The Solid Advantages of Conservatory 'Warm' Roofs
Q. The polycarbonate roof on my conservatory is old and tired. I want to do something about it before it gets too bad.
A solid warm roof would give me more use of the space, but is there any ‘red tape’ involved?
A. An existing conservatory with doors into the house is ‘exempt’ from Building Regulations, but changing the roof to a solid one means that Building Regulations now apply.
Don’t worry, as a qualified UltraRoof, Supalite and Guardian Warm Roof installer Falcon Windows cannot only offer choice in terms of warm roofing systems, but can generally help take care of everything around your installation too.
Q. My conservatory has multiple angles and is a strange shape. Can it still be upgraded to a solid warm roof?
A. Yes, that should be fine. You may have a P-shaped conservatory, but warm roof technologies from Ultraframe are very configurable. You should be able to choose between high performance sealed units or the LivinRoof roofing system which supports stylish lighting options and makes your conservatory really feel like an extension.
One of our qualified Falcon Windows surveyors will soon be able to give you an appraisal.
What style is your conservatory and how will a warm roof look on it? From lean-to conservatories to Victorian and traditional styles take a look here »
Q. Why isn't there a weight problem when you remove the existing lightweight polycarbonate sheeting in the roof and replace it with a solid roof?
A. UltraRoof380 and LivinRoof conservatory warm roof systems are extremely lightweight as well as robust.
It works thanks to a special, super-strength box beam which sits on the window frames and walls and runs around the perimeter of the roof. That's the magic 380 - 380mm!
Falcon Windows can assess whether your exisiting conservatory base and frames are capable of taking the extra load through this box-beam set-up and what options and roofing finishes will be suitable.
The LivinRoof has a weight of only 25kg/m2.
UltraRoof380 with its authentic slate finish weighs just a little more.
Find out about the UltraRoof 380 wide range of choices from finishes to fascias »
Q. Is swapping from a polycarbonate roof to solid roof a big job? How long will it take to replace the conservatory roof?
A. If your conservatory is a simple design, the expert Falcon Windows team may be able to put it in place within the course of one day. If an internal solid roof is required, then plaster-boarding and skimming would folllow over the next day or so.
UltraRoofs are created off-site in advance of the installation, the component parts are then quickly and easily installed by our expert team.
Why not watch the video about conservatory warm roof UltraRoof installations? You'll find it alongside videos about our other warm roof products, here »
Q. What about the furniture and flooring in my conservatory? Will that be ok during the re-roofing work?
At Falcon Windows Ipswich and Stowmarket, we pride ourselves on the quality of our workmanship and our personal service. We take every care to minimise disruption and fuss on all our warm roof installaions, but we will need complete and easy access to you conservatory to undertake a major operation like re-roofing.
Generally furniture will need to be stored elsewhere temporarily.
We will take every care to protect flooring and always make sure that we clean up thoroughly after a job. Our team can advise at time of survey if you have any particular worries.
Falcon Windows has been serving Stowmarket, Suffolk and Essex for well over 30 years and we have an excellent reputation for leaving sites tidy and respecting our customers' homes and property.
Do read our customer testimonials to find out more »
Q. If changing to a solid conservatory roof from a polycarbonate one means it has to comply with Building Regulations, is there any official paperwork I should keep?
A. In England and Wales, Ultraframe works with an approved inspector organisation called 'jhai'. They ensure the necessary procedures are followed and issue a completion certificate which should be filed with the deeds to your property.
In other regions of the UK, other arrangements are in place.
Q. Are you sure the foundations will take the weight? Will the solid roof be too heavy to sit on my windows?
A. As an expert assessor with considerable warm roof installation experience, Falcon Windows will be able to advise. Provided that there is no sign of settlement in the base of your conservatory, there should be no need to ‘boost’ foundations.
UltraRoof380 and LivinRoof are robust but light. Specialist engineering calculations will be made as part of the bespoke design procedure, but whether you are swapping from a polycarbonate or glass conservatory roof the difference in loading on the foundations should be minimal or negligible.
In most cases, the original window frames can be used - thanks to the impressively strong, 380mm perimeter box beam - which delivers significant cost savings on any rebuild alternative.
Q. Won't a solid roof cut out the light? I need it to be a bright room still as I don't want the adjacent room to feel dark at all.
A. There are all sorts of options with a LivinRoof or UltraRoof380* 'solid' conservatory warm roof installation. The beauty is that the system allows for glazed panels to be inserted in virtually any position.
There are lantern options and velux window options with important ventilation opportunities.
Conservatory warm roofs are all about creating comfort, so you can make the most of your conservatory space throughout the year. Talk things through with the Falcon team and we can present some options to achieve the conversion which suits your needs.
*Rectangular panels only in UltraRoof380
Q. I want to make sure that the new space is well-lit, so that I can enjoy the room in the evenings too. What are my options?
A. With a LivinRoof, suspending pendant lights at the highest point of the vaulted ceiling is no issue. There are structural braces inside the plasterboard which take the weight of the lights.
One of the features of a LivingRoof is a 300mm deep perimeter pelmet - ideal for spotlights. The depth of the pelmet can also be varied to accommodate your lighting needs.
Some customers like the idea of spotlight-downlighters in the soffits outside. This can be very effective for evenings on the patio, or to light up the patio area to be enjoyed from the inside.
Find out more about warm roof lighting options from Falcon Windows Ipswich »
Q. Just how much more comfortable will my ‘new room’ be compared to my current conservatory?
A. The new warm roof complies with Building Regulations. This means that the roof is as now thermally insulated as possible. LivinRoof and UltraRoof380 are both up to 15 times more thermally efficient than a polycarbonate roof.
The warm roof technologies from Ultraframe and ventilation allowances built into the new roofing system means that you can have greater comfort regarding temperature all year round - as well as lower bills too.
Depending on which LivinRoof and UltraRoof380 roof options you have chosen, the room will be nice and light, with additional mood lighting - a place which you an decorate to your tastes and enjoy with friends and family all the more.
