At Green Space Uk we get asked a lot about conservatories and solid roofing and whether our panels are affected by building regulations as well as what to consider before installing solid conservatory roofing. Often solid conservatory roofing doesn’t require planning permission or building regulations and legislation changes mean that conservatories can have solid roofs installed, but it should still be looked into when considering installing a solid conservatory roof along with other considerations.
Solid conservatory roofing can provide many benefits for homeowners, including better temperature control by reducing heat transfer. The heat stays in better through the winter because the solid roof stops the heat from escaping, and through the summer the solid roof reduces the amount of heat and sunlight coming in and being trapped in the conservatory. Solid conservatory roofs also help to reducing damp/condensation by better controlling the temperature and reducing the fluctuating temperatures throughout the day. Solid roofs also reduce glare, lessening furniture fading and in some instances, the right solid conservatory roofing can also increase the value of the house.
One concern many people have when modifying their conservatory with a solid roof upgrade is whether, by law, a conservatory can have a solid roof without building regulation approval. In 2010 the building regulation requirements for fitting solid roofs on conservatories changed to allow people to adapt their conservatories more easily. We’ve taken a more detailed look into what building regulations are, what they mean for homeowners and what the rules are regarding conservatories having a solid roof installed.
What are building regulations?
Building Regulations 2010 are the most current edition of the regulations made under the Building Act 1984. The majority of building projects are required to comply with them to ensure the health and safety of people in and around all buildings. They cover access and facilities of buildings and include domestic, commercial, and industrial. They differ from planning permission, so homeowners should always check that the correct planning permission is sought if required, as well as meeting building regulations. So how do they effect installing solid roofing to a conservatory?
Building regulations apply whenever building work is being carried out, or “material change of use”. These could include the construction of an extension, provision or extension of certain services (for example, adding waste pipework and underground drainage or extending electrics into an extension) or installing gas/electricals, or alterations to the current structure or use of a building.
However, the 2010 revision of the building regulations underlines certain works that are now exempt from building regulations. These include a variety of single story extensions of a certain size, including conservatories. This therefore means that generally, conservatories under a certain size meeting the requirements of the 2010 building regulations can be built without building regulation applications. But, anyone looking to build a conservatory should check this applies to their plans beforehand.
Changes to the Conservatory Roof Requirements
So, how does this effect the conservatory roof more specifically?
The previous regulations regarding conservatories required that at least 75 percent of their roof and 50 percent of their walls had to be constructed from transparent glazing (Conservatory Roof Replacement: What You Need to Know). Now however, conservatory roofing must just comply with Part K4, K5.1, K5.2, K5.3, and K5.4 of The Building Regulations 2010 (as amended). These sections mainly cover protection from falling, collision and impact, these include regulations to ensure windows can be opened safely and emergency exits aren’t blocked by conservatories. It also states that the conservatory roof no longer needs to have 75% of the roof transparent. This means that, in most cases conservatories can have solid roofs subject to a check to the roof design, load transmissions though the existing foundations, resistance of the roof and junctions to moisture and adequacy of existing foundations as per LABC guidance on solid roofs to conservatories dated May 2018. installed without requiring Building Regulations.
The Roof Weight
So solid conservatory roofing can be installed under building regulations, but homeowners should still consider the weight of their roof.
A solid roof comes with many different benefits including noise reduction by blocking out the loud noises from rain, hail and thunder (plus, reducing damage caused by hail and other falling debris during storms!). Solid conservatory roofs are also excellent for temperature control keeping it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter by reducing heat transfer. The main use of your conservatory will also influence the reason for needing a solid roof – for example, if you use it as a home office, then reducing the glare will be important to make working and using screens more comfortable. Regulating the temperature will also be a highly beneficial reasons for fitting a solid conservatory roof if using the conservatory as an office, lounge or dining room as it reduces damp and condensation and prevents mould and damp damage to furniture and electricals. However, the weight of the new solid conservatory roof will need to be considered to ensure that the current framework can support it. Otherwise, additional work may need to be carried out, meaning that the work does need to meet building regulation requirement after all.
If you are considering installing a solid roof on an older conservatory then serious consideration needs to be given to the existing structure and the type of roof that you install to ensure that it can bear the weight – for example – replacing your conservatory roof with a tiled conservatory roof conversion is one solution however, this option comes with its drawbacks. Firstly, a tiled roof is going to be much heavier – this means your conservatory will probably need some work in order to be able to support the new tiled roof. Secondly, installation is going to be quite involved as it may mean replacing the existing roof frame with one that is suitable for tiles to be attached to, or fitting the new system over the existing roof, which once again, will add more weight to the structure and take more time to install the solid conservatory roof.
A less expensive option would be to look at a fibreglass and plasterboard option however from experience, we know this is not a long-term solution, particularly if condensation is already an issue in your conservatory. These solid roof options can be susceptible to damp as they aren’t sealed units and they don’t regulate the temperature as well as other options meaning that the damp issue won’t be reduced.
Another solid conservatory roof options is insulated roof panels such as these, which are often lightweight (sometimes lighter than the existing conservatory roof). As no alterations are being made to the physical structure this option often doesn’t require building regulations approval, and the Solid roof panels simply slot into the existing structure. They are sealed units, meaning that they have an excellent life span, better than polycarbonate panels which degrade over time. This solid roofing has an extremely low U-Value, meaning it doesn’t conduct heat well and prevents heat transfer from inside and outside the conservatory. This solid conservatory roof options helps to ensure the conservatory stays a more consistent temperature throughout the day to prevent damp and condensation.
In conclusion, conservatories can now have solid roofing, and installing them doesn’t normally require building regulations, however any company used should be able to provide building regulations advice and sign off for the work to comply with LABC requirements and homeowners should always check before having a solid conservatory roof installed.
Part of that is ensuring the conservatory framework is structurally sound and can take the weight of a new solid conservatory roof before installing a solid conservatory roof. If the current framework isn’t strong enough, it may require reinforcements which then changes the criteria and whether the solid roof installation is subject to building regulations.
But, solid conservatory roofing can be an excellent upgrade to the home as it provides better temperature control, may reduce dampness, condensation and glare. Depending on which type of solid roof you choose, it can be designed to compliment the building, with roofing tiles to match the current ones on the building. With GreenSpace Uk’s insulated panels, the solid roof can be coloured to match the conservatory framework if required.
Green Space UK will also deal with LABC application matters with regard to the replacement roof panels and liaise with appropriate local authority for the host premises relative to the Building Regulation Certificate of Completion.
Green Space Uk
Green Space Uk’s solid conservatory roof panels are the perfect solution to fitting a solid roof to a conservatory without the concern of the weight or building regulations as they are light weight and fit directly into the current framework, usually with no alterations needed.
Green Space Uk’s panels are lightweight but strong, so in the majority of cases, the conservatory framework will support this solid roof without issue. As the panels simply slot into the current framework and nothing is being altered structurally, building regulation approval isn’t normally required to replace the conservatory roof with this solid roof. These insulated panels help to prevent heat transfer, keeping rooms warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. The better temperature control also reduces damp and condensation meaning less damage to furnishings and electricals.
With a much lower U-Value than many traditional conservatory roof options, this solid roof is one of the best options for insulating the room as well as many other benefits. These benefits include reducing glare and lessening the fading of furniture in the conservatory and making it a much more comfortable room to be in. This solid roof can be installed in less than one day usually, as it’s created bespoke to the current frame and simply slots straight in, making installation a quick and easy process.
