A winter garden is a warm and cosy glass room where you can spend time from April to October \u2014 and often on milder winter days as well. The glass keeps wind and rain out, and even on a cool spring day the sun heats the space so quickly that it is pleasant to sit there without a jacket. With good design, a winter garden is surprisingly comfortable even on the hottest summer day \u2014 we will come back to that shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Klaaskoda specialises in designing and building winter gardens \u2014 from foundation to glass, with one contractor, one contract and one warranty. Our winter gardens are based on Malmerk Klaasium systems \u2014 the quality and long-term warranty of Estonia’s largest glass manufacturer. Technically this is an uninsulated solution, which is the most sensible choice for the majority of use cases \u2014 an insulated variant costs 2.5\u20133 times more but offers no significant added value for most owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our winter garden is a sensible choice for those who want comfortable extra space from spring to autumn without a large investment. Compared to a more expensive insulated (year-round heated) winter garden, the differences are significant \u2014 read more about uninsulated winter garden pricing<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A glass-roofed room can overheat in summer sunshine \u2014 the greenhouse effect is a real problem that hastily designed projects often overlook. The solution is simple and concrete: tinted roof glazing<\/strong>. It filters solar heat \u2014 the light stays, the heat goes. The winter garden does not turn into a sauna in summer; it stays cool and comfortable even on the hottest day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is exactly the kind of detail we automatically consider during the design process. We always select the roof glazing according to how much sun the building receives and from which direction \u2014 because the right tint removes excess heat without making the room feel dark or gloomy. The result: a winter garden that is comfortable in every season, including the hottest afternoon in August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The framework of an uninsulated winter garden is made from aluminium rectangular hollow sections (typical dimensions 50\u00d750, 100\u00d750, 150\u00d750 and 200\u00d750 mm). Aluminium is a lightweight, corrosion-resistant and long-lasting material that is excellently suited to the Estonian climate. Powder coating based on the RAL colour chart is used as the surface finish, ensuring a uniform and durable surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The walls consist of openable terrace glazing<\/a> panels \u2014 framed sliding glass, frameless sliding glass or frameless folding glass. The glazing is single-pane toughened safety glass 8 or 10 mm thick, which is safe and durable. Toughened glass withstands impact loads and thermal shocks, and when broken it shatters into small, safe fragments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The roof is also made of toughened glass. Watertightness of the roof is ensured by a profile system specifically developed for glass roofs \u2014 the glass has a three-sided bearing surface and the front edge extends up to 200 mm over the front edge of the roof. Final hermetic sealing is achieved with butyl tape bonded at the glass joints; side profiles and wall connections are finished with cover flashings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The structural components are prefabricated profile by profile in the workshop and assembled on site. This ensures precise joints and a high-quality end result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An uninsulated winter garden is a surprisingly versatile space. Here are the most common uses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For building uninsulated winter gardens we use Malmerk Klaasium<\/strong> glass solutions \u2014 systems from Estonia’s largest glass manufacturer, designed and produced in Estonia specifically for the Nordic climate. Malmerk systems are CE-certified and VTT-tested (Finnish Technical Research Centre), meaning they have been verified to the most stringent Nordic standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both framed and frameless terrace glazing panels are suitable for the walls of an uninsulated winter garden. Framed sliding glass is a classic and durable solution where each glass panel slides independently in its own frame along aluminium tracks. Frameless sliding and folding glass panels provide a cleaner visual appearance and allow the wall to be opened completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because Malmerk manufactures its systems in Estonia, spare parts availability is fast and warranty service is convenient. This is an important advantage over imported solutions, where ordering a spare part can take weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The foundation of an uninsulated winter garden is simpler than that of an insulated one, but it cannot be skipped. A proper foundation is the base on which the entire structure rests \u2014 without it the framework will move, the glass panels will jam and the warranty will be void.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In P\u00e4rnumaa the frost depth is approximately 1.2\u20131.4 metres. The foundation of an uninsulated winter garden must account for frost heave, but because the structure is lighter than an insulated winter garden, simpler solutions are also suitable \u2014 for example screw pile foundations, pad foundations or a shallower strip foundation. Soil type influences the choice of solution: the sandy soil typical of the P\u00e4rnu area is more resistant to frost heave than clay, but we assess the situation on site for every project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Shade in summer, not heat \u2014 tinted roof glazing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Winter garden construction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Uses for a winter garden<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Malmerk Klaasium systems in our winter gardens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Foundation requirements for a winter garden<\/h2>\n\n\n\n