Insulating my veranda for a warm winter

A
veranda
is synonymous with greater comfort and a better quality of life in your home. It not only brings light and new living space into your home, but also a pleasant view of your garden. To make the most of this extension all year round, it’s important to insulate your veranda perfectly. But how? In this article, we explain everything you need to know about insulating your veranda.

Veranda exposure

How do I display my veranda?

The choice of veranda orientation
is probably the most important consideration when it comes to thermal insulation. It will determine the amount of light. But it’s precisely this light source that naturally heats the veranda. If you place your veranda under trees, in the shade, it will never get the sun and will become a very cold room in winter.

The best solution for a veranda is to face south-east, to get plenty of light during the day and avoid overheating in the afternoon. You can also opt for a south-westerly orientation to take advantage of good sun exposure in the afternoon and at the end of the day. These exposures make the most of the sun and natural heating.

Combine glazing and solid panels

Since verandas (and the same applies to patio roofs) are mainly built on the terraces of houses, you won’t always have a choice of orientation. When possible, a terrace is normally already oriented to take maximum advantage of the sun, but this is not always the case.

So how can I enjoy year-round thermal comfort in my veranda if it’s not well exposed? By combining glass walls, which are the basis of a veranda’s design, with solid panels, which provide better insulation than glazing. So you can intelligently orient each type of wall to benefit from the sun’s natural warmth all year round, without suffering in the summer months.

A veranda built with the right materials

A veranda is a room in its own right, completely open to the outside world. To make the most of this warmth, it’s important to make the right insulation choices. A veranda is chosen for the style you want to bring to your home, the price, ease of maintenance, but also the construction materials. These will have an impact on your energy bill.

The
best materials for the structure of a veranda
are aluminum, wood and PVC. These quality materials will provide better insulation for this space. Wood is an excellent natural thermal insulator and gives your extension a warm, welcoming feel. Aluminum is also a great insulator, and unlike wood, it’s easy to maintain and stands the test of time. A PVC structure will have a slightly lower thermal performance, but can represent a good compromise for smaller budgets, as it is more economical.

Floor insulation

Insulating a veranda also involves the floor. When building a veranda, it’s important to check that the floor is free of rising damp and that the slabs are thermally insulated. Ideally, insulating cladding should be installed when the veranda is built. This work will prevent significant heat loss through the floor and the build-up of humidity inside the veranda. Excessive humidity in a room can damage your furniture and encourage the growth of unhealthy mold.

In addition to the floor, it’s all the veranda’s foundations that influence its insulation. So it’s best to back it up against a wall that’s already thick and watertight. Otherwise, the room in the house adjoining your conservatory extension will need to be heated when it’s cold outside, to prevent heat loss from the inside.

Conservatory glass insulation

As the main purpose of a veranda is to enjoy the view from your garden, this installation is of course mainly composed of glass walls, which may seem to be a hindrance to good insulation. The best solution for insulating bay windows is the choice of glazing. With double glazing, reinforced double glazing or even triple glazing, your conservatory is protected from the cold in winter, but also from overheating in summer.

To complement this insulation, you can opt for interior insulation with fabric blinds and curtains, waterproof canvas blinds or reflective blinds that offer solar and thermal protection. The combination of these different solutions offers highly satisfactory thermal performance.

Conservatory roof insulation

It’s a well-known fact that in a building, as in a conservatory, the greatest heat loss is through the roof. So, to prevent heat loss in winter via the roof, you’ll need to insulate the roof of your veranda. There are various solutions for insulating your roof. You can opt for opaque sheets, polycarbonate panels or fabric blinds on the roof.

Are you planning a veranda?

Installing a veranda requires careful thought beforehand, to ensure that the project fits in with your home. Rely on Verandair for living verandas
.
Our experts will give you the best advice and accompany you every step of the way as you realize your custom project.