Solar film for conservatory

[Byker28i]

Summers coming, we have had a week of hot weather and Mrs B is complaining about the conservatory again.

We have a large 4m x 3.5m conservatory, south facing, with a 5 wall poly carbonate roof. Windows and doors open, air flow through the house keeps it manageable for most, but not all Last year I covered part of the roof with a sail shade I had that helped

I'd like to look at something short term, as at some point when I've saved up, we'd look at getting the roof done properly, or perhaps an extension in it's place.

Do any of these Solar films work if applied to the roof, at reflecting heat away etc?

[POIDH]

Your proper shade will still be the biggest improvement.
That said, the in-laws have this on a sun room and it's made a noticeable difference.

[Aluminati]

Banned in a lot of schools in Hertfordshire ( and probably elsewhere) due to thermal shock in the glass if not fitted correctly.

[markiii]

I sit outside under shade if its too hot for the conservatory

[Scarletpimpofnel]

Aluminati said:

Banned in a lot of schools in Hertfordshire ( and probably elsewhere) due to thermal shock in the glass if not fitted correctly.

How can a solar film cause thermal shock in the glass itself? Just curious thanks.

[Byker28i]

And on a 5 wall polycarbonate roof?

It seems the biggest issue is colour/transparancy/how much light is let through. All seem easy enough to apply

markiii said:

I sit outside under shade if its too hot for the conservatory

It pumps the heat into the rest of the house if we have the bifold doors open into it. Great in Spring/Autumn, but too hot on hot summer days like this week.

I've got the sail back up outside for now

Edited by Byker28i on Friday 20th June 12:06

[grumbas]

Scarletpimpofnel said:

Aluminati said:

Banned in a lot of schools in Hertfordshire ( and probably elsewhere) due to thermal shock in the glass if not fitted correctly.

How can a solar film cause thermal shock in the glass itself? Just curious thanks.

I had it on the double glazing in my man cave and it made the inner pane of glass incredibly warm to the touch.

I guess if you had decent sized air bubbles the pane could heat unevenly and shatter in the same way glass patio tables are prone to.

[TonyRPH]

Scarletpimpofnel said:

How can a solar film cause thermal shock in the glass itself? Just curious thanks.

Manufacturers of solar film who are doing it right recommend that the film is fitted to the outside of the glass and not the inside.

This is because if the film is on the inside of the glass, all the heat is reflected back into the glass which can potentially cause the double glazing unit to fail.

They usually just crack and go to air, I've not heard of any failing spectacularly (e.g. exploding).

[Aluminati]

Scarletpimpofnel said:

Aluminati said:

Banned in a lot of schools in Hertfordshire ( and probably elsewhere) due to thermal shock in the glass if not fitted correctly.

How can a solar film cause thermal shock in the glass itself? Just curious thanks.

The film shrinks if poorly fitted around the edge. This gives a differential in temp around panel perimeter. Glass explodes.

They’re not even allowed to put posters on glass for this reason.

[Grey_Area]

Ours have UV privacy film on them, about 7/8 years now, with all our double glazed windows likewise.
No bangs yet....
About 14 windows and the many panes in the conservatory, all Suntek film applied by yours truly.
Does it make it cooler in summer, nope... I only did it for the privacy.

[OutInTheShed]

This is why they whitewash greenhouses in Summer?

[TonyRPH]

Grey_Area said:

Ours have UV privacy film on them, about 7/8 years now, with all our double glazed windows likewise.
No bangs yet....
About 14 windows and the many panes in the conservatory, all Suntek film applied by yours truly.
Does it make it cooler in summer, nope... I only did it for the privacy.

Obviously it's not effective enough to damage your windows, because if it was...

[Simpo Two]

Today I finally got round to fitting some film on my boat's skylights. After fitting the first one I compared the results by holding the back of my hand under each hatch and feeing the heat from the sun. Under the untreated hatch the warmth was obvious. Under the treated hatch - couldn't feel any heat.

I don't envisage them exploding.

[Grey_Area]

TonyRPH said:

Grey_Area said:

Ours have UV privacy film on them, about 7/8 years now, with all our double glazed windows likewise.
No bangs yet....
About 14 windows and the many panes in the conservatory, all Suntek film applied by yours truly.
Does it make it cooler in summer, nope... I only did it for the privacy.

Obviously it's not effective enough to damage your windows, because if it was...

Not sure what your point is

UV film as per OP question; mine happens to be primarily for privacy; but the effect on conservatory temps at this time of year is negligible at best. So to all intents and purpose no change.
Haven't had any breakages as some have said would happen.
It's high UV rejection. Supplied from here, which is no longer Suntek, but the same specs https://www.windowfilmsuk.com/product/silver-20/

[OutInTheShed]

Grey_Area said:

Not sure what your point is

UV film as per OP question; mine happens to be primarily for privacy; but the effect on conservatory temps at this time of year is negligible at best. So to all intents and purpose no change.
Haven't had any breakages as some have said would happen.
It's high UV rejection. Supplied from here, which is no longer Suntek, but the same specs https://www.windowfilmsuk.com/product/silver-20/

Not sure what your point is, because you're going on about UV, while everyone else in this thread is thinking about heat and IR.
The OP's polycarbonate roof will have an anti-UV coating to protect the plastic.

The heat is 90+% in the visible spectrum and infra red.
A white or silver coating can help reject that.
White blinds inside the roof can help to a useful extent.

[Grey_Area]

OutInTheShed said:

Grey_Area said:

Not sure what your point is

UV film as per OP question; mine happens to be primarily for privacy; but the effect on conservatory temps at this time of year is negligible at best. So to all intents and purpose no change.
Haven't had any breakages as some have said would happen.
It's high UV rejection. Supplied from here, which is no longer Suntek, but the same specs https://www.windowfilmsuk.com/product/silver-20/

Not sure what your point is, because you're going on about UV, while everyone else in this thread is thinking about heat and IR.
The OP's polycarbonate roof will have an anti-UV coating to protect the plastic.

The heat is 90+% in the visible spectrum and infra red.
A white or silver coating can help reject that.
White blinds inside the roof can help to a useful extent.

Thank you, appreciate you pointing me in the direction.
I should have more fully included a film claim of 80% heat rejection, but it isn't noticeable.

[Byker28i]

Thanks
Was trying to look at the claims of things like CoolKote as an example, film you stick on the inside of a polycarbonate roof.
https://abodewindowfilms.co.uk/product/coolkote-co...

Would it have a UV coating? It's a 25 year old conservatory

Neighbours had their roof changed for a glass one with heat reflecting properties, but it was £10k

[Arrivalist]

OutInTheShed said:

This is why they whitewash greenhouses in Summer?

Indeed and you can use the same greenhouse paint on your conservatory.

I use it to paint our roof lantern in the hot summer months and it’s very effective at keeping the worst of the heat out.

[Grey_Area]

Ours had a 5 wall treated polycarbonate roof, that was white coloured/tinted supposedly to prevent heat transfer/build up/ transmission etc. useless would be an observation.
We replaced ours with a blue tinted (apparently doing the same job, but also self cleaning) doubled glazed one for £6k, it's about 14x12 7 sided affair, 2 sets of windows tilt and turn, pair of doors at the end of the section.
As mentioned, I've filmed it, and it makes very little difference to temperatures on days like today.
We still have to have the windows and doors open to keep it remotely at the same level as outside...
if you really wanted it cool, it's got to be keeping the sun from the glazing, I.e. whitewash, or a sun shade or similar.
I've given up trying to keep ours cool, just don't use it during the summer months.
The privacy film however is a godsend for keeping prying eyes out.

[OutInTheShed]

Byker28i said:

Thanks
Was trying to look at the claims of things like CoolKote as an example, film you stick on the inside of a polycarbonate roof.
https://abodewindowfilms.co.uk/product/coolkote-co...

Would it have a UV coating? It's a 25 year old conservatory
....

If it's lasted 25 years and isn't so brittle it shatters when you frown at it, I'd guess it had a UV filter coating.



42% of energy is visible, only 5% UV.
If you can reflect some of the visible and a lot of the IR, then some kind of filtering film or coating can work.
Personally, we don't have a conservatory, just a porch with a bit of glazed roof. The wisteria shades that in summer.

My mate's conservatory is always OK, they have roof blinds and some vents, so I guess the blinds tend to reflect some heat and also trap the heat high up where it goes out as hot air? Also it faces more East than South.