Fitting a Rooflight – a Job for the Experts

How hard can fitting a rooflight be? The answer could be, very hard – if you don’t have the skills or experience. Fitting a rooflight is best left to the professionals, who can ensure it is fitted for you safely and securely, and that they achieve the best possible aesthetics as well.

Here are some of the reasons why an expert should fit your rooflight:

  • Safety. Fitting a rooflight involves working extensively at height. If this isn’t something you have experience of, or you don’t have the right safety equipment, then you shouldn’t be fitting a rooflight.
  • Aesthetics. Professionals will achieve the best aesthetic and make sure the rooflight looks perfect in situ. An inexperienced fitter might not achieve such a good look.
  • Time. It can be a lengthy process to fit a rooflight – especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. Entrust it to the experts and get it done quicker.

Having Trouble with your Conservatory Roof? It Could be Time to Replace it.

It’s entirely possible that your conservatory, and especially its roof, might be starting to age the rest of your property. This isn’t uncommon at all; many conservatories that were built several years ago won’t have used the newest roofing technology, meaning they won’t function as well and they won’t look the part any more. Even newer conservatories might not be using the most appropriate roofing materials or types. New replacement roofs for conservatories use all the latest technology and can be designed to really complement the rest of your property, meaning you can once again have a conservatory that you love to spend time in.

It is more common than you might think to get a new conservatory roof installed, so if you are thinking of having a replacement roof, you will not be alone. This is because numerous conservatory owners are beginning to realise that new roofs can offer them so much more, and they are becoming frustrated with their current situation. If you are feeling this way, then a new conservatory roof could really make all the difference to you. Due to the popularity of this type of installation, it means that there are some very good conservatory roofing companies around. They will be able to give you more accurate and up to date information regarding the types of roof that might work with your conservatory, and they can then carry out a full survey at your property to make sure it will be viable. They can then give you the costs for the work as well, so you can make a decision on whether it will be financially viable for your to replace your conservatory roof.

Why might you be thinking of replacing your conservatory roof? 

There are many reasons why you might be dissatisfied with your current conservatory roof, but these are the most common:

  • Your conservatory is too cold in the winter. Many people find that lots of insulation escapes from their roof, and it’s not possible to use the space in the winter months because it is so cold.
  • You want a more ambient temperature all year round. Equally, it might not be especially comfortable in the summer months, either. You might find that your conservatory is unbearably hot and you can’t sit in there for long periods of time.
  • You find it too bright. The glare from a standard glass or polycarbonate roof might well be too much, and you might not enjoy the glare that is in your room.
  • The roof looks old fashioned. An old fashioned conservatory roof can detract from the look and elegance of your property and could be much improved on with a new roof.

Can a new roof really make all that much difference? 

Yes! A modern conservatory roof offers you so many different options beyond glass and polycarbonate. You can choose UV glass that doesn’t create so much of a glare and helps keep the temperature stable. You could also choose a roof that will be more in keeping with the rest of your home, like a tiled roof. This can also have an insulated ceiling inside, which will make an enormous difference to the temperature inside your conservatory.

Alternatives to Replacing a Flat Roof

Replacing a flat roof might be an unnecessary expense if you are able to fix it instead. You might be able to save yourself precious time and money, by making do with what you have and just carrying out some repair work instead. Whilst flat roofs will definitely need to be replaced fairly regularly, there is no point replacing them sooner than needed and reducing their lifespan.

So what are the alternatives? There are now some very good paint-like solutions, that can be painted directly onto the roof. This will patch it up if it is damaged, and will make it fully waterproof again. It is very easy to apply, so it shouldn’t cost too much for a roofing contractor to do it for you. It will help to prevent leaking and will fill in any holes that might have developed, so if you do notice a leak, call a roofing contractor straight away.

The Benefit of Experienced Flat Roofing Specialists

More and more builders and roofers are now offering flat roofing services, but are they ever going to be as good as using somebody knowledgeable and experienced. The answer is, quite possibly not. You can’t put a price on experience, and the more experienced a flat roof specialist is, the better equipped they will be to install your roof.

Look for people with many years of experience behind them, who don’t use subcontractors. You want to make sure you are talking to the person who will be installing the roof yourself, so you can asses their skills and how much they seem to know about the subject.

Flat roofs may be popular, but they are notoriously difficult to install correctly. Rubber and EPDM roofing, and fibreglass, are all good materials, but not if they aren’t installed well. You can get issues with roofs leaking very easily, as water can begin to pool. Look at previous work a roofer has completed to asses their experience.

Do Rooflights Have to go into a Flat Roof?

Rooflights will most often be used on a flat roof, as this is the easiest fitting process and it will give you multiple options for your rooflights. However, a roof doesn’t have to be completely flat. It is possible to fit flat glass rooflights into roofs with a slight pitch – however, this wouldn’t really work with other kinds of rooflights, such as roof lanterns. It all depends on the type of rooflight you would like and where you want to position it.

It’s also possible to fit rooflights into a roof with a greater pitch. This is often called a roof window, as it will look more like a window from the outside. These types of rooflight are often used in attic rooms, where the roof is very steep but it’s important to get some more natural light inside.

The main thing to do is know what type of roof you have, so you can check it with the specifications of the rooflight you want.

Bespoke Rooflights for a Unique Property

When looking for new rooflights, there might not be the exact version you want available in stock. In this instance, you might not be able to find the style you want, the exact size you need, or the kind of mechanism you want. In this instance, bespoke rooflights offer you the answers.

A bespoke rooflight service is offered by some rooflight companies that supply and manufacture rooflights. They will be able to offer you various different services within this, such as choosing the size, the design, the kerb, the upstanding and the type of glazing. This is perfect if you need a non-standard size, or if you would like to produce a design that has your mark on it. Many people choose to build their own houses, or at least carry out a full restoration on an existing property. This kind of situation might well call for an individualised, fully bespoke rooflight.

Domed Rooflights – the Versatile option

Rooflights come in many shapes and sizes, from domes to pyramids to flat glass units. The good news is that if you have a flat roof in place, you can choose from almost any kind of rooflight on the market. Dome rooflights always prove popular, and can bring many benefits to commercial and residential buildings. Here, we discuss the ins and outs of dome rooflights and the benefits they can bring to you, plus some of the considerations you should take into account when you are choosing rooflights for installation in your building.

Domed rooflights – what are they? 

Domed rooflights are set into a flat roof and feature a uPVC or metal exterior and kerb or upstand if required. The rooflight will feature a transparent dome that lets in light, which can be either glass or a polycarbonate material. Both have their advantages, but often polycarbonate materials will be significantly cheaper than glass. If you choose polycarbonate for your roof dome, then this will be a cost effective option and will still let in plenty of light.

Domed rooflights are usually fixed, though there may be some hinged options available. This will allow the rooflight to be opened up, creating natural ventilation by allowing in fresh air. This can be a good option for places like kitchens or bathrooms where there is a lot of steam.

Who installs domed rooflights? 

A domed rooflight can be good for a variety of purposes. They might be used in homes, within an extension or a part of the building that has a flat roof, such as a study or home office. The relatively low price point of a dome also makes it a viable option for a commercial building, such as a block of offices. This will have enormous benefits for the people who use the building, making it much more naturally bight and light inside. If you have a large space, then you may need more than one domelight, though you can get them with different surface areas to fit into different buildings.

One of the main benefits of a domed rooflight is the amount of light it lets in. When you look up at it, it really feels like the rooflight is opening up the space and is letting in plenty of light from outside. The dome makes it almost harder to see the glass and makes it feel like it is a window into the outside world. The shape of the glass will let in maximum amounts of natural daylight, making a domed rooflight ideal for anyone who needs to lighten up their building, be it commercial or domestic.

Many different companies offer rooflight installation, and lots of companies supply rooflights as well. If you want a rooflight for your home, you will need to find an installation professional, unless this is something you have done previously. If you work for a business and need rooflights to fit, then you can often buy in bulk for lower prices when you order from an online supplier.

Support For Flat Roofs

Flat roofs have grown tremendously in popularity throughout the UK, and we’re still catching up with other countries where they are more common place. The development of flat roofs has been plagued by a number of different issues, such as how flat roof systems aren’t supported in the same way as gable and pitched roofs.

It is often times impossible to simply replace a pitched roof or other type of roofing system with a flat roof, because buildings need to be built in such a way as to be able to support a flat roof. In order to convert a building to a flat roofed building you’d need to either reconstruct the walls to be able to bare more stress or you’d need to add support columns underneath the roof to spread the burden further.

 

Industrial Cladding – The Pros and Cons

Industrial cladding refers to the closing of the exterior of an industrial building using metal sheet, joined to form an impregnable bonded surface. Metal cladding for industrial applications is now a typical method for enclosing a building from “top to bottom”.

Gone are the days of an industrial building being sheathed in wood or some other product, that at its time may have been the best available. As with the evolution of construction, in general, cladding for buildings has evolved with practicality, taste, ease of construction and longevity in mind.  Continue reading

Factors To consider When Looking For Construction Consultants

Construction is generally not an easy process be it a building, road or a home; it is a process that requires expert knowledge and skill. It is because of the complexity of the whole process that it is essential to seek the services of consultants, professional builders or company. A consultant will help in ensuring that you use the right material, the right amount of money and an appropriate plan in completing your project. The role of a consultant is giving expert knowledge as far as a project is concerned. The following are factors to consider in choosing construction consultants;

 

How long has the consultant been in business?

Given the nature of construction consulting, it is easy for a small team of two or five individuals to establish a consultancy firm, create a website, develop existing relationships to land several projects and give the notion of being a well established, credible enterprise. However, building consultancy as a discipline bears a huge learning curve, a lot of assumptions and negligible margin for error. This therefore means that no more than a solid foundation of years of experience can develop success in this field. Therefore, go for consultants who have years of experience.  Continue reading