Conservatory roof woes........

[gilford]

I've had nothing but trouble with my 12 year old conservatory roof over the past 12 months

I've spent the last couple of months doing some research and getting prices and think I'm going to change to a glass roof

Has anyone else done this and could comment good or bad?

Cheers!

 

[^woody^]

Plastic and glass roofs have more or less the same problems.

Whatever you change it to, should last a further 12 years if done properly.

If using the existing glazing bars and rafters, then you will need to check that they are adequate for glass

 

[Xenon]

As above, you will need to use the correct glazing bars for double glazed units. The better quality the bar, the better the life. Lead flashing where it abuts will also prolong life. Make sure lead has an excellent coat of patination oil to avoid staining on glazing.

 

[gilford]

Thanks fellas.

I'm also interested in the capabilities of glass in heat and cold. Will it be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter?

 

[Richard C]

I assume your talking double glazing? Large DG safety glass units will cost you a small fortune & you won’t notice much if any difference between it & a decent 5 channel (50mm) poly roof; in fact 50mm x 5 channel poly might be more thermally efficient but I don’t know. Glass is quieter when it rains but clear glass will roast you alive in summer, particularly if it’s south facing. I have friends who had an expensive south facing, glass roof cons built only to spend another £3k on roof blinds 6 months later because it was uninhabitable in full sun due to glare & heat. With poly you can install opaque & use heat shield inserts to reduce heat transfer/glare even further. No cons is never going to be warm in winter unless you pump a lot of heat energy into it, along with many we shut ours down from November through March.

If you want year round use you need a garden room with a solid insulated roof & an alternative worth considering for you cons is to retro fit one. It won’t be as good but changes to Building Regs in 2010 relaxed the minimum % roof glazing rule which means you can now have a solid roof & still keep the cons Building Regs exempt.

You don’t say what type of cons it is but DG glass units will be very heavy you need to check your cons construction has a suitable ring beam, supports & ties to take the weight or the sides could splay & could even collapse.

 

[gilford]

I need a whole new roof, this one is over 12 years old and has had it, I'm just weighing up my options.

In my quote for glass I've gone for the blue glass, gas filled and self cleaning. I wa under the impression this would reduce heat in the summer? I don't want to fork out £4k on a roof and then need roof blinds!

Is the 50mm poly as good? Cheaper?

Any and all info appreciated!

 

[Richard C]

How big is it, what type of construction is it (bricks, slab etc) & what design - lean to, Edwardian, Victorian?

TBH I think your chasing your tail spending loads of cash on a 12 year old conservatory, it’s already exceeded it’s “use by” date of 10 years. A quality cons built 10 years ago will last longer but anything over 15 years is going to be a bonus & 20 years is going to be a big ask, it's why conservatories are so cheap compared to a garden room or an extension! I don’t know which category yours fits into but if the roof is leaking after 12 years, it's probably basic quality & that will include every aspect of its construction, not just the roof!

In my quote for glass I've gone for the blue glass, gas filled and self cleaning. I wa under the impression this would reduce heat in the summer? I don't want to fork out £4k on a roof and then need roof blinds!

you won’t notice much if any difference between it & a decent 5 channel (50mm) poly roof; in fact 50mm x 5 channel poly might be more thermally efficient but I don’t know.

Beware sales blurb about heat efficiency & the salesman’s promise; they are no different to the insurance salesman of yesteryear & earn a living by creating a "good & persuasive impression"! Depending on its size, you could get a whole new & “modern cons” for possibly not much more! Quality of materials & construction is by far & away better than even 6 years ago, have you actually considered getting quotes to see how much it would cost you to knock it down & replace it? Before you comit to £4k's worth of glass roof, at the very least, do some homework by scrutinishing their heat loss figures & compare those with Poly; but if your overall cons condition is questionable, your just thowing good money after bad.

Is the 50mm poly as good? Cheaper?

It will certainly be cheaper & may well be the only option if your 12 years old cons construction/strength is marginal for supporting a glass roof; even then get some quotes for replacing the lot!

 

[Richard C]

Sorry, donlt know what happened there; a balls up

 

[gilford]

Thanks again Richard.

The conservatory itself is 4m x 4m and the sides are good bar a few DG panels I've replaced over the few years I've lived here.

It's an Edwardian I think (4 sides, box gutter).

Surely replacing the lot will cost a fortune?

My plan is only to stay in this property for max 5 years but don't want the worry and hassle of this roof leaking all the time as my 2 year old uses it as a play room all the time. It's off my Lounge also so want it to be semi nice !

Pic -

 

[^woody^]

Any glass or translucent roof is going to cause it to heat up like, well like a green house.

Coatings wont be much help, in any case you have got rays coming through all the side glass too

 

[libby lou lou]

Greenhouse coating works, won't wash of in the rain, easy to wash off, chalkish. dosen't look too good.

But it works.

 

[^woody^]

Greenhouse coating works, won't wash of in the rain, easy to wash off, chalkish. dosen't look too good.

But it works.

Oh yes, I was going to mention that .... along with using a big sheet of blue tarpaulin or camouflage netting

Don't look good, but it works

 

[Richard C]

16sq/m is a reasonable size but you should be able to get a good quality DIY assembly replacement for about £5-6k if your base & dwarf walls are still useable but if you want it assembled, there will obviously be labour costs on top; a good quality rebuild is going to be around £10-12k.

Where is the roof leaking & how many leaks do you have? You may get away with replacing the roof panel rubber seals which may have perished or the panels themselves may have shifted. I actually had a small leak on mine at 4 years but it was just a panel that had shifted in the rubber seal due to heat; I re-seated the panel & have had no further problems. My 22sq/m Edwardian cons is now in it’s 9th year.

If the rest is in good condition, I would also get quotes for a re-roof in 5 wall polly; it will be cheaper &, without checking, I would be concerned about the suitability of the original structure to support the weight of a glass roof. Look to small local companies with a known reputation to protect, don’t rely on large national company prices as a guide, they are usually extortionate for what in some cases may be the same product.