To Glaze or Not to Glaze – The Conservatory Roof

conservatory roof

Conservatory roof design has come on in leaps and bounds. Jumping from lean-to’s with corrugated plastic roofs to fully tiled and insulated affairs. Decisions can be tricky so let us look at the benefits of each kind of roof and the possible issues. We all have a perception of what our conservatory should do for us and our family, so what’s available? Lets see.

The Polycarbonate Roof

We are all familiar with the sheets of polycarbonate with repeating tunnels along its length. At one time they were very thin, went very yellow and cracked. Nowadays the sheets are up to 35mm thick, with a range of finishes from clear to bronze with Heatguard options and opal finishes for shade. The sheets are practically unbreakable and block UV light. They are also very lightweight making installation a lot easier than tile or glass.

There is no doubt that polycarbonate is a cheaper option to that of glass. The material itself is less expensive to manufacture. When used correctly, a polycarbonate roof will have less glare than a glass roof. The thicker the roof sheets the better for insulation, see chart below.

conservatory roof

However when it rains, it means you shut the door to the conservatory to keep the noise out!! It is especially amplified due to the design of the sheets. Its life expectancy is also less than glass.

The Glass Roof

So what are the benefits of a glass conservatory roof? Apart from the fact that it looks gorgeous? It allows the light to flood the room and spill over into your home. Its quieter when it rains, becoming a gentle sound rather than a River dance. There are a variety of glass finishes, at Perfect Choice we favour the Activ Sunshade blue with 80% solar heat rejection.  The table below compares the options available.

conservatory roof

 

Our Extraordinary Summer of 2018

With temperatures of 30°C plus this year how have conservatories held up? They have been very hot, in some cases too hot. Does that mean a glass roof is a bad idea? If you have the Activ Sunshade Blue roof it will help but it is not the whole story. A few other factors have to be taken into consideration. A major one is the glass wall panels, which will turn up the heat as they are usually just clear glass. In a summer like ours, shades or blinds would be necessary to keep the heat out, this will also help with glare. Even our houses have been too hot this summer so we open windows to get a through breeze, close curtains to stop the room heating up, the same principles apply in a conservatory.

conservatory

Victorian Active Blue

 

So a glass roof is ascetically pleasing, will last longer, creates a space that still embraces the garden. You can enjoy using this space through the rain. At night you can stargaze without getting covered in dew, you just need one of those reclining loungers for extra comfort. See some examples here of conservatories we’ve fitted including the next option.

The Guardian Conservatory Roof

This is a tiled and fully insulated roof that many customers have purchased to turn their conservatory into a year round room. The lightweight tiles and aluminium frame used allow the roof to be fitted without major structural changes to your conservatory. Unless of course your present conservatory is particularly flimsy but our Perfect Choice design consultant would discuss that with you. This new roof would afford you shade from the blazing heat, warmth in the depths of winter and reduces glare. Its like having an extension but without the hassle.

conservatory

The Guardian Roof

 

With these options available, there is something for everyone. Give us a call on 01989 769992 and make an appointment with one of our design consultants to find out what we can do for you.

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