We always advise spending some time thinking about what your main priorities are for the Roof. Predominantly Light & Heat Retention.

Natural Light is very important. Bear in mind that decisions on roofing in particular will effect the natural light in any room the conservatory is attached to. The Use of Velux or Sky Lights can offer a way to make your Conservatory a place filled with more light and look amazing.

Is heat retention important to you ? All new floors and walls will have insulation. However the type of glass in the windows and roof can make a considerable difference to your ongoing comfort. In some circumstances a solid roof is the preferred solution.

If your Conservatory is Too Cold In The Winter & Too Hot, in the Summer. Latest developments now mean that a Conservatory roof can now be Insulated with a special type of quilt which gives Fantastic Heat Retention qualities in Winter – keeping you war, and also keeps your Conservatory Cooler in the summer. Creating an All Year Round Room at a considerably more cost efficient price.

For Extensions and Orangeries, there is also the question of creating A Warm Roof or a Cold Roof. The difference is simply where the insulation in put. If the Insulation is put next to the ceiling ( like in your house ) its a Cold roof. If the Insulation is closer to the Roof, Then its classed as a Warm Roof. They each have slightly different Pros & Cons which can be discussed with your consultant. 

Will it be used mainly as a chill out space, or a work place, social gathering etc…  all of these decisions will effect the choices that you make. Especially when creating the right atmosphere to meet your requirements.

The more time you think about these things, the better the end result and your enjoyment of the new addition to your home will be and cant be over stressed.

Our experienced consultants will take you through all of these and more to ensure you get the perfect end result.

Practicality for your roof is a more simple question.  Namely on options like Velux, to give the ability to air through the roof if you wish. They also look stylish and allow extra light in to the room. 

Velux and Skylights, They tend to be a firm favourite for many.

You will also want to consider lighting.  For Conservatories central hanging lights, Wall lights or a Capella Shelf – is very popular as it allows an Orangery look on the inside and can look stunning.

For Extensions, with the exception of the Capella shelf, have the same options as the Conservatories, plus Dimmable Downlighting, which tends to be a firm favourite. 

For existing Conservatories, The overall style you chose may well be based on the existing roof. However when replacing your roof you can change the style and Ambience considerably, More Height – no problem. Better Heat Retention – No problem.  The best combination of both – again no problem. Changing / Upgrading your roof can and will dramatically change the look and feel of the room. It will often feel like your getting a whole new room. 

However, there are additional considerations as well. Some of which have already been referred to in other categories.  For instance when looking to create a larger feeling room. Higher roofs from the Edwardian or Gable will accomplish this. The Double Hipped Edwardian or Pavilion,  extends the height throughout the whole room by running the width of the conservatory and also looks amazing.

Glass or Solid Roof?  This is a big question to answer. Light over Heat retention . For years people had to decide one or the other but now you can actually have the best of both worlds and also create some amazing looks. The roof is no longer just a roof, it can be a real ‘wow’ factor.

Extensions will also need to consider the pitch of the roof, warm or cold roof as mentioned earlier and also the additional types of material that can be used in addition to Glass or Tile, for example, Rubber, Asphalt or Fibreglass. 

Ambience, is really important to consider when looking at style as it will have a massive effect on how you feel in the Conservatory.  All of the above will have a play in this.  However Lighting, both natural and added, will have a big effect. Using a light pelmet to create ambience is a great way of achieving this and also creating an Orangery Feel without the cost and benefit from looking amazing.

Our Consultant will be able to discuss these in depth to ensure you are happy for years to come.

Changing your Roof, rarely needs any new Planning or Building Applications.

For New builds, You have Permitted Building Rights. These are primarily based on the distance away from the house you are trying to build. Though consideration needs to be given to whether viewable from the main road servicing your property.

3m for Terraced and Semi Detached Properties.  Upto 4m for Detached Properties.  You can double these allowances with Planning Permission but will require proper drawings to do this. Which we will be able  help you with.

Some areas also have special rules in place known as article 4 areas. Conservation areas can also cause additional planning requirements the same as Listed building. These will all place further restrictions on what you can do on the look and the materials that can be used on any development.

We are experienced in taking you through all of these, when required.