Problems with glass conservatory roofs, and why a solid roof replacement is the answer
Traditionally, roofs on conservatories and orangeries have been made from glass, but as anyone who has ever owned a glass roof glazed building will know, glass roofs come with a number of common problems. The good news however, is that these issues can all be solved by replacing your glass roof, with a tiled roof.
Temperature Control
Conservatories and orangeries notoriously have a tendency to be too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. This is nearly always due to the roof. Glass roofs, even when double glazed, struggle to insulate as efficiently as solid materials, which means that when the weather is hot, the heat can penetrate the roof and settle in the conservatory. Likewise, when the weather is cold outside, the warmth from inside your home, can easily escape through the uninsulated roof, which in turn can increase your heating costs, or simply make the space unusable for big chunks of the year.
This is something that can be easily remedied with the innovative solid roofing systems that we use for a tiled roof replacement. With the insulation and venting in the roof, the temperature can be maintained at a comfortable level, and the space can be utilised, no matter how hot or cold it may be outside.
Energy Efficiency
With traditional roofing on your conservatory or orangery there are issues with heat retention. Due to the lack of insulation in these roofing types you end up having to increase your heating usage. This can lead to exceptionally high energy costs.
With a solid conservatory roof there is more insulation in the roofing, meaning that your need to keep your heating on for longer is drastically reduced. With the insulation we use, heat is retained in your conservatory resulting in reduced energy bills and a more eco-friendly home.
Lighting, Glare and UV Exposure
While the idea of a space filled with an abundance of natural light often sounds appealing, the reality, is often a lot more troublesome. With such a large expanse or glass, it is very hard to control the sunlight in a glass roof conservatory. This means that on particularly sunny days, the light intensity in a conservatory can be uncomfortably bright in your eyes, and glare can prevent you from being able to see a TV or computer screen. There's also the added risk of UV exposure which can fade furniture and harm our skin.
With a solid conservatory roof replacement this is much easier to control. While the majority of a solid conservatory roof is tiled, you can still have glass panels strategically placed within the roof, so that you can get the best of both worlds, but in a much more controlled way. With a tiled roof, the issue of glare is completely eliminated. Additionally, the risk of UV rays fading your furniture or causing potential harm, is significantly reduced.
Noise
Traditional glass conservatory roofs don’t offer much in terms of sound insulation. Whether it's heavy rain, hail, wind or everyday noise from traffic, wildlife and people outside, the noise can become a nuisance, and limit what the space can be used for, and when.
With an insulated, tiled conservatory roof however, these sounds are considerably diminished, making the space a fully usable part of your home, no matter what is going on outside. An insulated roof is also better at absorbing noises from within the room, which means that there will be less of an echo and sounds won’t be amplified as they can be with a glass roof. So there is less chance that any noise that you make in the space, will bother your neighbours.
Cleaning
Traditional glass conservatory roofs can get very dirty. If you don’t clean them often enough, mould, moss, bird dropping, wet leaves and pollution, can soon build up, and become an eyesore.
With tiled roofs however, the need for cleaning is significantly reduced. While a tiled roof may not necessarily be any cleaner than a glass one in the same location, tiles don’t show dirt in the same way that glass does. So a tiled conservatory roof, won’t require any more cleaning than the tiles on the roof of your house do.
Leaks
With so many different elements and joints on a glass roof conservatory, there's no wonder that leaks are one of the most common problems experienced. They are most often caused by panels moving where seals have eroded around the panes of glass. When the glass moves, it can create openings where water can leak through.
Solid conservatory roofs however, do not have this issue. This is because the tiles are interlocked in a way that prevents water getting through, just as they are on houses. Under the tiles there is also a waterproof barrier, which acts as an extra defence against leaks.
Safety & Durability Issues
Although modern glass roofs are designed to be robust, they can be more susceptible to damage from falling branches, flying footballs, or other debris compared to tiled roofs. For this reason, property owners who live in rural areas, or have young children, often opt to have their glass conservatory roof replaced with a tiled option, to alleviate any potential safety concerns.
In Conclusion
While traditional glass conservatory roofs have their charm, the numerous benefits of opting for a tiled roof cannot be ignored. If you're considering a conservatory upgrade or are building a new one, a tiled roof might be the best investment for a comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and value-adding extension to your home.
How We Can Help
If you have a glass roof conservatory and experience the issues mentioned above, click the button below, and get in touch today to arrange your free, no-obligation quote. Or visit our Leka solid Conservatory Roof or Supalite Tiled Conservatory Roof pages, to find out more about our roof conversions.