If your conservatory feels like a greenhouse during the summer, or a cold dark cave in winter, it may be time to consider a replacement roof. One popular choice is a solid roof. It can transform your conservatory into a year round living space. There are many advantages to a solid roof over a polycarbonate or glass conservatory.
A solid roof will provide all year round insulation for your conservatory. It will be warmer in winter and cooler in summer and should also reduce noise levels, helping to make your conservatory a pleasant and practical place to spend time.
Modern solid tiled conservatory roofs are made from panels that are insulated and designed to be energy efficient. They look very similar to traditional slate, clay or shingle tiles but are much lighter. They are available in a wide range of colours and styles to suit your existing conservatory and can be used to replace a glazed or polycarbonate roof.
The panels are attached to the existing conservatory frame using a system called a tiling clip which is a special fastener which grips the roof tiles to hold them in place. The exterior is then covered with a felt membrane to stop water entering the building. Inside the panel is a layer of plasterboard which can be skim coated or painted to give a clean, crisp finish. The ceiling can then be fitted with a variety of lights including roof lights. These can be installed in the rafters or, for a more decorative effect, timber battens are nailed to the rafters and the ceiling plastered around them.
If you decide to fit a solid roof to your conservatory, the first thing you will need to do is have the structure checked to ensure that it can support the additional weight of the new roof. This may require strengthening and structural changes to the existing conservatory and will need to be signed off by a registered building inspector.
Once the structure is sound, a company who specializes in conservatory roofs can install the new solid roof for you. This is not a DIY job as the roof will need to be properly fixed to the existing conservatory and the insulation needs to be correctly fitted. It will also be necessary to upgrade the windows and doors in your conservatory so that they are as energy efficient as possible.
A solid roof will also improve the appearance of your conservatory, making it feel more like a part of your home rather than an extension. Other benefits include noise reduction, temperature regulation (cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter) and reducing glare from sunlight. You may be able to recoup some of the cost of the roof by saving money on your energy bills but this is not guaranteed. It will depend on how you use your conservatory and how much you want to save on heating and cooling. conservatory with solid roof