Tiled conservatory roofs have come out as a quick solution to any homeowner who is fed up with his or her extension becoming a freezer during winter and a furnace during summer. You are more or less exchanging that greenhouse effect with something that is more like an actual room.
The change is rather dramatic. You used to have an area, which was barely available half of the year, and now you have a room, which will remain comfortable no matter what happens outside. There is done with running to shut doors when the sun comes out, with shirking the conservatory in the hot July afternoons.
Why People Make the Switch
The vast majority of people who take this path have had to use their glass/polycarbonate roof over the years and got to their wits end. Because it is too hot or however it has become too cold, the conservatory remains vacant throughout months. You have a costly storage room rather than a living space you intended.
The problems with temperature are overcome at their very roots by means of tiled roofs. The fact that it is built solidly with good insulations has the added advantage of your heating system is actually able to cope with winter. In the summer you are not engaging on a losing battle with the green house effect. Air conditioning is then a viable alternative as opposed to worthless gesture.
People are taken by surprise over the difference in noise. When it rains on a glass roof, a sound similar to machine gun could be heard. Tiled roofs cut down that noise to a minimum. Children can sleep during thunderstorms, and it is possible to make even conversations when weather becomes bad.
Construction Details That Matter
When you install a tiled roof then that will add a lot of weight of your conservatory structure. Here we are talking about possible doubling or tripling the burthen on your existing frame and foundations. Your Victorian conservatory may require a lot of strengthening to be able to support the modern roof tiles.
The technical side becomes complex soon. Calculation of the structures are required and you may have to dig up part of your garden to reinforce the foundations. Other conservatories just cannot bear the additional weight with significant amendments, which would cost more money than building up a new one.
Building regulations come in involved as well. It is not just that you can put tiles on the current roof and consider it complete. The local government is keen to ensure that all is up to date in terms of structural soundness, insulation and fire resistant nature.
Different Tile Options
The traditional look provided by clay tiles accords you that which fits in most house styles. They are heavy duty and heavy but the colors can be selected to match your current roof fairly well. Nature-based products have the ability to wear well, and acquire the patina with age.
The concrete tiles are cheaper, and they are available in more colors. They are still heavy in comparison with your old roof, but less heavy than those made out of clay. The production makes it ectonic with other materials that can be impersonated in terms of its units, textures and finishes.
The superb quality and luxurious look command slate tiles because of its excellent durability and a unique look.They are costly but they have longevity almost forever withlittle to no maintenance over a long life cycle. Weight consideration is even more significant on the case of slate since it is one of the heaviest roofing materials.
Living Space Transformation
The contrast in the way you use the place is a night and day affair. Your conservatory no longer becomes seasonal room but it becomes your house. You will be able to add appropriate furniture there without sun damages or high temperatures.
The choices of lighting go wide open. You do not have to be restricted in terms of ceiling lights, wall sconces and even chandeliers. The hard surface provides you with mounting slots for fans, speakers or any other thing that you may wish to hang there.
Cost Reality
Don t just budget on the tiles alone. The labour work is more than the cost of roofing materials. Include building control charges, checking survey of the structure and possible foundation alterations. Certain types of employment require a planning permission which is time-consuming and costly.
Cost of labor is extremely different based on the amount of structural work your conservatory requires. The plain tile upon well-constructed modern conservatories are a lot cheaper than the Victorian conservatories, which require a total reconstruction on the ground.
The Downsides Nobody Mentions
You miss that access to the sky which is so special to conservatories. No more staring at the sky and waiting as clouds pass by or gazing at the open stars of the night. The room becomes more traditional and this may not be what you desired in the first place.
The level of the natural light decreases remarkably. Things change, as you go through life with light coming in through the ceiling to using windows and electric light. This is something that some people believe makes the space smaller and less welcoming than it was.
Making the Decision
Consider how you currently use your conservatory in practice as compared to how you would like to use it. If controlling the temperature is your worst nightmare and you can afford to go a little short on that greenhouse feel of the place, then tiled roofs are exactly what you need.
It is worth the investment given that you intend to live in your house in a number of years. The added value comes with the ease of use and energy consumption but you take your time to pay up the cost of installation. To the short-term occupants, cheaper solutions may be more economical.
In your area, weather has a great influence. The costs may not be worth it in areas of mild temperatures. The area with the most significant gain in tiled roof conversions are regions that experience high variations in seasons.