How to arrange a winter garden in a private house - we reveal all the nuances

When the snow turns white outside the window or the dank gray sky frowns, watering people with its rainy tears, the lack of something bright and summer is especially acute. For example, lush green plants or colorful fragrant flowers. It has long been known that the green “residents” of our homes cope well with the human blues, and they also clean the air in the room. Therefore, a winter garden can be an excellent solution. In a private house, it is much easier to arrange it due to the large spatial possibilities. Where to start, what materials, plants and style to choose - you will learn these and other important aspects from this article.

Winter garden in a private house - how to arrange it?

Greenhouse, winter garden, greenhouse?

The first winter gardens were created by the ancient Egyptians: the richest and most noble of them installed large flowerpots with greenery in their palaces. Over time, the fashion for maintaining a “green oasis” in a residential area appeared among the French and British in the 19th century, and then spread throughout the world. Today, a winter garden in a private house is not uncommon. However, it is important to understand what exactly you are planning to create in your home: a greenhouse, a greenhouse or a real winter garden.

Distinctive features of a winter garden

Table 1. Difference between a winter garden and a greenhouse.

Glazing

Glasses that should be used for a winter garden:

• glass unit;
• energy saving;
• reinforced;
• strained glass;
• sun protection;
• triplex;
• colored in mass.

In addition to providing the winter garden area with natural street lighting, the glass must also protect the area from snow, rain and wind.

Proper glazing protects the garden owner from problems with maintaining temperature and humidity Source stroyfora.ru

In addition, glass must have the following functions:

1. Soundproofing.
2. Thermal insulation.
3. Aesthetics (beautiful appearance).
4. Protection from the external environment.

To meet such requirements, special types of glass have been created. To give a beautiful and aesthetic appearance, you can purchase painted, laminated and hardened materials. For thermal insulation, it is better to buy energy-saving ones. And reinforced glass can protect you from natural conditions.

Materials

When choosing materials for glazing, you need to proceed from the following parameters: sound insulation of the garden, warmth and the amount of natural light required. The modern construction market offers a large number of translucent materials. The main ones are discussed below.

Strained glass

The most expensive way is to fill the openings with sheets of single tempered glass. However, it cannot provide the necessary thermal insulation and does not store heat. Consequently, winters will be cool and summers will be too hot for plants. Although it is placed in a winter garden in a private house, it is more suitable for a veranda.

Double-glazed windows are the most profitable option if you want low energy consumption costs. Inside the double-glazed windows there is an inert gas with low heat transfer. Different glasses are used in their production. There is a choice of: glazed, with increased security, energy saving, soundproof and shockproof.

Double-glazed windows

Glass types are:

• mirrored;
• transparent;
• colored in mass.

Need to know! Light penetrating through painted glass changes shade. Therefore, the color scheme of the interior may be slightly distorted.

For ease of use, we suggest paying attention to self-cleaning samples. They “work” in the following way: when dirt gets on the glass, it decomposes due to light, and after a while it is washed off on its own during rain. They practically do not need to be removed and cleaned. But when the design has storm drains, there is no point in self-cleaning glass.

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is a material with a high light absorption coefficient. Compared to glass, it insulates heat better.

Polycarbonate is sold in 3 types:

1. Dark.
2. Transparent.
3. Matte.

The latter is characterized by less light transmission. The first option is used in places where a lot of sun rays are directed at the winter garden in the house.

Polycarbonate Source oooarsenal.ru

There are three disadvantages of polycarbonate:

1. Not as dense as glass.
2. Gets dirty in a short time.
3. When rarely exposed to sunlight, it turns green due to algae.

This material is produced in two versions: cellular and cast. The second has less heat loss due to its low thermal conductivity. Professionals advise using polycarbonate for roofs rather than walls because it is safer, lighter in weight and inexpensive.

Important! Polycarbonate may change in size due to prolonged exposure to air. As a result, it must not be mounted rigidly.

It is advisable to use special fastening systems and adhere to installation rules. Keeping technology in a positive context will affect the quality and design of the winter garden.

Types of winter garden structures

Before you start creating a home oasis, you need to think through many nuances. First, you need to decide on the type of structure. There are several of them.

1. Buffer garden . This is a room adjacent to the house (often a veranda). It can be entered both from the home and from the yard. Typically, such a building is a connecting link between the street and the house; it has a rectangular or square shape (it can also be corner). They are used not only as a resting place, but also as a hallway or terrace. The advantage of this design is the ease of creation: communications, heating and electricity are easy to install from the house, the building is easy to maintain. The downside is the lack of ventilation, sudden temperature changes (at night in the buffer garden it is much colder), not every plant can survive there. There is an entrance to the buffer garden both from the street and from the house
2. Residential garden. A great option for green lovers. This is a full-fledged living space in which you can place a dining room, living room, and recreation area. In such a garden it is comfortable for both plants and people. You can create a residential garden by planning it in advance (if the house is being built), or by placing it in the selected room. The main requirement is the presence of large window openings for sufficient daylight.

   
   There can be a living room in the winter garden

3. Separate building . It is also called a greenhouse winter garden. If your plot is large, you can afford to put a spacious winter garden on it at a distance from the house itself.

It is important that the place for construction is sunny. It is equipped with heat, light and running water. The greenhouse winter garden can be connected to the house and other areas of the site with beautiful paths. The option is not the easiest and very expensive.

Such a building will decorate the site and an excellent solution for landscape design.

Important: whatever type of structure, it must let in enough daylight for the flowers to grow healthy.

Fundamental Factors

The most basic factors in the functioning of your winter garden with a swimming pool are:

1. Ventilation;
2. Heating.

Without the stability of these two conditions, it will be impossible to maintain and grow plants, and without heating you yourself will not be able to jump into a transparent water surface. Therefore, these two systems must work smoothly. For the stability of their functioning, it is necessary to take into account:

1. It is better to use combined heat sources - water and electric. It is better to place the electrical appliance in the center of the garden.
2. It is advisable to lay the heating element (cable) along the edges of the roof to prevent freezing and icing.
3. Water pipes must be insulated to avoid freezing in winter.
4. Ventilation through windows, vents or hatches is good. But it is better if forced ventilation is also present. It can be provided through an air conditioner or a fan installed on the hood. Any ventilation units can be used. As you know, there are a lot of air fresheners with ionization, humidification or carbon filters that clean the air from dust and dirt.

IMPORTANT! The optimal temperature in the winter garden: during the day - +24, at night - around 14-15 degrees. The heating system can be integrated into the overall system of the house, or it can be autonomous.

Once you decide on heating and ventilation systems, then start purchasing the necessary materials and tools.

Choosing a place

If you are planning to place the structure of the future winter garden in a house extension, it will be very important to decide on which side it is best to do this: southern, northern, eastern or western. Each option has certain pros and cons.

1. North . The location is not the best, since the garden will quickly release the accumulated heat to the outside. If there is no option to choose the other side, you need to take care of a good heating system.
2. South . The good side is during the cold season, when daylight hours are short and there is little sun. On warm summer days, the plants will be too hot and stuffy there, the owner will have to water them more often, provide shading and access to fresh air.
3. East . This is the most successful location option: in the first half of the day the plants will be provided with light and warmth, and in the remaining time the flowers will “rest” from the sun. Thus, overheating of crops will be excluded.
4. West . The solution is also suitable: the heat accumulated during the day is retained throughout the night. This is good for winter, but in summer you will have to provide additional ventilation and good watering.

Cardinal directions for the winter garden

For both health and soul

Making a winter garden with a swimming pool on your dacha or garden plot means combining business with pleasure. Everyone wants to enjoy green, fragrant, flowering plants not only in the summer, but all year round. When there is a monochromatic winter landscape around, plunging into the atmosphere of summer is good for both health and mood in general. And if there is a swimming pool nearby all year round, in which you can relieve stress after a hard day, then this is the ultimate dream. And swimming and enjoying green flowers during blizzards and cold is the key to health. Longevity and a positive attitude. Are you planning to combine a winter garden with a swimming pool? Find out from our article how to build a winter garden with a swimming pool yourself.

Choosing a form

At the stage of planning a winter garden, it is very important to decide on the optimal form of construction for this room. A separate building can be anything: a sphere, a hemisphere, a cylinder, a cube. However, it is usually rarely installed separately, due to the high price and complexity of implementation.

Most often, a winter garden is part of a living space, in which case its shape also differs. There may be several options:

• a rectangular extension with a pitched roof (the simplest and most popular);
• a structure adjacent to the outer corner of a residential building;
• quarter-polygon (extension to the inner corner of the house);
• structure with a combined roof;
• bay window design;
• L-shaped extension with a gable roof.

Types of structures

Please note: you can design the building the way you need it.

Greenhouse exterior

If we talk not about the internal contents of the winter garden, but its exterior, then the facade of the greenhouse must, of course, be in harmony with the appearance of the main building, regardless of whether it was originally designed, added after the main construction, or is a separate structure. Most often, the walls of the greenhouse have a base, which is made of brick or stone. Foam blocks or hollow types of brick are rarely used to build a basement - such structures may not withstand the heavy weight of glass walls and a dome or transparent roof.

The basement, decorated with stone in harmony with the design of the main building, looks luxurious. Glass surfaces add airiness to the overall image of the entire building. Even a small greenhouse in this case significantly changes the appearance of the façade of the home.

A similar situation arises with the use of brick as a building or finishing material. Modern facade brick (intended for decorating the facades of houses) can be textured, with fezzes, made in a wide variety of colors.

Selecting materials

The inside of the winter garden should be comfortable not only for people, but also for plants. This determines the specific choice of materials for walls and roofs: these structural elements should provide your crops with maximum access to light. Based on this, glass, polycarbonate, double-glazed windows, and sometimes plexiglass are most often used when finishing walls and roof coverings. Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of each material.

Glass

This type of cladding is the most used. Glass is so popular due to a number of significant advantages:

• high load-bearing capacity;
• aesthetics;
• light transmittance (98%);
• fast heat transfer.

These positive properties do not exclude some disadvantages. Glass is a fragile, quite expensive and difficult to work material.

Glass cladding looks impressive

Polycarbonate

The most modern and technological solution, which is popular in the field of construction and finishing. It has many advantages:

• budget;
• easy to process;
• plastic (can be bent);
• moisture resistant;
• resistant to moisture, fungus, corrosion;
• easy.

Please note: polycarbonate has a top layer of protection that does not allow moisture to pass through. This makes it virtually invulnerable to precipitation.

Polycarbonate would be an ideal material if not for some disadvantages:

• low thermal efficiency (good heating will be needed);
• transmits less light than glass (88%).

Polycarbonate sheathing

Double-glazed windows

Today, when creating winter gardens, double-glazed windows have become more often used, despite their high cost and heavy weight. This popularity is due to their high light transmittance (like glass) and excellent heat retention. Also, if your budget allows, you can opt for energy-saving double-glazed windows: they will help significantly save heat.

Double-glazed windows

Plexiglas

As a rule, it is not used as an independent one. Suitable for side walls in combination with other materials. It has a significant disadvantage - it is heavy, which makes you think about a more durable frame.

Main stages of construction

A winter garden with a swimming pool is, as a rule, a glazed structure attached to the house or standing separately. The frame is made of plastic or aluminum. You can choose other construction materials. Let's start building the pool.

1. Dig a pit for the pool;
2. Dimensions – 20 cm larger than designed;
3. Depth – from one and a half to 2.5 meters;
4. Use a level and a plumb line - the bottom should be inclined towards the drainage hole or drain (slope - 4 cm per 1 meter);
5. Fill the bottom with sand and tamp it down;
6. We fill in a layer of gravel and tamp it down;
7. Cover with two layers of roofing felt and reinforce with mastic;
8. We concrete the bottom, begin to concrete the walls;
9. We install formwork;
10. Pour concrete;
11. We wet the walls with a water-concrete solution;
12. When concreting, leave holes for pipes, communications, drains, etc.;
13. Construction of a foundation near the pool - taking into account the space for earthen areas - for planting plants;
14. Construction of the basement of the winter garden itself;
15. Installation of garden walls and roof;
16. Interior finishing work.

Initially, it is better to start installation with frames located vertically, and install the base of the frame on them. Lay polycarbonate sheets in the gaps between the frame rafters; plastic caps can be used to secure them. In the internal space of these caps there are chambers with air, so these elements perform not only decorative tasks, but also the role of thermal insulation, eliminating the loss of internal heat. When installing the roof, you must make a kind of joint - a “snow pocket”. And don’t forget about the waterproofing system, for which you can make a reinforced aluminum gutter, which it is advisable to equip with cable heating. This will prevent the appearance of ice during the cold season.

Foundation, floor and walls of the structure

The very first stage of creating a winter garden is pouring the foundation of any durable structure, that is, the foundation.

Important: the winter garden room needs a foundation, since heavy pots with plants will create a huge load, and a structure without a foundation will simply sag.

The most convenient and widespread technology for pouring is the strip foundation technology. It is important to follow the basic steps here:

1. Apply markings and dig a trench (depth - 50 cm, width - 10-15 cm).

   
   Dig a trench

2. Install reinforcement (will strengthen the foundation).
3. Place a mixture of gravel and sand at the bottom.

   
   Install boards or special thermal insulation on the sides of the trench

4. Fill the hole with cement (“M-200”, “M-300”).
5. Lay a layer of roofing felt (waterproofing) on ​​top of the cement.

   
   Pillow for strip foundation

6. Wait for the mass to completely harden (15 days).

Attention: please note that pouring and drying the foundation will take 17-20 days.

Next you need to decide on the floor. Initially it is poured with concrete, but after complete hardening it needs to be covered with something. There are several options here:

• ceramic tiles;
• natural stone;
• fake diamond;
• porcelain stoneware;
• boards (rarely).

Based on preferences and budget, everyone decides for themselves what exactly to cover the floor in their winter garden.

Natural stone flooring is beautiful and effective

Frame and roof

In appearance, a winter garden may look fragile due to its transparency and even some airiness. However, it’s good if she only seems like one. To withstand winds, snowfalls and the scorching sun, the structure must be strong and reliable. For this, it is also important to choose a good frame material. There are many options, let's look at their brief descriptions.

Table 2. Types of frame materials.

Aluminum profile frame is very popular.
Next, everything will depend on the selected materials and the type of future structure. For fastening, you can use a welding machine (if the frame is made of steel), a screwdriver, a drill, etc. Parts can be fastened with nails, dowels, and self-tapping screws.

After the frame is made, the sheathing begins. The material from which the structure will be sheathed will determine the pitch between the frame guides.

Please note: do not forget about the joints between the walls of the home and the home “oasis” - they need to be treated with insulating foam.

If we talk about the roof of the future winter garden, it is also important to choose the right material. Of all the above, glass is the least suitable: it may not withstand the weight of snow that falls in winter. The best option is polycarbonate or double-glazed windows (2 or 3 chamber).

Attention: do not choose double-glazed windows with a glass thickness of more than 5 mm, since such material is too heavy for the roof.

When arranging a roof, give preference to a configuration with a slope.
A sloped roof will be an excellent solution to prevent precipitation from accumulating on the roof surface and preventing the penetration of light.

Video - Winter garden assembly process

Requirements for materials for construction

The design of the winter garden must be sustainable, practical and aesthetically attractive. To build just such a building, you need to take a responsible approach to the selection of materials for construction:

You need to select a material that is durable, resistant to rust, with improved performance and a long service life.

One of the most important qualities of a garden material is thermal conductivity. The heat should remain in the finished room for a long time.

The material must withstand the adverse effects of the environment - sun, rain, snow, high and low temperatures.

Natural lighting is one of the main parameters necessary for the harmonious growth and development of plants, therefore the material from which the garden is built must transmit at least 80% of daylight.

Load-bearing structural elements can be constructed from:

• Summer shower at a summer cottage: review of designs, materials, and schemes for self-construction
• Do-it-yourself tandoor - a traditional oriental stove in a summer cottage, photos of completed projects

• A polycarbonate greenhouse is a joy for a gardener, let’s understand the structures step by step (photo + video)

Aluminum slats. Aluminum is a durable material that is resistant to corrosion and temperature changes.

PVC allows you to bring to life the most daring ideas when creating a room design. This material is light, flexible, easy to process and does not require special care.

Wood is the most popular material for building a winter garden. Wood is most often chosen for the frame of a building because it is affordable and easy to install.

Natural wood must be regularly treated against fungus, insects, and protected from moisture. It is easy to build a garden with your own hands from wood.

Choosing a heating system

Sunlight is the source of life and heat for plants. However, in cold weather, for their existence and growth, as well as for the comfortable stay of people in the winter garden, it is necessary to install an optimal heating system. The choice will depend on the following factors:

• room area;
• plant species;
• frequency of people being in the room.

The assortment of modern stores allows you to make the right choice from many existing options.

Operating principle of an electric convector

Table 3. Types of heating devices and systems.

Heating systems can be easily combined with each other

Choosing a ventilation system

Any room needs regular ventilation, and the winter garden needs constant ventilation, because the green “residents” of your cozy corner need fresh air. He can get from the street inside (and vice versa) in two ways.

1. Natural . Simply put, windows need to be provided with vents and transoms. This is a cheap option, there is little noise from such ventilation, and by opening and closing the holes you can easily regulate the air flow. However, such a system will fail in the warm season, when the temperature difference is minimal.
2. Mechanical . Involves the use of technology, such as fans or more complex systems. They will create an excellent microclimate, but noise may interfere with your relaxation. It is also worth considering installation costs and electricity bills.

Ventilation diagram in a house with a winter garden

Climatic conditions

So, the construction of the garden room has been completed, all that remains is to connect communications to the building and plant the plants. In order for flowers and plantings to feel comfortable, it is necessary to take care of creating an ideal microclimate.

When a winter garden is located in a house, it is much easier to monitor the climate in it, and it is, therefore, as close to comfortable as possible.

If the corner of nature is located outside the living space, then in this case it is necessary to take care of normalizing the following parameters:

• Air parameters.
• Light.
• Air exchange.
• Heating.

Choosing lighting

The walls and roof of the winter garden are sheathed with transparent material, which means there should be no problems with lighting. Still, plants often need additional light. There are a large number of sources of artificial lighting: mercury, sodium, fluorescent, LED, metal halide, phyto-lamps and incandescent lamps. Of these, fluorescent ones are the most popular because they save energy, provide excellent illumination and have low heat dissipation.

Phyto-lamps are especially good: they have a positive effect on photosynthesis. The downside of this option is its price.

Think about how you can protect your flowers: curtains, blinds, awnings, awnings

Don’t forget that too much light is also bad.

Protecting the winter garden from strong solar radiation

When planning garden lighting, you should take into account the opposite effect of its overabundance. In summer there is too much light, and in order to prevent its harmful effects, the garden must be protected. Measures to protect the winter garden can be divided into two types:

• internal protection – blocks up to 40% of light
  . These are curtains and blinds made of various materials. Typically fabric, plastic, bamboo or aluminum are used. The latter should not be used, because the metal heats up quickly and gives off heat for a long time. This affects the overall temperature regime. In addition, they make noise and vibrate when the fan is running.

• external protection – blocks 70-90% of light
  . These are awnings, awnings, for the production of which a special fabric with a reflective surface is used. External protection is preferable because the wall material does not heat up and the overall temperature in the garden does not increase.

Selecting and combining plants

When choosing plants, you will have to rely not only on your own preferences and taste. It is very important that the cultures are combined with each other, because they will be in the same room.

According to zones and conditions, plants are divided into:

• tropics;
• subtropics;
• desert;
• humid tropics.

It is unlikely that you will be able to combine flowers from different climatic zones, so make sure that the requirements are approximately the same.

Do not forget about the location of pots with plants: the sunny side is an excellent place for light-loving crops

About watering plants

Is your garden small and compact? Then, in order to water all the flowers, you will need a basic watering can, a spray bottle and a schedule for adding water. But in the case of a larger room, watering can become a problem and take a lot of effort and time. An excellent solution is a drip system: pre-installed hoses will ensure a regular flow of liquid into the substrate, and special sensors will be responsible for the humidity level.

For additional humidity and beauty, you can install an artificial pond in the garden.

Garden design: zoning and style

Upon completion of construction and installation work, it becomes necessary to plan the interior arrangement of the premises. This is where such an effective technique as zoning comes to the rescue, i.e. dividing the winter garden space into functional zones. There are several of them.

1. Decorative . This is a place reserved for plants and various decorative elements (fountain, aquarium, figurines, etc.).
2. Service . Fertilizers, equipment, and other things useful in caring for flowers will be stored here.
3. Recreational – recreation area. For its arrangement, sofas, armchairs, hammocks and tables are used.
4. Communicative . Such a zone exists in large rooms. These are places for alleys, paths, paths that will connect all other areas with each other.

Zoning a winter garden
When it comes to decorating a garden in any style, you should also start from your own tastes. The common features of a particular style will help create an aesthetically attractive cozy corner.

1. Classic . This is the predominance of symmetry, pompous figurines in the form of living creatures, people, fountains in the form of geometric figures. Winter garden in a classic style
2. High tech. A winter garden in this style is characterized by a combination of metal, concrete and plants, laconic and precise lines.

   
   High-tech style

3. Eco style. Naturalness, naturalness. Select plants that are typical for your region. Figuratively speaking, this is a piece of the garden “under the hood” - this should be the impression of your winter garden.

   
   Eco style

4. Country. Similar to the previous style. These are natural decorations (vines, stumps, clay pots) and the simplest possible local crops.

   
   Country

5. Japanese style. Very beautiful, with his own philosophy. The main elements are stones, earth/wood, water.

   
   Winter garden in Japanese style

Details you shouldn't forget

In conclusion, we will give some tips that may be useful in planning and arranging a home “oasis”:

• calculate the approximate cost of the planned structure;
• determine the location of outlets in advance;
• choose natural materials for furniture (wicker, rattan, wood);
• plan methods and methods of planting;
• take care of fertilizers;
• Shade the garden in hot weather.

A mirror will help to visually enlarge the space of a small room.

Master Class. Example of winter garden construction

So, now you know about all the winter garden systems and its internal structure, and therefore you can proceed directly to the construction process.

Important when building a winter garden

Step one . First, determine which side of the house the building will be located on. It is better to give preference to the western or eastern wall. Also, the winter garden can be located from the south, but in this case a serious ventilation system will be needed to maintain the optimal temperature inside in the summer.

Step two . The construction site is cleared of plants, stones and debris. After this, the foundation is poured - a shallow shallow foundation.

Step three . The lower frame frame is mounted on the base, and there must be a waterproofing layer on it. The position of the lower harness is controlled using a tape measure, stretched ropes and a building level.

Installation of the bottom trim

Step four . Horizontal/vertical elements of the future frame are mounted, which will serve as the walls of the garden. It is important that all connections are secure.

Installation of vertical frame elements

Installation of horizontal frame elements

Step five . Next, the top frame is mounted and the roof beams are installed. It is important that all wooden elements used are pre-treated with an antiseptic impregnation.

Installation of the top frame Installation of roof beams

Step six . Rubber sealing profiles are prepared and glazing of the structure begins. Sheathing elements are transferred using vacuum suction cups - this is not only safe, but also convenient.

Glazing of the winter garden

Glazing process

Step seven . On the outside, the seals are covered with an aluminum profile, which is necessary for protection from moisture and sunlight.

Glazing is almost complete

Installation of aluminum profiles

Step eight . The cornice profile is installed. It is advisable to additionally equip it with a drain.

It is advisable to supplement the cornice profile with a drain

Step nine . When the construction of the garden is completed, water and electricity are supplied to it, and irrigation and ventilation systems are equipped. Places for plants are being marked out and the interior decoration of the winter garden is being carried out.

On a note! As a result, you will get a comfortable and beautiful room where you can spend your free time surrounded by your favorite plants throughout the year.

Best materials

The most proven and reliable material for constructing a winter garden is glass of various types:

1. Artistic;
2. Matte;
3. Stained glass.

But recently it has been replaced by a more durable and flexible material - cellular polycarbonate. This material is lighter than glass and can withstand loads of up to 150 kg/sq.m. This is important in areas where there is a lot of precipitation, especially in the form of snow. Polycarbonate is frost-resistant and can withstand temperatures down to -30 degrees Celsius.

Advantages of cellular polycarbonate:

1. Does not change physical quality up to +100 degrees Celsius;
2. Good thermal insulation properties;
3. High level of fire safety;
4. Environmental friendliness;
5. Reliability in operation.

The cost of cellular polycarbonate varies from 1,550 to 41,570 rubles. per sheet.