5 Easy ways to keep your orangery warm in the winter

While an orangery can be warm and well-regulated during winter, it's still important to look after the structure to increase its longevity for many more winters to come.

No need for winter concerns when considering owning an orangery and here’s why…

Let us put your mind at ease because in fact, orangeries can be incredibly warm and welcoming spaces over the winter, and still feel comfortably cool over the summer months. There are 5 easy ways to heat your orangery this winter.

So, you may ask why do people worry that orangeries get cold in the winter? It’s likely down to the poor reputation of old-fashioned glazed rooms, that were unusable for 6 months of the year. But over the last 30+ years we’ve seen great advancements in glazing technology enabling you to use your orangery the same as any room in the house all year round.

Here are our 5 easy ways which help Westbury orangeries stay warm in the winter:

1. 1. INSULATION

It goes without saying if you want to hold as much heat inside your home as possible, you will need to insulate the building. Orangeries in particular feature dwarf walls, built columns and a flat roof, all of which can be fully insulated and help to reduce warm air from escaping. In addition, high performing weather seals should be used across all doors and windows to prevent the cold air from outside from entering your home.

2. THERMALLY EFFICIENT WINDOWS AND DOORS

With a large area of an orangery being glazed, it is important to also minimise the heat loss through the glazed panes. That’s where an understanding of U-values come in. U-values are calculated by finding the sum of thermal resistance, the lower U-value the better your glass will perform in the winter as the glass allows a low amount of heat transference. The same principle can be also applied to the windows during the summer, with less warm air being transferred from the warm air outside, into your home.

3. THERMALLY EFFICIENT ROOF LANTERNS AND GLAZED ROOVES

Lanterns are a great way to bring in a lot of natural light, but also surprisingly they are very thermally efficient. How you ask? We use toughened, argon filled, 4-16-4 units with warm edge spacer bars as standard. What does all that mean exactly? It means that each toughened pane experiences minimal heat loss throughout the winter and each edge of the sealed glazed units are kept apart to prevent cold bridging. What is a cold bridge? It is a gap between two insulated parts. This gap is colder than the surrounding areas and can lead to a build-up of condensation, causing windows to lose heat. This can also lead to the deterioration of the building, mould growth and damp. A well insulated lantern will stop these issues and keep your orangery warmer throughout the winter months.

4. UNDERFLOOR HEATING

What is another way to keep warm in an orangery you ask? We would recommend underfloor heating. Orangeries are known to have lot of window area and little to no opportunity to hang radiators, with orangeries becoming the only room within your home that doesn’t receive the same central heating we would highly recommend underfloor heating this is a fantastic space and modern feature / solution to heating your home. With underfloor heating you can have multiple options for design including wooden and stone flooring. This solution not only keeps your toes lovely and warm but heats the whole space from floor to ceiling.

5. U-VALUES

How important are U-values for glass to ensure your orangery is not cold in the winter. The first thing to note is that not all glazing is tested the same for its thermal performance. Each and every door or window from our orangeries are independently tested for their U-values in there entirety. We test this to give the most accurate performance results possible for the whole product (glazing and frame).

Get in touch today

Want to find out more about our full insulated orangeries and garden rooms contact us today for a initial design consultation on 01245 326 500 or alternatively email design@westburygr.com

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you keep an orangery warm?

An orangery stays warm with an insulated solid roof and wall sections that matches the standard as the rest of the house. Double or triple glazing can bring the U-value down to the current standard or better. Where possible, install underfloor heating rather than radiators, keeping warmth level with where people are instead of pushing it to the ceiling. You should also ensure the room is properly sealed from any unheated part of the house.

Are orangeries cold in winter?

If they’re built properly, no. An orangery has a solid perimeter roof and brick or masonry walls with glazing concentrated in the roof lantern, so more heat is held compared to a conservatory. A well-specified orangery can stay comfortable throughout winter.

Are orangeries warmer than conservatories?

Usually, yes. A conservatory has a fully glazed roof and walls, so there’s very little solid material anywhere to hold heat. Glass loses heat faster than an insulated wall or no roof no matter how good the glazing is. An orangery’s solid roof and masonry allow it to retain heat better in winter without overheating in the summer.

What’s the difference between a conservatory and an orangery?

A conservatory has a fully glazed roof and mostly glazed walls, whereas an orangery has a solid roof with a glazed roof lantern at the centre, accompanied by brick or masonry walls.

How much is an orangery extension?

There is no fixed number without seeing the site. Your orangery extension will be unique to your home, and you may require a different level of glazing or have limited site access. Many things about your property can affect the cost, so you will require a survey to get an accurate quote.