What To Know When Adding A Solid Roof To Your Existing Conservatory

Many conservatories are left empty over winter, collecting damp and the cold because they can’t be used as a living space.

An inconvenience to many homeowners, they may be unaware that replacing their existing roof with a solid roof could be a resolution to the problem.

Solid roofs are great for improving a conservatory’s insulation, yet adding a solid roof can mean that your local council recognises your conservatory as being ‘changed in use’, which could cause problems later on.

Therefore, you will need to be obtain certain certifications and planning permissions before making adaptations to your conservatory. It can be very confusing, which is why we are not only on hand to advise and assist you but we have devised a quick lowdown of what you may need to consider.

Permitted Development Rights

Permitted Development Rights state that materials for the exterior of a conservatory should be in keeping with the appearance to those used on the exterior of the house itself.

This is great for ensuring the look and feel of your extension fits the rest of the house, but it could prove a problem when searching for a company that offers the correct materials to match.

Most solid roof offerings replicate the look of typical roof slates and come supplied either in a coated aluminium tile or thicker UPVC tile, able to accommodate various types of lighting on the interior.

The Glass and Glazing Federation can provide further assistance on replacing an existing roof with a solid roof. They suggest that the roof finish will have been specified in the original granting of planning permission, meaning that the change from glass to a solid material will require the change to be approved by your local authority.

Thus, we suggest before commissioning a solid roof installation on your current conservatory, ensure you obtain all the necessary planning and building regulatory approvals from your local authority.

Local Authority Building Control

The Local Authority Building Control (LABC) teams in England and Wales approve few solid roof systems unless they are LABC approved. Opting for an LABC approved and registered roof system is crucial as it gives you an assurance of quality, insulation and Building Regulatory Approval design.

At Visual we look out for you

This may all seem confusing, which is why we are more than happy to provide you with guidance when replacing your existing conservatory roof with a brand new solid roof. Our specialist team are on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Give us a call today to discuss further or you can visit one of our showrooms.