Category Archives: Roofing Materials

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

Insulated Roofs vs. Traditional Roofs: Making the Right Choice for Your Conservatory

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INSULATED CONSERVATORY ROOFS: Picture used with kind permission of Roofworx Southwest. Visit their gallery page for more pictures of conservatories with tiled roofs.

Conservatories with insulated roofs have sprung up all over the south west, piquing the interest of homeowners who still have their traditional polycarbonate or glass conservatory roofs. Is it really worth investing in conservatory roof replacements or are insulated conservatory roofs an unneccessary addition to a conservatory?

In this article, we’ve highlighted the pros and cons of both types of roofs to help you make an informed decision.

Traditional conservatory roofs – the benefits

Although most people reading this will already have a conservatory roof, if you are building a new conservatory, installing a traditional polycarbonate or glass roof will probably save you money in the short-term. These types of roofs are cheap to make and install.

Polycarbonate and glass conservatory roofs are also simple to put up, and so the work can be finished very quickly if you have a reliable contractor with plenty of availability.

But perhaps the biggest advantage of glass and polycarbonate conservatory roofs is their transparency. If allowing as much sunlight in as possible is your priority, this type of roof will probably suit you.

The limitations

One of the most common complaints about conservatories with polycarbonate or glass roofs is temperature fluctuation. This is directly due to the lack of insulation. Heat energy will quickly enter and exit your conservatory through the glass or polycarbonate panes.

In the winter, or at night, when sunlight is in short supply, heat will be quickly sucked out of the room. During a hot summer’s day, the sun’s rays will heat up the room to uncomfortable levels, and the greenhouse effect will trap that hot air inside until the night arrives again.

In the winter, or at night, when sunlight is in short supply, heat will be quickly sucked out of the room. During a hot summer’s day, the sun’s rays will heat up the room to uncomfortable levels.

As a result, conservatories with traditional roofs are uncomfortable to work, play or relax in for most of the year. Furniture, fabrics and electronics are also sensitive to extremes of temperature, which rules the conservatory out as a home office or study.

If your conservatory isn’t thermally separated from your home, you have another problem. As heat escapes from your conservatory roof, more heat is drawn in from the adjoining room. If your heating system is controlled by a thermostat, your boiler will be firing more without you realising it – until the monthly heating bill lands on the doormat!

Another disadvantage of standard polycarbonate or glass roofs is noise. With no insulation to absorb sound waves, everything from dogs barking to domestic arguments to heavy rain will intrude on your space. While you can get soundproof glass for your conservatory roof, this reduces those installation cost savings.

Insulated conservatory roofs – the benefits

The main benefit of insulated conservatory roofs is temperature regulation. A layer of insulation reduces the heat transfer rate (symbolised by a material’s U-value), slowing down the release of heat in the winter, and preventing uncomfortable heating in the middle of the summer. You will be able to enjoy year round comfort.

Roofworx conservatory roof replacements u-value comparison chart

Temperature regulation leads directly on to a second huge benefit of an insulated conservatory roof: you will find yourself with a room that you can decorate, furnish, equip and use 365 days a year. You will effectively have added an extra room to your home. Furniture and equipment (e.g., computers and sound systems) that would once have been impractical because of sun exposure and temperature fluctuations can now be designed in to the space. Since insulated conservatory roofs provide you with a proper ceiling, you can also install handy spotlights. Whether you want a home office, a media centre or a playroom, you can have it.

Furniture and equipment that would once have been impractical because of sun exposure and temperature fluctuations can now be designed in to the space.

Second, the added layer of insulation will reduce the need for heating your conservatory, and if your conservatory is thermally connected to your home, this will stop it acting as a heat vacuum. Whether you use a thermostat or regulate your home’s temperature manually, the net result will be lower heating bills and, for those connected to mains gas or electric, a reduced carbon footprint.

Third, an insulated conservatory roof will absorb noise from outside. No more yapping dogs, arguing neighbours or deafening rain or hail storms. Whether you are working or relaxing, you can enjoy peace and quiet.

The limitations

Of course, no conservatory roof will be perfect. The initial costs of installing a solid conservatory roof will be a bit higher because of the energy efficient materials used and the complexity of installation. However, this will soon start paying itself back in terms of reduced heating costs.

Installation time will usually be longer, although many conservatory roof conversions specialists can complete the work within a week.

Another inevitable result of installing warm conservatory roofs is a reduction in natural light. Even so, many homeowners have discovered that the special ceiling paints used by their installers have left their conservatory feeling just as bright – if not brighter – than before.

Ultimately, the decision will come down to your priorities as a family. If you are looking to transform your conservatory into a comfortable space that you can use all year round, insulated conservatory roofs are definitely worth your consideration.

Conservatory Projects, Conservatory Roof Conversions, Conservatory Roofing, Roof Styles, Roofing Materials, Roofing Projects

Upgrading Your Conservatory? Five Benefits of Tiled Conservatory Roofs

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TILED CONSERVATORY ROOFS: Picture used with kind permission of Roofworx Southwest. Visit their gallery page for more pictures of conservatories with tiled roofs.

Tiled Conservatory Roofs Benefit #1 – Heat (and money) Saving Qualities

The number one benefit of having a tiled conservatory roof has to be their heat-saving qualities. Unlike traditional glazed conservatory roofs, which can be prone to excessive heat loss in winter, tiled roofs use high-quality insulation materials and airtight construction.

Tiled roofs therefore help to reduce heat loss through the roof and prevent drafts, resulting in significant cost savings on heating bills, as less energy is required to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Tiled Conservatory Roofs Benefit #2 – Style Options

Tiled roofs offer a wide range of styling options, making them a popular choice for homeowners who want to add a touch of elegance and sophistication to their conservatories. With a variety of tile colours, textures and finishes available, homeowners can choose a style that complements their existing architecture and enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of their property.

Tiled roofs can also be customized to suit specific design requirements, such as the addition of skylights or roof lanterns, which can create a bright and airy feel.

In contrast, alternative roofing options, such as polycarbonate or glass roofs, offer limited styling options and can appear less visually appealing. Overall, tiled conservatory roofs provide more versatility and flexibility in terms of styling, allowing homeowners to create a space that is not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing.

Tiled Conservatory Roofs Benefit #3 – Strength and Durability

Tiled roofs are made from strong materials like clay, slate or concrete that, unlike polycarbonate and glass, won’t be easily damaged by hail, heavy rain or strong winds.

Correctly installed tiled roofs are also more structurally sound than other types of roof. They are designed to distribute the weight of the roof evenly across the structure, which helps to prevent sagging or collapse. Glass and polycarbonate roofs can put a lot of stress on the conservatory frame, which can lead to problems over time.


Glass and polycarbonate roofs require regular cleaning and maintenance to keep them looking their best and to prevent damage. Tiled roofs, on the other hand, are much more low-maintenance and can last for many years without needing any special care.

Tiled Conservatory Roofs Benefit #4 – Maintains Bright Interior

Just because you are replacing a transparent roof for an opaque one, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your light interior. Providing your installer uses a reflective light-coloured paint, you can ensure minimal reduction in the ambient light of your room.

This may seem unbelievable, but some conservatory roof replacements companies have even been told, by their clients, that their room has felt lighter since installing a tiled roof.

Tiled Conservatory Roofs Benefit #5 – Quieter Space

Tiled roofs can also help to reduce noise pollution, as they are much more effective at absorbing sound than glazed roofs.

Taken together, the qualities of tiled roofs detailed above make them an attractive option for homeowners looking to improve the comfort and energy efficiency of their homes.

Conservatory Projects, Conservatory Roof Conversions, Conservatory Roofing, Roofing Materials, Roofing Projects, Roofing Regulations

Can I replace my conservatory roof with a tiled roof?

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‘Can I replace my conservatory roof with a tiled roof?’ is a question asked my many homeowners who are unhappy with the look or function of their existing – often polycarbonate conservatory roof.

The good news is that most conservatories are suitable for this type of roof replacement work and in most cases you won’t even need to be concerned about obtaining Planning Permission. That’s because conservatory roof replacements fall under the permitted development category.

Permitted development and conservatory roof replacements

Permitted development is a right that is granted to most homes. In some cases (e.g. if a house is in a National Park), permitted development will not apply and the rights can actually be removed in certain circumstances. However, this is the exception not the rule.

You will also need to make sure that your roof conversion ideas will not cause your conservatory to fall outside of the permitted development scope. This is unlikely but can happen (e.g. if you have a side conservatory which is exactly four metres high and the new roof will cause you to exceed that height).

For a list of all the requirements you need to follow to ensure your conservatory roof conversion counts as permitted development, visit the Planning Portal.

5 reasons to say ‘yes’ to a tiled conservatory roof replacement

if you are on the fence about replacing your old polycarbonate roof with a new tiled option, here are five big reasons why many people choose that route:

  • Reduced energy bills. Modern tiled conservatory roofs have much better thermal efficiency ratings. That means yoiu won’t have to crank the heat up in the winter (or the air con in the summer).
  • A room you can use all year round. Whatever you want to use your conservatory for, you will be able to. Under a dated polycarbonate roof, most conservatories are too hot and stuffy in the summer and freezing cold in the winter. With a tiled replacement roof you can look forward to more balanced temperatures and a more useful space.
  • Improved acoustics. The sound of rain belting down on a polycarbonate roof can also make conservatories uncomfortable to stay in for long periods. A tiled replacement will drastically reduce that sound.
  • Low maintenance. Modern tiled conservatory roofs are designed to be easy to look after and are less susceptible to damp and mould growth.
  • Kerb appeal. If you’re tired of being the ‘house with the scruffy conservatory,’ you can boost the aesthetics – and value – of your property with a replacement roof.

Make the change in 2020!

If you are one of the growing number of dissatisfied conservatory owners asking, ‘can I replace my conservatory roof with a tiled roof?’ the short answer is absolutely! in addition to the nationally advertised firms you see on TV, there are also plenty of local roofing specialists who would be delighted to quote you for a replacement.

Image credit for Can I replace my conservatory roof with a tiled roof? – Chris Rose/123rf

Roofing Materials

4 Types of Structural Roof Deck

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Timber Roof Deck Image Copyright: krakatuk / 123RF Stock Photo

Just as the overall foundations of a building are crucial to its performance, so the design and choice of material for a structural roof deck has a huge influence on the overall strength and performance of your entire roof.

In many ways, the roof deck is the backbone of any roof and requires professional design and top grade material. Although the roof deck is obviously important in terms of load bearing capabilities, it also influences everything from the roof’s thermal properties, waterproofing and performance when subjected to high winds.

4 Common Structural Roof Deck Materials

Roof deck can be constructed from many different types of material but the four most common are metal, concrete, wood and PIR (together with combinations of the above such as cementitious wood and reinforced concrete).

Metal
Metal roof deck is made from either steel (galvanised or coated) or aluminium. The metal is profiled, usually in a trapezoidal pattern, with its thickness, spacing, acoustic perforation and finish chosen to fit the span and load capabilities of the roof it is supporting.

Aluminium deck has a minimum thickness of 0.9mm while steel can afford to be slightly thinner at 0.7mm. Neither metal generally exceeds 1.2mm in thickness.

The exact type of metal deck required will depend upon many factors such as the amount and distribution of load (which will effect midspan deflection and hence drainage performance), aesthetics and how the deck is to be integrated with the roof’s insulation and waterproofing systems. This will also affect the type of fasteners you need.

Concrete

Concrete roof deck can either be pre-cast offsite and lifted into place with cranes (the quickest option) or poured while on site. Reinforced concrete (cast in situ) combines the properties of concrete and steel by setting steel bars within the concrete matrix, supplementing the compression strength of the concrete with the tensile strength of the steel. Pre-stressing the steel before the concrete is poured helps to increase the composite’s strength after curing (which takes around a month).

Made from a mixture of cement, fine aggregates and an expansion agent, autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) provides a lightweight, flexible and workable material with the strength and fire resistance of concrete but at around a quarter of the weight. It is also water, insect and mould-resistant and provides excellent soundproofing but though tough is not quite as durable as concrete. In addition, building codes can make some uses of AAC impractical. AAC panels are joined to one another with a thinset mortar.

Wood

The vast bulk of wooden roof deck is supplied as pre-formed sheets although timber boarding is used during re-roofing work.

New timber roof deck is normally at least 25mm thick and connected using tongue-and-groove joints to protect from shrinkage. Alternatives to real wood include OSB – a material formed of bonded cross-directional timber strands – and plywood; these materials are normally no less than 18mm thick.

When using these options for a roofing project it is important to be aware of the relevant BS standards that are required (e.g. EN300 for OSB and EN636 for plywood).

Cementitious wood fibre deck combines the properties of timber and cement including workability, ease of installation and acoustic control.

Polyisocyanurate (composite)

PIR is a modern plastic foam which has superb insulating properties. In roof deck, it is often bonded with a steel liner to create a waterproof and thermally efficient layer.

This is just a brief introduction to the four most common types of roof deck you are likely to come across. Your roofing supply merchant will have more specific details about the best type of deck for your specific project.

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