Monthly Archives: December 2016

Conservatory Projects, Conservatory Roof Conversions, Conservatory Roofing, Roofing Projects

Roof Conversion Ideas for your Conservatory

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Roof conversion ideas for modern living

Are you currently happy with your existing conservatory and how you are using it? If your answer is no but you don’t want to go through all the hassle and expense of a full conversion then you might be interested in some roof conversion ideas that can maximise the usable space and turn your conservatory into a pleasant place for your plants and even family members.

Upgrading your polycarbonate roof

One of the most popular roof conversion ideas is increasing the insulating properties of your conservatory roof by replacing polycarbonate with glass. Some people opt for a clear glass roof to maximise the amount of light coming into the space although it is worth bearing in mind that some conservatory plants actually prefer to be out of the direct light as much as possible.

This highlights the importance of weighing up various roof conversion ideas in light of your personal circumstances. If you decide that you are not bothered by the glare, your plants, furnishings and occupants are OK with direct light and you only require modest improvements in insulation then a glass or high-performance glass replacement roof may be the cheapest and quickest option.

Replacement Solid Roof Systems

If you require a substantial improvement in your conservatory’s thermal properties, less direct light and a way of preventing excessive heat in summer as well as overly cold winter conditions (i.e. an even temperature) then a solid roof system may be more suitable. There are numerous systems on the market and you may have heard of the following:

  1. Guardian
  2. Metrotile
  3. Supalite – (see our Supalite Roof Review feature)
  4. Ultraframe

Speak to your local conservatory roof conversions company to see what options they have available.

A note on Building Regulations

There is a lot of confusion about whether solid roof systems are subject to Building Regulations. The short answer is that it largely depends on the proportion of glass in your conservatory which, of course, varies with each particular building. Speak to your chosen contractor about this and read the following LABC advice before making any decisions.

Choosing a Roofing Service, Roofing Regulations

Why Choose NFRC Accredited Roofing Firms?

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When you go to your GP for a problem with your health they will sometimes refer you to a specialist. In the same way, when you have problems with your roofing it makes sense to employ specialist roofing firms rather than a general builder.

Of course there are plenty of roofing firms advertising their services but how do customers know that these are not general builders who know only the basics or have done some roofing work in the past and are now out of date and non-compliant with new standards? You need to look for the NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) badge.

Who are the NFRC?

The National Federation of Roofing Firms have been in existence for nearly 120 years and represent over 70 per cent of roofing firms by value. They are rightly regarded as ‘the voice’ of the roofing industry.

3 benefits of choosing NFRC-accredited roofing firms

Whether you need domestic, commercial/ industrial or specialist roofing work, by always hiring NFRC-accredited roofing firms you can be assured of the following:

1. Higher Standards

Roofing firms who have been assessed by the NFRC will have shown themselves to be financially stable, HSE compliant and able to work to exacting British and European quality standards. For roofing firms working within the domestic roofing sector, NFRC member contractors will be compliant with the government-endorsed TrustMark scheme.

2. Clear Quotations in Plain English

Some contractors take advantage of the general public’s ignorance about VAT to provide VAT-free quotations before whacking on an extra 20 per cent at the end. While VAT is a necessary part of any roofing work, an NFRC member is committed to making sure all costs are completely clear throughout the process and that all contracts are in plain language.

3. Extra Protection

As well as ensuring all contractor members are adequately insured, the NFRC also offer a range of specialist warranties for additional peace of mind. These are dependent on contractors also being registered with QANW so ask your contractor about this prior to hiring them.

So next time you need some roof repair or replacement work, look out for the NFRC badge. For more information on why you should always choose NFRC accredited roofing firms, see this NFRC guide.

Roofing Materials, Roofing Projects, Roofing Techniques

Understanding Metal Roof Construction

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For many south west based business owners, investing in a new metal roof can be daunting since metal roof construction has little in common with any domestic roofing experience they might have previously had.

As we all know, contractors in all fields – and metal roof construction is no exception – tend to give better deals to those customers who know what they’re talking about so it is worthwhile getting your head around the basic concepts involved before you start talking to roofing firms or building contractors.

 

Metal Roof Construction Basics: 5 Types of System

The five basic types of metal roof construction system used in the UK are:

  1. Single Skin
  2. Double Skin
  3. Secret Fix
  4. Site-assembled Composites
  5. Factory-assembled Composites

Single Skin Systems

Single skin systems are the most basic form of metal roof construction. They simply consist of sheets of uninsulated metal sheets (usually steel) fixed to metal purlins (supporting frames that run parallel to the eaves).

Basic Double Skin Systems

A double skin system, used in most industrial and commercial buildings, is comprised of at least three parts: An inner liner, an outer weather sheet and a spacing system that supports the weather sheet while making room for insulation – normally a mineral fibre quilt. The liners can be made of steel or aluminium.

The liner sheet will be thinner and the profile shallower than that of the weather sheet. The minimum thickness of a liner is typically 0.4mm (steel) or 0.5mm (aluminium) whereas the weather sheet will be at least 0.7mm (steel) or 0.9mm (aluminium) thick.

Both liner and weather sheet are usually trapezoidal (wavy – or ‘sinusoidal’ – profiles are rarely used in standard commercial metal roof construction any more).

Secret Fix Systems

Secret fix systems are double skin systems which have specially profiled weather sheets designed to hide most of the internal substructure and fasteners from view. They are popular in roofs with shallow slopes or where a pristine external appearance is desired.

Site-assembled Composites

Site-assembled composites are specially profiled to incorporate a rigid insulation. The insulation is normally either mineral fibres, polyisocyanurate or polyurethane.

Factory-assembled Composites

Rather than have the insulation installed onsite, some metal roof construction projects involve building the panels in a factory and then bringing them to the site fully-formed. Polyisocyanurate or polyurethane tend to be the preferred insulation materials used since these bond with the liner facings on expansion.

Special Liner Considerations

Sometimes it is necessary to add extra liners to the basic systems above. Two common examples are in food production/optimal hygiene environments and aggressive industrial processes, both which will require separate liners underneath but with different properties.

Some heavy traffic metal roofs will also require an extra walkable liner.

Standard Metal Roof Coatings

There are various coatings that can be applied to the substrate (i.e. metal) and these vary in terms of colour and finish depending on the roofing supply firm used. Steel will be hot-dip galvanised or aluzinc coated while aluminium is supplied with a mill or painted finish.

Common choices of coating include ARS (aluminium only), Multicoat, Plastisol (steel only), Polyester and Pvf2.

A Note on Fasteners

Most metal roof construction projects used to rely on typical zed spacers comprising of z-shaped steel fastened to nylon ferrules. While these may still be used in shallower roof constructions they have been largely replaced by various proprietary fasteners and bracket systems using structural grade steel and plastic. More detailed information on roofing fasteners can be found in our dedicated fastenings section.

Armed with the above basics, business owners should feel more confident when organising their own roofing projects, ensuring that the best decisions are being made in the interests of their business. For more in-depth information, visit: http://www.mcrma.co.uk

 

Conservatory Plants, Conservatory Roof Conversions

Why Converting your Conservatory can Help Tropical Plants

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Have you ever visited the Eden Project in Cornwall? Walking around the rainforest biome is a source of endless inspiration for gardeners but did you know that many of the plants you see won’t do well in an average conservatory, particularly an older one.

The good news is that conservatory roof conversions can transform your growing environment into a far more successful growing climate for certain plants.

 

Which plants would benefit from a conservatory conversion?

1) Rubber. One of the most common plants that you might want to grow is the rubber plant. However, rubber plants are not fans of direct sunlight which is a problem if you have a traditional glass or polycarbonate roof. Modern conservatory roof replacements can switch your transparent roof for a tile-effect alternative. This includes insulation and does not require the extra foundational work required for a full conversion into a sunroom.
Without the constant glare of the sun, you should find that rubber plants are far happier and grow into more attractive specimens.

2) Banana. Providing you opt for the best species and bring them inside when the temperature drops below 14 degrees C, it is possible to grow bananas in the south west UK. But bananas don’t like extremes of temperature so if your conservatory shoots from boiling to freezing in an instant – as most old conservatories do – then your banana plants won’t thrive. Converting your conservatory will smooth out those extremes and you may well be surprised at the difference in your banana plants.

3) Bamboo. If you find that you are constantly watering your bamboo plants or see evidence of scorching at the edges of the leaves, it is a clear sign that your conservatory is too hot or that your plant is exposed to too much direct sunlight. As in the above examples, a conversion will sort out both of those issues in one go.

More and more people are realising that converting their conservatory roofs enables them – and their plants – to enjoy a more comfortable experience all year round.