Looking for experiences with cold winter gardens

Hello

I am new to this forum but have already read a lot and found advice. Now I have to create my own topic because I simply can’t find anything on the internet.

In 3 weeks we will get our new terrace roof. We are really keen on a conservatory but unfortunately that doesn’t fit right now. To save money, I would like to build it myself. I already have an address to get aluminum profiles. Now the question is whether I should go for insulated glass or just ESG. My father-in-law says I should definitely take insulated glass. The roof consists of 10mm laminated safety glass (VSG). The aluminum profiles are not insulated. Does it make sense to use insulated glass for the glass sliding walls? It has to be closed on both sides and in the front. Everything planned with sliding elements. In terms of price, I could implement a cold conservatory for about €4,000. With other profiles for insulated glass and the insulated glass itself, I am directly at about €12,000. Who has experience with cold conservatories and can give some tips? To what extent can a cold conservatory be heated? For example, with a fireplace or 2 heat radiators. Can it also be used in winter with heating options? Maybe even at subzero temperatures?

I hope to hear from someone soon. Until then.

Morning

Heating it makes rather no sense there. It warms up quite quickly in the sun. However, based on experience, the garden/room can be used 6 - 8 weeks earlier and also for several weeks longer, so that you can sometimes sit outside in a T-shirt even in February.
Doesn't quite match your planned size and also not directly your question.
I once lived for 5 years in the "Glashaus Dorum". Google helps with information on that.

Olli

A cold conservatory is more suitable for the transitional seasons of spring and autumn. You definitely need to deal with the topic of ventilation. Without proper ventilation, depending on the construction, you will end up with a "Tropfsteinhöhle".

I think I will be happy with a cold winter garden. I don’t want it as a second living room or living winter garden either. But Christmas Eve with the family or breakfast on the first Christmas day or New Year’s Eve with friends. I would like to be able to manage something like that. Maybe once a week a nice evening with friends as well. For that I would then provide a heating option. Either a wood stove or 2 electric heaters. I’m just very interested in how much or what advantages I would have if I use insulating glass instead of Esg for the glass walls. I would probably also insulate the floor again with about 6cm of styrofoam and a new porcelain stoneware floor on pedestals. But honestly, I didn’t know that you have to take care of ventilation with a cold winter garden.

But honestly, I didn't know that you also have to take care of ventilation in a cold conservatory.

People and plants naturally bring moisture into the conservatory. Warm air holds a lot of moisture, and moisture condenses on cold surfaces. To reduce humidity, you should be able to ventilate properly, for example, windows at both ends for cross-ventilation or also through automatic systems.

I had to deal with conservatories a bit during my training, but it quickly became clear to me that I would never build one myself; if I want one, I'll have a professional make it. From a building physics perspective, it's personally too hot for me.

I honestly didn't know that you also have to take care of ventilation in a cold conservatory

Oh, absolutely! The comparison by is realistic. If you hardly ever use the conservatory, an electric radiator is enough, easy to plug in and also with a fan and/or timer.