Any problems with this deisgn of roof?

john_howard_fisher

Hi all

I have a conservatory. This has three walls. One directly joining to the house, right side joining to house and left side joining to garage.

instead of the normal top-bottom rafter style can i put in beams going across from left-to-right wall to support a tile roof? i would put boards on top to make even and then roof tiles.

thanks.

iamcornholio

I can't really understand the design you are proposing, but it is technically possible to form a pitched tiled roof.

Bear in mind that tiling a conservatory roof, means that it is no longer a conservatory and it becomes an extension and a building regulation application may be needed

DVardysShadow

I think that the proposal is to run the rafters horizontally across the slope rather than vertically along the slope.

The problem is that the tiles must hang on tile battens which run across the slope and which need to be fixed to rafters running along the slope, sandwiching the roof membrane. No doubt this could be done, but is requires some accuracy in placing the rafters and I suspect there would be issues in maintaining a good line down the slope.

I would be interested in the reasoning for this design - it seems to me that the OP may not be confident in putting beams top and bottom of the slope to hold rafters in the conventional orientation. Perhaps it would be better to explain the whole problem and see how a conventional solution could be implemented.

john_howard_fisher

hi

thanks for the replies.

to clarify the reasoning is:
= less wood is required
= i want to put in skylights
= i don't want to lose head space
= sliding door is full height and so would be very awkward to get a proper beam at the bottom end

yes the basic idea is to have:
= beams left to right
= put exterior grade ply wood on top
= then water proof membrane
= then battens
= then tiles

i didn't know that changing conservatory roof would make it an extension. thanks for the info.

hope this clarifies if just hit me again with questions.

good idea / bad idea?

bye

Mankysteve

You'll properly need Building regs as well.

tony6403

Just a few thoughts
- how do propose to tie the roof to the existing structure ( you would usually need metal straps attached to the wall plate and the wall )
- there is no problem fitting skylights in a standard sloping rafter arrangement
- don't understand your issue with losing head space
- "less wood is required" I can't see that your build would be vastly different in how much timber is used, but with normal building practice you wouldn't be buying exterior ply
- it seems very likely , probably certain , that you will require building regs approval , what are your intentions with regard to meeting the insulation requirements for the roof

diable

john_howard_fisher wrote: »

Hi all

I have a conservatory. This has three walls. One directly joining to the house, right side joining to house and left side joining to garage.

instead of the normal top-bottom rafter style can i put in beams going across from left-to-right wall to support a tile roof? i would put boards on top to make even and then roof tiles.

thanks.

Have you spoken to an architect?

john_howard_fisher

thanks for the replies.

Mankysteve wrote: »

You'll properly need Building regs as well.

then i probably wont bother. not worth the effort / money

tony6403 wrote: »

Just a few thoughts
- how do propose to tie the roof to the existing structure ( you would usually need metal straps attached to the wall plate and the wall )
- there is no problem fitting skylights in a standard sloping rafter arrangement
- don't understand your issue with losing head space
- "less wood is required" I can't see that your build would be vastly different in how much timber is used, but with normal building practice you wouldn't be buying exterior ply
- it seems very likely , probably certain , that you will require building regs approval , what are your intentions with regard to meeting the insulation requirements for the roof

= roof would be tied buy knocking bit of wall out and putting beam in and for added strength metal straps.
= we want head space for dates tree
= less wood so cheaper / less hassle
= plasterboard screwed to beams and insulation on top

diable wrote: »

Have you spoken to an architect?

no but charge a fortune just to talk to you.

iamcornholio

I would have doubts that this proposal will work out.

You are putting the "rafters" horizontally, which in its self will cause them to try and bend under the load. Now add that you will probably have to cut some to insert the roof light, and you will get even more chance of bending/deflection.

Normally angled rafters would take the load down the the wall in a way which corresponds to the way the load is naturally pushing, but your proposal attempts to do something different - which will require other support measures which may make this impractical or unfeasible.

Your other problem is that standard conservatory frames are not designed to take the loads from a timber and tiled roof - not just in terms of vertical load (ie weight), but the lateral loads in terms of the roof trying to push the frame outwards