Insulation problem

[milton1]

Our conservatory dwarf wall has been built of concrete blocks laid flat, therefore no cavity. Outside is rendered and harled. What is the best thing to do with this dwarf wall internally. I want to loose as little internal space as possible. Of course I want to retain heat as we are having radiators installed.
Must I create a full internal timer frame construction?
Would it be senseless to batten the blocks and use just thermal plasterboard with a vapour barrier. Would external moisture infiltrate this and cause problems?
Any advice in achieving a warm dry wall, taking up as little space as possible, would be much appreciated.

 

[Deluks]

//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=438406#438406

//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=674943#674943

Thermal plasterboard straight onto the wall is the best way to go, no vapour barrier required. Or use aquapanel thermal floor board and plasterboard straight on top. Will only give you the benefit of keeping the walls warm to the touch though. You'll still spend a lot heating the conservatory. I would be very conservative with your heating program

 

[milton1]

Thanks for answering - you're the only one who has given a reply, but I will be using this room all year round.
It looks like, to achieve good thermal insulation I will have to 'timber frame' the inside with gap; breathable layer; sheeting; insulation; vapour check; plasterboard, which is going to take up 100mm+ off my living space.
UNLESS anyone else has an answer which will insulate to building reg. standards and use less space?

 

[Richard C]

Dry lining with thermal board as Deluks suggests or even timber battens with an insulation barrier will help but don’t expect it to make a vast difference to how warm the con’s will feel in winter; but at least the wall won’t feel so cold when you touch it! If you have a true con’s with glass above the dwarf wall & a glass or polly roof, the heat loss through the dwarf wall is the least of your problems; most of it is going through the roof with the windows next! You will never bring the insulation up to B reg. standards, to stand any chance of that you would have to fit a proper, insulated roof; & then there is all that glass!

For all year round use you really need a garden room, which is the route I would take next time around; but they are much more expensive. My 22 sq/m con’s is just 3 years old & has fully insulated floor (Celotex), insulated cavity dwarf walls, 28mm K glass glazing, a 40mm thick poly roof & underfloor heating. All this means we can maintain it at a comfortable temp. during the winter months but it uses so much energy, we now close it down from November through March! Also be aware there are specific requirements under B Regs. regarding heating & connecting doors in order for it to remain exempt; there are lots of threads on this so do a search & have a read.

I would do some more research & give it some serious thought as you may end up going to a lot of expense only to be disappointed with the results!

 

[^woody^]

With a typical conservatory, with a dwarf wall, then insulaing it has very little value or effect, and is essentially a placebo.

I doubt the floor is insulated either, and all the heat is going straight up and out of the glass and roof. The heat retention of the insulated wall is very little help in context with the rest of the structure.

 

[milton1]

Thanks to all who gave their advice.
Richard, I hope that you will be wrong about having to close up for the worst of the winter but I wish I had got your info. earlier and we would have gone for a sun room - it would not have been much more expensive, if at all! Anyway we should have the inside completed in 2 weeks and we have our radiators on 24 hrs a day anyway at this time of year, so we'll see how much extra cost 2 more will be.