels.
Compared to solid roofing, conservatory roof panels are increasingly popular. These panels deliver desired heat efficiency but a cheaper cost.
What are roof insulation panels made of?
Typically, roof insulation panels have an extruded polystyrene (XPS) core sandwiched between laminated skins of aluminum.
The result is a robust and rigid panel.
Aluminum is a lightweight, corrosion-resistant and durable material. It also doesn’t get as hot as other materials and easily cools down. Aluminium is considered sustainable as it’s infinitely recyclable.
On the other hand, XPS has high water and thermal resistance, as well as compressive strength.
Combined, these two components make for an effective insulation panel.
What are the benefits of roof insulation panels?
Conservatory roof insulation panels provide the following advantages:
1. Thermal efficiency
Improved thermal efficiency is the main benefit of insulation panels. There’s heat loss reduction on colder days while cutting down on solar gain during warmer days.
This thermal performance is measured through the U-value. This is measured in watts per square metre per Kelvin (W/m2K)
Roofing systems with a lower U-value have better insulation capabilities.
Over the years, roofing insulation systems have seen significant improvements. Traditional materials like polycarbonate panels provide a U-value of 1.6 – 2.4 W/m2K, while glass panels provide at best 1.8 W/m2K.
Recent innovations in insulation panels achieve as low as 0.29 W/m2K.
Even more, U-values can decrease to 0.16 W/m2K when panels are used in conjunction with internal or ceiling insulation.
This value is at least tenfold better than basic conservatory polycarbonate sheets meaning you’ll be feeling much more comfortable in your conservatory during hot and cold weather.
2. Energy and cost efficiency
The thermal efficiency makes the temperature inside the conservatory stable.
As such, less energy is required to operate heating and cooling systems. In turn, you save on electricity bills, which is always a winner. Take a look your eco friendly heating options here.
Additionally, the overall durability of insulation panels makes them last longer. They’re also less prone to fading thanks to their weatherproofing and waterproofing characteristics.
This means you’re less likely to need replacements unlike traditional roof systems. Furthermore, they usually come with a 10-year guarantees.
All in all they’re a cost-efficient options.
3. Safer structure and quick installation
Insulation panels are much lighter and more robust. This allows installation without compromising your existing structure.
With solid roofing, the supporting frame of your conservatory may be affected by the additional load.
Installing conservatory insulation panels doesn’t require drilling and can be quickly done in one day.
4. Additional benefits
Other added benefits of insulation panels include the following:
- The robustness of the panel creates noise reduction
- There’s less exposure to sunlight and decreased sun glare
- The aesthetic value of the panel is maintained due to scratch and corrosion resistance
- Panels can be customized to add acoustic layers for soundproofing
- They’re compatible with every type of conservatory
Installation of Conservatory Roof Insulation Panels
Installing roof panels can be a DIY project. In most cases thought it might be best to call on a professional.
Whatever you decide on, you should go through the following steps:
1. Prepare conservatory dimensions and pictures
The best way to know more about what you need for your conservatory is to contact a materials supplier or an installer.
Before you do that, you should be able to provide them with details regarding the purchase or installation.
Prepare your conservatory’s measurements, existing panel thickness and numbers, plus pictures. If you still have the plan for when it was constructed, then that should help.
2. Contact an installer or supplier
The next step is to contact companies for material estimates and quotations based on the details you provide.
Discuss your desired panel requirements that are within your budget. Companies provide several options to customize your panels. You can request pre-powder coatings, colors on either side of the panel skins, and even gloss levels.
3. Fitting the Panels
If you choose to install the insulation panels, consider the following steps:
- First, carefully unscrew the conservatory roof bars
- Then, remove the old roof panels and glazing bars
- Cut insulation panels by using the measurement of the old ones
- Next, clean screws and glazing bars
- Fit insulated roof panels and glazing bars
- Finally, screw the roof bar end caps
Before you go…
Insulation and energy efficiency is key throughout the home.
Not only does it help for a better living environment, but it will reduce your costs. It’s a no-brainer.
Make sure you check out this post on eco friendly insulation options as well as this one on how to insulate a conservatory.
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I’m the Creator and Editor of Tiny Eco Home Life. I write and publish information about living a more sustainable, environmentally friendly life. Away from the laptop, I love spending time in nature and with my young family (plus Murphy the dog!). I write and send out the Eco Life Newsletter.
