Is Your Conservatory Too Hot This Summer? Discover the Best Ways to Keep It Cooler
If you’ve ever stepped into your conservatory on a hot summer’s day and immediately wanted to step back out again, you’re certainly not alone.
Conservatories are designed to let in plenty of natural light, creating bright and welcoming living spaces.
Unfortunately, that same glazing can also allow large amounts of solar heat to enter the room, leaving many conservatories feeling uncomfortably warm during the summer months.
The good news is that you don’t have to stop using your conservatory every time the temperature rises.
With the right window shading solutions, it’s possible to reduce glare, improve comfort and make the room far more enjoyable throughout the summer.
In this guide, we’ll explain why conservatories get so hot and explore some of the most effective solutions available.
Why Do Conservatories Get So Hot?
The main reason is simple – glass.
Most conservatories have large, glazed roofs, glazed side windows or a combination of both.
While this allows plenty of daylight into your home, it also allows the sun’s energy to pass through the glass.
Once that heat enters the room, it becomes trapped, causing the temperature to rise throughout the day.
South and west-facing conservatories are often affected the most because they receive prolonged periods of direct sunlight.
The result can be:
- A room that’s uncomfortable to sit in during the afternoon
- Excessive glare making it difficult to watch television or read
- Furniture and flooring exposed to prolonged sunlight
- A space that’s used far less than it should be during the warmer months
Fortunately, there are several ways to improve comfort, and the right solution depends on how your conservatory is built.
Should You Treat The Roof, The Side Windows Or Both?
One of the most common questions homeowners ask is whether the roof or the side windows are causing the biggest problem.
The honest answer is that every conservatory is different.
Some conservatories gain most of their heat through the roof glazing, while others are affected more by large side windows or patio doors.
In many cases, both contribute to the increase in temperature, which is why there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
The direction your conservatory faces can also make a significant difference.
South and west-facing conservatories are often exposed to the strongest afternoon sun, while the size of the glazed roof and the amount of side glazing will also influence how much heat enters the room.
It’s also worth considering how you use your conservatory. If you mainly use it for relaxing during the afternoon and evening, reducing direct sunlight through the side windows may be your priority.
If the room feels like it heats up from above throughout the day, treating the roof glazing may provide the greatest benefit. In many homes, a combination of roof and side window treatments delivers the best overall results.
Before deciding which solution is right for you, it’s helpful to understand the advantages and considerations of each option.
Keeping Your Conservatory Cooler Through The Roof
One of the most common questions homeowners ask is whether the roof or the side windows are causing the biggest problem.
The honest answer is that every conservatory is different.
Some conservatories gain most of their heat through the roof glazing, while others are affected more by large side windows or patio doors.
In many cases, both contribute to the increase in temperature, which is why there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
The direction your conservatory faces can also make a significant difference.
South and west-facing conservatories are often exposed to the strongest afternoon sun, while the size of the glazed roof and the amount of side glazing will also influence how much heat enters the room.
It’s also worth considering how you use your conservatory.
If you mainly use it for relaxing during the afternoon and evening, reducing direct sunlight through the side windows may be your priority.
If the room feels like it heats up from above throughout the day, treating the roof glazing may provide the greatest benefit.
In many homes, a combination of roof and side window treatments delivers the best overall results.
Before deciding which solution is right for you, it’s helpful to understand the advantages and considerations of each option.
Keeping Your Conservatory Cooler Through The Side Windows
While the roof often receives the most attention, the side windows also play an equally important role in keeping your conservatory comfortable during the summer.
Direct sunlight entering through the side glazing can quickly increase the temperature inside, create glare and make the room less enjoyable to use throughout the day.
Fortunately, there are several window shading solutions available, each offering different benefits depending on the style of your conservatory, the type of windows and doors you have, your budget and how you use the room.
No-Drill Blinds
For many modern uPVC conservatories, no-drill blinds are one of the most popular solutions. Designed to fit neatly onto compatible window frames without the need for drilling or screwing, they provide a clean, integrated appearance while allowing windows and doors to open and close as normal.
No-drill systems are available in a variety of options, including Perfect Fit and Cosiflor. The Perfect Fit system is available with several blind styles, including Cellular, Roller, Day & Night and Venetian blinds.
Allowing homeowners to choose the option that best suits their conservatory and the level of light control, privacy and appearance they are looking for.
Cosiflor systems may also be suitable for certain conservatory windows and glazed doors, depending on the design and application.
Things to consider: Because no-drill blinds are fitted to each window or door panel, a larger conservatory may require several blinds.
This provides excellent coverage and a neat, made-to-measure appearance, but it also means each blind is operated individually when opening or closing them.
Roller Blinds
Roller blinds remain one of the most popular and budget-friendly options for conservatories.
Available in a huge range of fabrics, colours and patterns, they offer a practical way of controlling sunlight, glare and privacy while complementing almost any interior style.
Things to consider: Roller blinds are typically fitted to the overall window opening rather than each pane of glass.
While they are an excellent economical choice, they may allow more sunlight around the edges than a closely fitted no-drill blind system.
Vertical Blinds
Vertical blinds continue to be a popular choice, particularly for larger side windows and conservatory doors.
Their rotating louvres make it easy to adjust the amount of sunlight entering the room throughout the day while still maintaining privacy when required.
Things to consider: Like roller blinds, vertical blinds are generally installed by fixing a headrail into the conservatory.
Before choosing this type of blind, it’s worth checking how your conservatory has been constructed, as some conservatories may require additional care or specialist advice before drilling into the existing framework.
A Note About PVC Venetian Blinds
Although PVC Venetian blinds are suitable for many areas of the home, they are generally not recommended for conservatories that experience prolonged periods of extreme summer temperatures.
Over time, excessive heat can cause PVC slats to warp, affecting both their appearance and operation.
If your conservatory regularly becomes very hot during the summer, it’s worth considering alternative blind options that are better suited to these conditions.
Choosing The Right Solution
By now, you’ll have seen that there isn’t a single solution that’s right for every conservatory.
The amount of heat entering your conservatory can be influenced by many factors, including the direction it faces, the size of the glazed roof, the number of side windows and doors, the type of glazing and, perhaps most importantly, how you use the room.
If your conservatory heats up mainly through the roof, you may decide that treating the roof glazing is the best place to start.
If the strongest sunlight enters through the side windows or doors, improving the window shading may provide the greatest benefit.
In many conservatories, combining roof and side window solutions delivers the best overall improvement in comfort.
When comparing the different options, it’s also worth thinking about more than just reducing heat.
Consider how easy each solution is to operate, the level of ongoing maintenance it may require, your budget and the overall appearance you’re hoping to achieve.
Every conservatory and every homeowner’s priorities are different.
The best solution is the one that works for your conservatory and the way you live.
By understanding the options available, you’ll be in a much better position to choose a window shading solution that helps you enjoy your conservatory throughout the summer months.
Understanding Your Conservatory
Before choosing any window shading solution, it’s worth taking a few moments to understand how your conservatory behaves throughout the day.
Ask yourself a few simple questions:
- Which direction does your conservatory face?
- Does the room become hot from the roof, the side windows or both?
- Which windows receive the strongest afternoon sun?
- Do you mainly use the room during the day or in the evening?
- Are you looking to reduce heat, control glare, improve privacy or achieve a combination of all three?
- Is ease of operation or low maintenance important to you?
Answering these questions will help you narrow down the options and identify which type of window shading is likely to be the most suitable for your conservatory.
Enjoy Your Conservatory This Summer
A conservatory should be a space you can enjoy throughout the warmer months, whether you’re relaxing with a book, entertaining friends and family or simply making the most of the natural light.
As you’ve seen throughout this guide, there isn’t a single solution that’s right for every conservatory.
The most suitable approach depends on factors such as its design, the direction it faces, where the heat is entering and how you use the space.
Taking the time to understand these factors will help you choose a window shading solution that improves comfort, reduces glare and allows you to enjoy your conservatory throughout the summer.
Need Help Choosing The Right Window Shading?
Every conservatory is different, which is why we always recommend choosing a solution that’s tailored to your home rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
At John’s Blinds, our experienced team can help you compare the different options available and recommend the most suitable window shading based on your conservatory, your lifestyle and your budget.
Visit our Wickford showroom to explore our range of blinds and window shading products, or arrange a free home consultation where we’ll assess your conservatory and provide honest, expert advice.
Whether you’re just starting to explore your options or you’re ready to transform your conservatory, we’d be delighted to help you create a space that’s comfortable to enjoy all summer long.
📞 01268 949255 |📧 enquiries@johnsblinds.co.uk
👪From Our Family to Yours – Dressing Windows Since 1975
For over fifty years, we’ve helped homeowners across Essex choose blinds, curtains, shutters and shading solutions with confidence.
Combining traditional service with modern products and manufacturing expertise, we continue to focus on quality, safety and customer care.
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