Winter Garden

What is a winter garden?

A winter garden is an extra living space whose walls, roof or both are closed with glass and built on thermally broken aluminium supports. It turns open space into an enclosed room in garden-floor flats, detached houses and penthouses. Unlike a simple balcony enclosure, its insulation and glass roof are designed for comfortable use throughout the year.

Advantages

• Use in every season: Low-E coated double glazing keeps the heat in during winter and keeps part of the solar heat out in summer.
• Natural light: The glass roof keeps the space bright all day and creates a good environment for plants.
• Openable sides: One or more sides can open fully with a folding glass balcony or sliding system.
• Extra living space: It adds permanent floor area as a dining area, work corner or lounge.

Who is it for?

It is ideal for people who want to use their garden or terrace for most of the year rather than only in summer, for cafés and restaurants that want more indoor capacity, and for penthouses with a large sunny area. Rather than being built on top of an existing pergola or canopy, it is usually designed from scratch with its own structure.

What affects the price

The price of a winter garden is determined by the width and depth of the area, roof pitch, glass type (laminated or tempered laminated double glazing on the roof, Low-E double glazing on the sides), number of opening sides, profile colour and extra equipment. Motorised roof blinds, vent sashes, LED lighting and gutter details are also reflected in the quote. The load capacity of the floor and the wall it is fixed to is checked at the survey.

Permits and planning

Because a winter garden can count as a permanent change to the building, approval from the municipality and the owners' board may be required. We assess this with you during the survey and prepare the measurements and technical drawings needed for the application.

Maintenance

Cleaning the gutters and drainage channels twice a year and visually checking the seals and silicone is enough. Wiping the glass with a neutral cleaner and sweeping the tracks of sliding and folding panels keeps the system working for many years. Get a free quote to plan your winter garden; if you are looking for a lighter solution, see our bioclimatic pergola and glass roof systems pages.