Converting A Conservatory Roof

[Ratty2E]

I'm in the market for a new conservatory roof and have been looking into 'solid' roofs as it would provide more insulation. The current polycarbonate would be replaced with a lightweight tile one and 1 or 2 velum windows. I've been googling and to be honest I have scrambled my poor brain and wondered if anyone has had it done or knew anything about it. Thank you for your time.

[jackthehat]

You'll need supporting brick/beam to carry to weight of a tiled roof with rooflights.

Is your current conservatory all glass?

[Ratty2E]

It's 2 sided, one long wall of windows with French doors and 2 small windows at the end. What I have been looking at is lightweight and specifically designed for conservatories eg http://www.guardianconservatoryroofs.co.uk/

[heathfield]

You might need to consider contacting your local council over Building Regulations. Exemption from these regulations is permitted where (amongst other things) the conservatory has a completely glazed roof - otherwise, they might come into play. The Builder may be able to give more advice on this one. See...

http://www.almostimpartialguide.co.uk/conservatories/planperm.htm

[The Builder]

I've just had a look at the video in your link, Ratts. Looks like an excellent system. No loading problems with such a lightweight roof structure. I was surprised at the high level of insulation they use.

The only issue I can foresee is the cost of course. It won't be cheap, but then nothing is.

If you do find the cost higher than you anticipated, it may well be worth asking a builder to quote for a traditional structure. That's what Jack was talking about.

Traditional is not lightweight. So, additional support would be needed. This needn't be onerous. With a simple, rectangular shape (as in the video), structural posts could easily be introduced into the far corners. These would carry edge beams that would be carried at the other end by letting them into the building.

Even with "threepenny-bit" shaped concervatories, it would just need posts at all the pointy bits of the shape to carry more edge beams.

Once that's done, a traditional roof structure (timber) can be cut and fixed, with a regular roof covering to suit the rest of the building.

It would be interesting to see the comparison figures between trad and lightweight.

[The Builder]

To answer Heathy......... Conservatories are treated as any other extension. No problem with an existing one of course. In certain areas such as Conservation Areas, it may be necessary to get PP for a change of roof covering.

For Building Regs, even with Permitted Development, B/Regs consent is needed for a material change in roof structure. I guess the manufacturers in the video may have "type approval". That means they simply supply Building Control with their standard, pre-calculated drawings.
I don't know their arrangements for this, but, it may well be similar to GAS-Safe, or FENSA (for windows), where they carry on without having to trouble Building Control.

Traditional construction would need standard B/Regs inspections etc for a "habitable room".

[Ratty2E]

Thank you all for your replies. I have read a few reviews for the link I posted and it's not cheap at all, figures of 4 & 5 grand were being bandied about, far too much for me. I did read somewhere that one person had had a builder put on a roof of envirotiles (recycled plastic) which sounded interesting although I'm not sure what the life of this sort of thing would be or cost versus the other options.

[susanxx]

The firm in your response Ratts is the one that did my roof last year. The workmen who did the job were great. I'm not sure the cost of these roofs really is worth the benefits.