Considering upgrading your existing conservatory with a brand new solid tiled roof?
Tile roofing a conservatory has become an increasingly popular way in which homeowners look to add more usable space and value to their homes without the expense of a full extension. But that doesn’t mean that upgrading your existing conservatory roof to a fully-tiled one is without its serious considerations.
Aside from the expense, logistics and planning considerations, there are planning and regulatory considerations to take into account too.
Do you need planning permission for a solid tiled conservatory roof?
The majority of the time, you don’t. As you are upgrading an existing structure attached to your home, you don’t usually need to obtain planning permission to change the roofing material of your conservatory.
However, upgrading from a glass or polycarbonate roof to a tiled one may mean that the classification of your conservatory will change from temporary to permanent structure, known as ‘change of use’.
Changes of use do sometimes need planning consent before work starts, so it’s worth checking with the local planning office if you or your building contractor are unsure.
Do you need building regulations for a solid tiled conservatory roof?
In short, you do need to consider building regulations when changing your conservatory roof.
Building regulations differ from planning permission in that they cover important standards surrounding health and safety, construction, quality, design and disabled access.
Whilst you most likely won’t need to obtain planning permission to change your conservatory roof as the structure is already in situ, you do need to consider building regulations and whether the work you’re planning to do is in compliance with them.
If you’re unsure whether or not you need to consider building regulations or indeed obtain planning permission for your new tiled conservatory roof, you should look to have a survey carried out which will ensure you are in compliance with both. The survey will also assess whether or not the existing conservatory structure is able to support the new roofing material (and remember that tiles are a lot heavier than polycarbonate sheets).
Read more: What are the benefits of a solid tiled conservatory roof?
There are some scenarios where you will most likely be exempt from building regulations though. These include:
- Your conservatory is at ground level with a floor area less than 30m²
- It’s thermally separated from the rest of the house via walls or a door
- It has its own heating system, such as an electric radiator or log burner, that is separate from the rest of the home’s central heating system
A cost-effective, faster alternative to achieve the benefits of a tiled conservatory roof
Upgrading to a tiled conservatory roof definitely has its benefits, looks great and will add value to your home. But the entire project can take a lot of time, be expensive and involve all the additional headaches surrounding planning permission and any relevant building regulations.
If one of the main reasons you’re considering upgrading to a tiled roof is that your conservatory is too hot in the summer, cold in winter and noisy when it rains, then there is an alternative solution.
At Sagars, we’ve helped hundreds of homeowners to transform their conservatories from spaces they rarely use into rooms that become their favourite spot in the house – at a fraction of the cost and time it takes to replace the entire structure.
Our method focuses on insulation, using our tried-and-tested multi-layered Foil Quilt Insulation system equivalent to four inches of loft insulation that helps lock in heat during the winter months, and block the sun’s rays during the summer.
Finished with either PVC cladding or fresh render, your conservatory will look and feel like an extension of the rest of your home, and become a space you can comfortably enjoy all year around.
Contact our friendly team for more information.
