Many conservatories are left empty over winter, used only a storage area for the Christmas presents before the big day arrives. Why? Because they are too cold to be used for anything else.
Undoubtedly the lack of extra room is an inconvenience to homeowners; replacing the current roof with a solid roof could be a resolution to the problem.
Solid roofs are great for keeping the heat in and the cold out, yet adding one may mean that your local council now recognises your conservatory as being ‘changed in use’, which could cause problems later on.
When installing a solid roof certain certifications and planning permissions need to be obtained before any adaptations are made, which can sound daunting but Bon Accord Glass can be on hand to advise and assist you through the process.
For now, however, here’s 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 similar in appearance to those used on the exterior of the main house.
On one hand this is great as it ensures the look and feel of your extension still fits the rest of the house, but it could prove a problem when finding a company that offers the correct materials to match the main house.
Most solid roof offerings replicate the look of typical roof tiles/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 provides further clarity on replacing an existing roof with a solid roof. The roof finish will have been specified in the granting of any original planning permission, which means the change from glass to solid materials will require the change to be approved by your local authority.
Therefore, we suggest that before commissioning a solid roof installation for your current conservatory, ensure you obtain all 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 very few solid roof systems unless they are LABC approved. Only opting for an already LABC approved and registered roof system gives assurance of quality, suitable insulation and that it is well-designed enough to earn Building Regulatory Approval.
Our specialist team are on hand to answer any questions you may have, so why not give us a call to discuss further or visit our showroom.