The conservatory at the heart of this project was one commonly seen in gardens around the country; one with a classic corrugated polycarbonate roof. As is often the case with this type of conservatory roof, the owners found that it was very hard to keep at a constant ambient temperature.
The conservatory at the heart of this project was one commonly seen in gardens around the country; one with a classic corrugated polycarbonate roof. As is often the case with this type of conservatory roof, the owners found that it was very hard to keep at a constant ambient temperature.
In need of improved energy efficiency, the owners investigated multiple options and in the end settled on adding insulation to the underside of the existing polycarbonate roof. They felt this quick solution (sometimes know as a clad over) and the low price point, made for a very good deal.
As was the case in this situation, a clad over solution usually consists of a thin layer of insulating material battened into place. To cover the insulation and make the room presentable internally the insulation is covered over; in this case hollow cladding was used to give a panelled effect.
This solution does not conform to building regulations.
The owners soon discovered that the clad over solution was not as energy efficient as they hoped it would be, and it was still difficult to maintain an ambient temperature in their conservatory.
A bigger concern, and often initially less obvious, was the lack of an air gap and ventilation to allow air circulation within the layers of the roof. Whilst it might seem energy inefficient to want a roof structure to be vented, it is very important for the health of a roof. This lack of air circulation slowly allows condensation to form. If left unresolved, the condensation will lead to damp and mould, and could damage the conservatory or the existing home.
The owners chose to remove both newly installed insulation, and the original polycarbonate conservatory roof. They opted instead to fit a fully tested and building regulation approved Guardian Warm Roof.
Installing a new roof meant they were able to integrate it into the style of their existing home, and therefore the new solid conservatory roof was fitted with burnt umber roof tiles.
Internally, three layers of high performance insulation board achieved a superior U-value, whilst built in ventilation prevented condensation build up.
Had a Guardian Warm Roof been the first choice, this conservatory transformation would have been completed at a lower overall cost, in much less time, and with much less stress for the owner. They are however not alone in looking into alternative options when considering conservatory improvements.
Thankfully, this conservatory has now been transformed with a fully insulated Guardian Warm Roof that allows an ambient temperature to be maintained year round. Plus from an aesthetic point of view, the traditional look they have opted for blends perfectly with the existing property.