Glass
The type of glass best suited for your conservatory or orangery will depend on the design of the room, its orientation and its location in relation to the rest of the building.
We use low-e double glazing as standard
This is typically "Pilkington K" but there are better alternatives available. Low-emissivity glass has a special metallic coating applied to the inner pane, which reduces the amount of thermal radiation escaping from the room. The double-glazed units are also filled with argon gas as standard, this conducts 33% less heat than air and improves the overall insulation value of the double-glazed unit.-
Our standard units have a u-value of 1.5W/m²K.
Softcoat
There are currently two alternative methods of applying the metallic coating to the glass. Online or pyrolictic coating (e.g. Pilkington K) is known as "hardcoat," offline or vacuum coating (e.g. SGG Planitherm Total) is known as "softcoat"
Softcoat is slightly more expensive, but when used with argon gas the u-value drops to 1.2W/m²K.
Solar Control Glass
Overheating in conservatories has been a big problem in the past, however improvements made in solar control glass have trickled down to the domestic market. It is now usual for us to install glass that will block out 75% of solar radiant heat.
A side effect of reducing the degree of solar heat transmission is a drop in the amount of visible light that will enter the room. However there are various options available , with different colour tints, that offer differing levels of light and solar heat transmittance.
Self Cleaning Glass
Pilkington Activ™ is the most widley known brand, and is the world's first self-cleaning glass to use a microscopic coating with a unique dual-action.
The first stage of the cleaning process is "photocatalytic". In this stage the coating reacts with daylight to break down organic dirt.
The second stage is "hydrophilic". Here, instead of forming droplets, rainwater hits the glass and spreads evenly, running off in a "sheet" and taking the loosened dirt with it, also drying quickly without leaving streaks.
