conservatory UPGRADES
In the last 2 to 3 years the home improvement market has experienced a surge in interest in conservatory upgrades, in favour of installing roofs that would allow the use of the room all year round
As that demand has grown, so have the product options offered to homeowners, which broadly come in 2 types: a solid roof offering, which is a complete replacement, and a clad over – or wrap around, where additional tiles and / or insulation are added to the existing roof.
Choosing between options can be mind-boggling, particularly when your priorities lay between value and efficiency.
As a homeowner ask yourself the following
- Do I want to add value to my property and help sell my house in future?.
- Do I want the best performance?
- Am I doing this as a quick fix or for the long-term?
- Is structural integrity important to me?
- Do I get added value and will my house sell if I have it installed?
It will come as no surprise to be told that a standard conservatory adds limited value to a property. Generally difficult to heat or keep cool you either use it only occasionally or spend a lot of money trying to make it more usable.
On the other hand, a room with a “solid” roof, tiled, insulated, compliant with building standard requirements, will transform it into a proper room, with a traditional timber roof construction. And it will save you on heating costs!
- Performance, what should I be looking for?
Insulation: a better insulated room will likely be one of the main reasons you are considering changing your roof. Most manufacturers will publish their U-Value (the measurement unit used to indicate how good something is at insulating). The lower the better. Icotherm roofs are specified at 0.16, whilst other are at 0.18. still good of course, but not as good. Icotherm will also manufacture for the Scottish market which required a lower U-value (0.12)
Ventilation: all roofs need ventilation (just check your own house roof) to allow air to circulate. The only way to have proper circulation is to ensure the air comes in, and out again (using a chimney effect). Icotherm’s pitched roofs are specifically designed to permit this.
Doesn’t ventilation just mean draught? A correctly ventilated solid roof will allow air circulation where it matters the most: well away from the room it sits on top of, right under the tiles and above the insulation.
No condensation: one of the main reasons for ventilation is to remove any risk of condensation. Atmospheric gas turns into droplets of liquid when faced with sudden changes of temperature (something as simple as temperatures dropping in the evening). This is called interstitial condensation. Ventilation, by circulating the air, will prevent a build of damp.
So to make sure your selected solid roof will not create interstitial condensation: Ask your installer if there is suitable ventilation, that the design will stop cold bridging and prevent warm air from reaching the rafter and that there is a vapour barrier to stop the room’s atmosphere from entering the roof cavity
Structural integrity
Cladovers and roofs cut on site by builders (vs sourced from a specialist manufacturer) do not have the benefit of being already building control compliant
Reputable roof systems companies like Icotherm have had their designs tested for structural integrity, condensation risk, insulation performance, making it easier to obtain building control approval. This will mean that all roofs are constructed following clear specification guidelines, and offer you, the homeowner with the reassurance you need.
Cladovers by their very nature (various components added to the structure) do not have their own calculations as they rely on an already existing roof. That roof will not have been designed to take the added weight, and was most definitely not designed to be encapsulated in insulation and tiles.
For further information or to find a local Icotherm installer email info@icotherm.co.uk