Conservatory roof - help?!

igloo

Hi all

I just went out into our conservatory and I dont know what made me look up but I did ...this is what I can see :-



it looks like one panel has slipped. anyone know what needs to be done? its been well over 10 years since installation so its not under warranty

Any advice would be much appreciated

joinaman

Get a ladder and give it a shove up from the bottom
Make sure the bottom corners are sitting behind the clips/brackets which will stop it sliding down again

cyclonebri1

Above post is essentially correct, but there should be a bottom stop that prevents this from happening. It's either a continuous strip over the bottom edge or a cap on all rafters that stops this slippage.

Something is missing chap.

I's also say it looks a crappy design, most designers ensure the rafters meet at a single point, unlike being staggered as in the pic

igloo

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Above post is essentially correct, but there should be a bottom stop that prevents this from happening. It's either a continuous strip over the bottom edge or a cap on all rafters that stops this slippage.

Something is missing chap.

I's also say it looks a crappy design, most designers ensure the rafters meet at a single point, unlike being staggered as in the pic

I've managed to get it back into position but I can't see any bottom stops or retainer? Its been up for 13 years so its taken all of that time for it to happen but I can't see anything

The pic I've taken doesnt show the whole roof. It doesn't look "crappy" when you see the whole thing...our conservatory is 18" x 12" so its a bit bigger than normal

cyclonebri1

Didn't mean to insult your roof, just looked strange, I built 1 that was 20ft x 14ft last year with 4 pitched sides and all rafters met.

Maybe the adhesive that would have been used to secure the roof sheets has degraded over the 13 years?, it must have as it is designed to prevent slippage like this.
It's normally a strip of foam with adhesive tape that runs across the bottom support of the sheeting, ie the lower edge.

On the 1 I installed there is also a cap that is screwed into the ally centre of the rafter at the bottom end that prevents the sheets totally slipping but probably not enough to ensure it left a gap as you now have.
You need to check as the worrying thing is that any or all could slip if it is what I'm suggesting.
The proper fix would be to lift the rafter caps, lift the sheets and clean and re-apply adhesive ifit's fixed as I'm assuming

Hope that helps;)

ps, a pic of the bottom edge from the outside may help

igloo

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Didn't mean to insult your roof, just looked strange, I built 1 that was 20ft x 14ft last year with 4 pitched sides and all rafters met.

Maybe the adhesive that would have been used to secure the roof sheets has degraded over the 13 years?, it must have as it is designed to prevent slippage like this.
It's normally a strip of foam with adhesive tape that runs across the bottom support of the sheeting, ie the lower edge.

On the 1 I installed there is also a cap that is screwed into the ally centre of the rafter at the bottom end that prevents the sheets totally slipping but probably not enough to ensure it left a gap as you now have.
You need to check as the worrying thing is that any or all could slip if it is what I'm suggesting.
The proper fix would be to lift the rafter caps, lift the sheets and clean and re-apply adhesive ifit's fixed as I'm assuming

Hope that helps;)

ps, a pic of the bottom edge from the outside may help

thanks...yes...the adhesive on the offending piece did seem to have moved.

i should really do what youve said but the sheets are so big I'm not sure I can do it by myself as they look heavy (I'm a woman lol)

cyclonebri1

igloo wrote: »

thanks...yes...the adhesive on the offending piece did seem to have moved.

i should really do what youve said but the sheets are so big I'm not sure I can do it by myself as they look heavy (I'm a woman lol)

The problem won't be lifting the sheets. The issue you will have is prising up the rafter top caps and then knocking them back on, it will be a fair old reach.
Suggest you get the supplier/fitter back to refit even after all this time if you know where the unit came from.

Don't fall off the roof :eek:,

igloo

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

The problem won't be lifting the sheets. The issue you will have is prising up the rafter top caps and then knocking them back on, it will be a fair old reach.
Suggest you get the supplier/fitter back to refit even after all this time if you know where the unit came from.

Don't fall off the roof :eek:,

the rafter top caps, those are the flashings?

i am quite a capable woman but sometimes I am limited with strength :mad:. My husband is just completely and utterly useless at diy and would rather just phone someone. I am the money-saver and do things myself . He is very strong though and if I can figure out exactly what to do in my own mind I can just be his foreman lol

cyclonebri1

igloo wrote: »

the rafter top caps, those are the flashings?

i am quite a capable woman but sometimes I am limited with strength :mad:. My husband is just completely and utterly useless at diy and would rather just phone someone. I am the money-saver and do things myself . He is very strong though and if I can figure out exactly what to do in my own mind I can just be his foreman lol

They are the plastic caps, same length as the sheets, with rubber seals that sit on top of the rafters holding down the adjoining edges of the sheets.
They squeeze on to the barbed centre point of the rafter that lies underneath. Will need lifted slowly from the bottom and to replace you will need a length of wood and a mallet to snap them back down.
If you do do this just make sure it's a calm day for obvious reasons, and don't try to do it when it's too cold as the plastic will be much more difficult to work with.
Good luck.

Just a thought, go on a website for someone that supplies consevatories/roofs, say Synseal or Centurian.
You are sure to find an exploded view or fitting instructions to explain better than I can.

igloo

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

They are the plastic caps, same length as the sheets, with rubber seals that sit on top of the rafters holding down the adjoining edges of the sheets.
They squeeze on to the barbed centre point of the rafter that lies underneath. Will need lifted slowly from the bottom and to replace you will need a length of wood and a mallet to snap them back down.
If you do do this just make sure it's a calm day for obvious reasons, and don't try to do it when it's too cold as the plastic will be much more difficult to work with.
Good luck.

Just a thought, go on a website for someone that supplies consevatories/roofs, say Synseal or Centurian.
You are sure to find an exploded view or fitting instructions to explain better than I can.

thank you very much, youve been very helpful