Making the move to living in an annexe may not feel like the norm to some people, having lived in a traditional house for a lifetime it can feel like a big step to switching to garden living. A question our team get asked is whether an annexe can stay warm enough in the winter – however as we approach the summer months, it is just as important to consider how the build can stay cool when the weather is at its peak in temperature. The answer is well-insulated garden rooms.
This post will help to explain how insulation works and the importance of quality materials that we use to provide an ideal temperature year-round.
What is Insulation
The term insulation in any building covers the materials used to stop heat transfer between the inside rooms and the outside environment. To do this, materials are typically placed in walls, roofs, floors, and around windows and doors.
By doing this, insulation helps to maintain a stable and comfortable internal temperature regardless of the weather outside
This is important because it makes the building more comfortable for those who live or work there. Plus, it has other advantages. It helps with energy efficiency by reducing the strain on heating or cooling systems, which in turn lowers energy costs. Additionally, it helps control moisture, reducing the risk of mould and dampness.
How Does Insulation Work
Insulation works by minimising the transfer of heat between the interior of a building and the environment outside. Heat can be transferred in three main ways: conduction, convection, and radiation. Insulation materials are designed to minimise all three forms of heat transfer, but they primarily tackle conduction and convection.
The two main ways it does this are:
- Tiny air pockets in insulation materials slow down the transfer of heat from a warmer area to a cooler one.
- Stopping a cycle that transfers heat when warmer air rises and cooler air sinks, the insulation fills the spaces where air might flow, reducing heat loss or gain.
Staying Warm in the Winter and Cool in the Summer
Getting insulation right in insulated garden rooms is paramount to comfortable living year-round.
Keeping Warm in Winter
Staying toasty and warm is made possible with top-level insulation throughout an annexe build. Insulation makes this possible in two ways:
- Minimising Heat Loss: To prevent heat from escaping the building insulation materials work by trapping air in small pockets within their structure. Air is a poor conductor of heat, meaning that these pockets can reduce the rate at which heat can move. By slowing heat transfer through walls, roofs, and floors, insulation ensures that the warmth generated internally by heating systems remains inside.
- Reducing Draughts: Insulation also helps to seal gaps and prevent draughts. Areas including wall joints, around windows, and doors, where cold air could get in and warm air could escape, are better sealed with effective insulation, maintaining a steady and comfortable indoor temperature.
Staying Cool in Summer
Just as important as staying warm in the winter, keeping cooler in the summer to prevent an uncomfortable inside atmosphere in insulated garden rooms can be assisted by:
- Blocking Heat Gain: Just as insulation can stop heat from escaping in the winter, it can also slow the rate at which outdoor heat enters the building during hot weather. This thermal barrier means that the cooler air inside the building does not warm up as quickly, reducing the need for air conditioning and other cooling methods.
- Maintaining Cooler Surfaces: Insulation in walls and roofs ensures that the surface temperatures inside a building do not rise significantly, even when temperatures outside are higher. This helps to keep a cooler environment inside, which can be particularly effective when combined with other cooling methods like shading and natural ventilation.
How iHus Builds With Quality and Conscious
In our commitment to being green, we use ultra-efficient insulation in all of our annexes to dramatically reduce energy consumption whilst delivering a great level of internal air quality.
This is not the only way that we are delivering for our customers and the environment.
As well as bringing a high level of quality materials in all our builds, we use several methods to help you keep your energy bills lower and to do our part for the environment.
- Saving Energy: We install green electric heating and hot water systems to eliminate emissions and our radiators of choice reduce power consumption by over 60%. Every iHus home features modern LED lighting throughout that is A+ rated and is 90% more energy efficient than halogen alternatives.
- Adding Solar: By installing solar panels on your annexe you can reduce the need for electricity from the grid by 50%.
- Materials: We give every iHus a traditional solid timber frame – and we ensure 95% of our timber is FSC or PEFC Certified from carefully managed and replenished stocks.
- Off-site preparation: By constructing much of our homes in our purpose-built premises, we reduce greenhouse gasses by up to 30%. Using off-site machinery also drives down these gasses by around 50%.
How Can I Find Out More
At iHus all of our builds are created to a specification that is industry-leading, you can find out further information on this via our specification page.
We have a number of Webinars planned that allow you to meet with the iHus experts and ask them any questions you have. These could be around planning, annexe living or anything else you’d like to know about building an annexe. Find out more about the next event.
Get In Touch for All Your Annexe needs
With over ten years in the industry and over 500 annexes built, our team is well-versed in all of your annexe needs. Contact a member of the team today to find out how we can help make your garden-living dreams a reality.
