A garden room can make a fabulous addition to any home. It adds a versatile and appealing space for you to use in anyway you choose. Office, studio, chill out zone, or gym. But when you install a garden room, there are several practical considerations to keep in mind. One of which is ventilation. So, what do you need to know about ventilating your garden room?
Your Questions on Garden Room Ventilation Answered
Do garden rooms need ventilation?
Yes. Like any enclosed structure, garden rooms need ventilation. This is to prevent moisture and mould, and the build-up of harmful air pollutants, while enhancing overall air quality, and temperature control. In short, in order for a structure to be healthy, it needs to be able to breathe. But your garden room may have inbuilt ventilation systems.
How do you know if your garden room has ventilation problems?
There are a couple of key indicators that your garden room may need better ventilation:
- The air smells fusty or unpleasant – This is an indication that the air isn’t circulating well enough. Bad smells may also linger an infeasibly long time.
- Condensation – Condensation is common in rooms that aren’t properly ventilated. It forms when moist air is unable to escape. And while condensation is generally little more than an annoyance, it can lead to other problems.
- Mould and mildew – One of the issues related to condensation is the development of mould and mildew. If you’re lucky, it may just form on your glass, where it can be easily wiped away. But if mould begins forming on your walls and ceiling, it can be harder to shift. It can also be bad for your health.
How can you best ventilate a garden room?
The easiest and cheapest way to ventilate a garden room is to open the door or windows. But that may not be a practical solution in winter, or when the room is not being used. At Garden Room Sanctuary North, we design ventilation into the basic structure of each of our garden rooms, through the addition of a breathable vapour barrier. This not only keeps moisture out but also allows the building to breathe. However, not all manufacturers incorporate ventilation. If not, you may wish to take further precautions.
There are four main ventilation solutions:
Passive ventilation
This method of ventilation involves the installation of two small vents on opposite facing walls. Gable vents are a common choice. As the wind blows on the one side, it forces air through the structure and out the other side. It can be an inlet for insects. So, you may also wish to use mesh to cover them. But it can be a cheap and cheerful way to improve ventilation.
Wall vents
Wall vents are used in most modern kitchens and bathrooms. They resemble gable vents, but usually have mesh built in to protect against debris and insects. They work best in pairs, with the inlet vent allowing cooler air to flow into the garden room from near the ground. While the outlet vent is placed towards the ceiling to allow the exit of warmer air.
Turbine vents
Placed on the roof of your garden room, turbine vents work as a kind of wind powered exhaust system. They draw stale air out of the roof. In larger garden rooms, they provide the best results when combined with wall vents. Once installed, they need little maintenance beyond occasional cleaning. And they’ll last for years, providing an environmentally friendly ventilation system.
Air conditioning
There are various forms of air conditioning units available. And they’re obviously one of the best options if you are looking to reduce the temperature of your garden room in summer as well as improve ventilation. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that all electronic air conditioning units consume a lot of energy. This can make them expensive to run as well as pretty bad for the environment. They also need regular maintenance to keep them healthy.
At Garden Room Sanctuary North, we like to think that we’ve thought of everything in our garden room designs. And that includes ensuring that our structures are ventilated and healthy. But if you have any questions about ventilation – or anything else to do with our garden rooms – don’t be afraid to ask.
