Changing a conservatory roof from UPVC to tiles

ed110220

Can't help re the legalities and planning side of putting a solid roof on, but there are plenty of lightweight roofing products. Many are mainly designed for commercial buildings, but some such as Decratile imitate tiles and are used on system-built houses that were designed for lightweight sheet roofing rather than heavy concrete or clay tiles.

woodbutcher_2

fluffymuffy wrote: »

No grey area at all. These structures render the building an extension and therefore not exempt from the Building Regulations.

My Building Control Dept says they take their interpretations from their governing body - the LABC - http://www.labc.uk.com/ - who have already issued their guidance note on this (see my post above).

The link you posted is dated 2010. My link is dated 2012 and is a guidance note telling Building Inspectors how to interpret the Building Regulations.

Lots of people will prefer your answer. Especially those who sell these roof coverings.

And yet lots of people in the trade are retro-fitting tiles to conservatories and also building them from scratch with tiled roofs.

It's alright for you to say there is no grey area but plainly there is, as evidenced by the amount of firms now tiling conservatory roofs.


http://www.jamesoliverconservatories.co.uk/replacement-conservatory-roof/building-regulations.

Link to just one of my local companies who are interpreting the rules their own way with impunity.

fluffymuffy

No impunity on this. Local Authority Building Control Enforcement officers are busy demanding these structure be brought up to legal standards (impossible) or demolished.

If anyone doubts this then phone your own council's Building Control dept and speak to a Building Inspector. Don't take advice from someone trying to sell you a solid conservatory roof.

DTDfanBoy

fluffymuffy wrote: »

No impunity on this. Local Authority Building Control Enforcement officers are busy demanding these structure be brought up to legal standards (impossible) or demolished.

If anyone doubts this then phone your own council's Building Control dept and speak to a Building Inspector. Don't take advice from someone trying to sell you a solid conservatory roof.

Your advice is incorrect fluffymuffy, you can add a solid roof to an existing conservatory without the full building regs being applied to the existing structure :j

Most importantly part L is only applied to the new roof structure, they do require that the roof, walls and foundations are up to the job, which is obviously a sensible approach. But part L regs are not applied to the rest of the structure.

I'm running through the process with my local BCO at present. It's a bit trickier for me as I'm building a new conservatory, then changing the roof structure immediately, but the BCO has no issues with what I'm proposing :beer:

LABC have released guidance on the matter which confirm the above

You can find a link to the PDF via Cardiff.gov.uk below or simply Google LABC conservatory solid roof guidance

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CD4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cardiff.gov.uk%2Fobjview.asp%3FObject_ID%3D26652%26&ei=zWkwUsCCKdHG7Aa90IGYAw&usg=AFQjCNG-a4Sv1SzqeZp5kkdzUxgxXMqftw&sig2=5zMhSv1nDRgx_Xbq5cqxuw&bvm=bv.51773540,d.ZGU

fluffymuffy

Have you actually read the document you refer to?

It provides 4 separate links to the document which Building Control officers must refer to for a definition of a conservatory being exempt from the Building Regulations. This document - http://www.labc.uk.com/Media/Default/library/Technical%20Guides/MG0010411%20Application%20of%20Part%20L%20to%20Conservatories%20attached%20to%20existing%20dwellings.pdf

and it goes on to say that while you can put your solid roof on your existing conservatory (indeed you can build what you like)...
"Your local authority building control team is likely to ensure that the roof and supporting structure fully complies with the Building Regulations."

(that's a quote from your own link).

You are in the process of getting a conservatory built? In the last 10 years I have achieved planning permission on over 1000 conservatories, listed buildings consent on over 50, building regulations approval on about 20. Retrospective planning applications on over 100, and this year so far I've had two where the solid roof they just put on has had to be removed.

fluffymuffy

Beats me why anyone would want to avoid Building Regulations on these structures, what with the price of fuel. I'm currently designing one which will have mostly glazed walls and mostly sold roof, with some rooflights, which will not only be under the full weight of the Building Regulations, but will surpass them on heat loss and be as good as a Passivhaus. (I should know how, as I'm also doing a Passivhaus - that's ultra-low energy).

They can be designed from new with solid roofs - with the full approval of Building Control and a certificate to show the next buyer, and will be great spaces to occupy. Why try to find some way round the law based on hearsay which turns out to be misinformation?

DTDfanBoy

fluffymuffy wrote: »

Have you actually read the document you refer to?

It provides 4 separate links to the document which Building Control officers must refer to for a definition of a conservatory being exempt from the Building Regulations. This document - http://www.labc.uk.com/Media/Default/library/Technical%20Guides/MG0010411%20Application%20of%20Part%20L%20to%20Conservatories%20attached%20to%20existing%20dwellings.pdf

and it goes on to say that while you can put your solid roof on your existing conservatory (indeed you can build what you like)...
"Your local authority building control team is likely to ensure that the roof and supporting structure fully complies with the Building Regulations."

(that's a quote from your own link).

.

I have read the document, and unlike you I understand it, the text you have quoted is essentially what I have written in my initial post.

The bit you don't seem to be grasping is that the structure, with the exception of the thermal element you are replacing, does not need to comply with all of the schedule 1 building regulations. The guidance even suggests that 150mm foundations are acceptable :eek: best of luck getting your local BCO to sign off on 150mm foundations on your new extension :cool:



• Regulation 4(3) informs that after building work has been completed the work shall comply with the applicable requirements of Schedule 1 or where it did not previously comply it shall be no more unsatisfactory than before.

Your local authority building control team is likely to ensure that the roof and supporting structure fully complies with the Building Regulations. They are also likely to view the remainder of the extension as being no worse than before with regard to compliance with the Building Regulations.

The Building Regulations that are likely to apply are:

• Approved Document A - Determination of adequacy of existing foundations by trial hole(s). If suitable vertical supports are not present then either new windows are required that comply with current Building Regulations, or additional structural posts installed.

• Approved Document C – Suitable weatherproofing of roof, abutments and rainwater goods

• Approved Document L - The new roof should comply with current Building Regulations as a new thermal element. The existing walls and floor should be considered as being no worse than before (Reg. 4(3)).


It is incorrect of you to keep stating that this can't be done properly, and that your local building control will want the whole structure pulled down. If that was actually the case why would the LABC have produced guidance on the matter.

The reason I'm going down this route is because I want a 2/3 glazed roof, with all around glazing set on dwarf walls, but I don't want to shell out a small fortune on the triple glazed roof and window units that I would need to use in order to have it comply with part L. We're talking £10,000+ extra in glass alone :eek: :eek: :eek: I can buy a lifetimes supply of firewood for that sort of money.

If you're in the conservatory game you should really have a closer look at the new regulations, it opens up a whole new range of possibilities for your industry


There's even a couple of companies out their offering LABC approved roofing systems already.

woodbutcher_2

fluffymuffy wrote: »

No impunity on this. Local Authority Building Control Enforcement officers are busy demanding these structure be brought up to legal standards (impossible) or demolished.

If anyone doubts this then phone your own council's Building Control dept and speak to a Building Inspector. Don't take advice from someone trying to sell you a solid conservatory roof.

No-one is trying to sell me anything. I am a joiner/builder who has built hundreds of extensions and conservatories and i have regular contact with my local BCO.

I am about to build my own conservatory extension and current legislation means i can do it without very costly planning and building reg fees, which i thought may be of interest to other people in the same boat.

Myself and fanboy think you are wrong, you think you are right. I can live with that.

cyclonebri1

DTDfanBoy wrote: »

The bit you don't seem to be grasping is that the structure, with the exception of the thermal element you are replacing, does not need to comply with all of the schedule 1 building regulations. The guidance even suggests that 150mm foundations are acceptable :eek: best of luck getting your local BCO to sign off on 150mm foundations on your new extension :cool:





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Yep anyone who is guided by that guideline is to be dissapointed

cyclonebri1

homesaferoofsolutions wrote: »

Indeed! Do make sure your conservatory roof specialist is BBA certified. They should have important information such as the BBA certificate and any warranty's listed on their website.

The BBA certificate ensures your roof has been tested for a number of factors including strength, properties in relation to fire, liquid water penetration, durability etc.

I built a new conservatory 2 years back now, bought as a complete DIY build.

The testing process for snow load absolutely astounded me. I don't remember the figures without checking back my paperwork, but the manufacturers stated the roof could stand a snow load of say 5 tons.

How did they work that out?
They applied vacuum to the whole building and calculated the effective down load.
Now call me skeptical, but as an ex engineer, I know that that vacuum is holding the walls together, not something that happens when you load an apex roof. The load in transferred laterally and the sides push out.

Now if that comes under BBA approval, and they held that accreditation, then I don't value it too highly. Maybe you can elaborate.