CONSERVATORYSOLID TILED ROOF

CONVERSIONSThe Complete Guide

0800 0280 675www.twsleeds.co.uk

SO WHY SHOULD YOU CONVERTYOUR EXISTING CONSERVATORY?

...This handy, step bystep guide is designedto help explain themany benefits oflightweight solid tileroof conversions.

2. Introduction

3. Building Regulations explained

5. Key Considerations when carrying outa tiled roof conversion

6. Why it is essential to ensure a solid tiledroof conversion is carried out correctly

7. The many ECO benefits

9. Why you need an experienced installer

SOLID TILED ROOF CONVERSIONSTHE COMPLETE GUIDE01

However, what many of them have found is that some conservatories with poorly performingglass units or polycarbonate roofs are too cold in winter and too hot in summer, making themusable for only a few months a year.

Homeowners, understandably, want a conservatory they can use all-year round, enabling itto fulfil its purpose as an extension of their living space.

Solid tiled conservatory roof systems have been developed to lock in heat during the winterand prevent overheating in the summer. As a result, homeowners are now choosing toupgrade their existing polycarbonate or glass conservatory roofs to lightweight tiled roofs,because they offer better thermal performance, improved energy efficiency and a morecomfortable, useable living space.

This guide aims to give you all the information you need to make an informed decisionregarding your tiled roof conversion.

Not all solid tiled roof conversions are the same!

It is important not to fall into the trap of thinking that all tiled roof conversions are thesame and there are important structural, safety and energy efficiency considerations.There are also certain Building Regulation approvals to be met so it is thereforeessential that your conversion company are credible, reputable and experienced andthat your roof conversion product is both structurally and thermally proven.

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INTRODUCTION

Many homeowners have, over the years, takenthe decision to add a conservatory to their home inorder to expand their living space.

BUILDING REGULATIONSEXPLAINED

The Building Regulations in 2010 removed guidance on thedefinition of a ‘conservatory’ so that it was no longer requiredto have an external translucent wall area of at least 50 percent and a minimum of 75 per cent for the roof area.

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This meant that homeowners were now able to

install a solid tiled roof on their existing structure

without any of the proper safeguards needed to

ensure the job was carried out safely, efficiently

and without risk.

The result was that there were many unregulated

roof conversions, the worst cases being

inexperienced companies simply covering the

existing roof outside with lightweight or even

standard roof tiles and inside with plasterboard.

These existing roofs and frames were simply not

designed to carry the additional load of a tiled

roof, causing major safety issues for homeowners.

Other problems this caused included increased

condensation and little to no increase in energy

efficiency.

Many unregulated roof conversions were carried

out by opportunistic startups looking to cash in

on what seemed like an easy way to make a “fast

buck”. Many of these companies are no longer

around to clean up the mess that they caused.

It's worth noting that reputable, experienced

conservatory installers knew that these types of

conversion were unsuitable and steered well

clear of this type of work.

Even where full lightweight roof conversion

products were correctly specified, many installers

still skipped the important survey and structural

inspections of the existing foundations, walls and

frames for their suitability to carry the additional

load.

• The Building Regulations in 2010removed guidance on the definitionof a ‘conservatory’.

• Unscrupulous companies used thisopportunity to performsub-standard unregulated tiled roofconversions.

• August 2013 – conservatory roofconversions were brought underBuilding Regulation control.

Current Building Regulations

August 2013 saw the introduction of new

guidelines that brought tiled roofed conservatories

under the control of Building Regulations using

the additional guidelines contained within the

“LABC's guidance on solid roofs to conservatories

or porches attached to dwellings”. See LABC

website www.labc.co.uk.

This document brought clarity into a marketplace

that was highly confused not only from the

perspective of the homeowner but also from the

often contradictory viewpoints of different local

authorities, building control offices and installation

companies. We recommend that anyone

undertaking this type of work should read this

document in full.

This offered better protection for customers while

enabling conservatory roofs to be upgraded in a

way that is legally compliant. It is this additional

guidance that a conservatory installation company

needs to adhere to when upgrading to a solid

tiled roof conversion.

Key points:

• If the amount of glazing to the walls or roof was

significantly reduced, the conservatory could no

longer be regarded as exempt from Building

Regulations.

• A replacement or new tiled conservatory roof

system also has to comply with Building

Regulations Part L (Conservation of Fuel and

Power).

• Under the 2013 legislation, Building Regulations

approval should be sought before work is carried

out to convert a translucent to a tiled roof.

It's also important to note that any new structure

must also adhere to the existing 2010 requirements

to be exempt from full Building Regulation control:

Key points for a new build conservatory:

• Must be at ground level and have a floor area less

than 30m2

• Must be thermally separated from the dwelling

by walls, windows or doors that meet energy

efficiency requirements

• The dwellings’ heating system must not be

extended into the conservatory or porch

SOLID TILED ROOF CONVERSIONSTHE COMPLETE GUIDE 04

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SOLID TILED ROOF CONVERSIONSTHE COMPLETE GUIDE05

This over and under cladding can presentdifficulties with excess load and alsocondensation damaging the plasterboardand issues with watertightness, issues thatcan only be avoided if the entire roof isreplaced properly.

A properly specified and installed tiled roofsystem will ensure compliance with BuildingRegulations Part L, making the conservatoryhabitable all year round and saving on heatingbills.

Why you need a structural assessmentA structural assessment is required to ensurethat the existing conservatory foundations, wallsand frames are strong enough to withstand theload of a replacement tiled roof.

A tiled conservatory roof cannot simply beplaced over an existing conservatory.

• Local Authority Building Control (LABC)recommends that installers check thestrength of the structure by drilling pilotholes into the vertical supports, or by usinga magnet to see whether there is a steel corein place.

• LABC proposes that conservatoryfoundations comprise a 150mm thickconcrete strip or reinforced concrete slab.

• Foundations passing over drains, close totree roots or on filled ground may requirefurther consideration.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS WHENCARRYING OUT A TILED ROOFCONVERSION

Some installers will still advise simply fitting tiles on topof an existing roof and fitting plasterboard internally.

• In some instances, the conservatory mightneed new window frames to support the weightof a new tiled roof. It may also be possible tomake existing frames more rigid, dependingon the strength of the existing conservatory.

• The structural integrity of a conservatory isvitally important. The roof has to withstandchanges in weather, ranging from being loadedwith snow to pressure from high winds.

Problems can be avoided by undertaking athorough inspection of the conservatory. If thisis not carried out correctly and any remedialactions are not taken at this stage of the process,it could lead to a wide range of avoidable problemsfor homeowners further down the line.

Key points

• Any conservatory needs to be assessedto see whether it can carry a new tiledroof

• Foundations, walls and frames mustbe strong enough to support the weight

• Cutting corners when it comes to

conservatory roof conversions could lead to

issues later on.

• Mortgage lenders are now more rigorous in

their assessments of customers and the

properties they intend to purchase, which

means that they may send a surveyor to

assess a property. Buyers may also choose

to commission their own building survey.

• Any regulations that have been bypassed

may cause problems and in extreme

situations, the conservatory may need to be

removed before a sale can go ahead.

• Buyers could be deterred from purchase of

a property if a conservatory has not been

built to the required standard.

WHY IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE ASOLID TILED ROOF CONVERSION ISCARRIED OUT CORRECTLY

A much better approach is to ensure right from

the start that your solid tiled roof conversion has

been carried out to meet Building Regulation

guidelines. This ensures that you are protected

from sub-standard work and you benefit from a

comfortable, all-year round living space that is

energy efficient to meet Part L regulations.

Key points

• Selling a property with a conservatory

that fails to meet regulations can be

difficult

• Some conservatories may need to be

removed if they fail to meet standards

SOLID TILED ROOF CONVERSIONSTHE COMPLETE GUIDE 06

THE MANY ECOBENEFITS

Why replace your glass or polycarbonate roof

with a lightweight tiled roof system?

There are many benefits of converting yourexisting conservatory roof to a new lightweighttiled alternative, one of the main reasons beingthe improved energy efficiency offered by a solidtiled roof conversion.

If your conservatory has a glass roof that is morethan a few years old, or a roof made frompolycarbonate panels, then replacing it with amodern, lightweight tiled roof system is the bestway to making the your conservatory more eco-friendly. See the comparison on page 9.

“Almost half the CO2 emissionsin the UK are produced bylighting, heating or cooling ourhomes and offices”

SAVE ENERGY AND REDUCEYOUR HEATING BILLS!

25 per cent of heat in a home typically escapes

through the roof

The u-value of a lightweight tiled roof conservatoryis around 0.17w/m2K, which is far better than it wouldbe with a traditional, glazed or polycarbonateconservatory roof - and meets Building Regulations'requirements. This is because lightweight tiled roofshave high performance insulation integrated into thestructure to lock heat inside your conservatory.

Being fully insulated means that your conservatoryno longer needs as much heat in winter or coolingin summer therefore making the space moreenjoyable and saving you money all year round.

You’ll also be doing your bit for the environment too,by conserving energy and so reducing your home'scarbon footprint.

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A conservatory with acorrectly specified and

installed lightweight tiled roofconversion can be up to

10xmore thermally efficient than

a conservatory with astandard polycarbonate roof.

Typical standard conservatory heat map

Typical Lightweight tiled roof heat map

Thermal image for illustration purposes only.

WHY YOU NEED ANEXPERIENCED INSTALLER

One who works with Qualified Chartered Surveyorsand your local building control authority to provideyou with a Building Regulations certificate ofcompletion ensurring:

• full structural integrity• thermal efficiency

It is essential to find aninstaller that is highlyexperienced in this typeof work.

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Key points

• Any legitimate roof installer should givelocal authorities the opportunity toinspect the project to ensure it fullyconforms to all the necessary guidelines.

• A reputable, experienced installer willdeal with all of the Building Regulationrequirements and with the local authorityon your behalf.

• Be aware that a reputable installershould carry out a comprehensivestructural survey before replacing apolycarbonate or glass roof with a tiledroof system.

BEFORECONVERSION

JUST 3 - 4DAYS LATER

SOLID TILED ROOF CONVERSIONSTHE COMPLETE GUIDE 10

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