Solid Conservatory Roofs

fluffymuffy

These render the thing a non-conservatory and so not exempt from the building regulations.

I'm reading so many lies about this on here, and there are many companies offering these solid roofs.

Conservatories are exempt from the Building Regulations. They have at least 75% transparent or translucent roofs. The definition of a conservatory has not changed.

Anyone thinking of building one of these should phone their local council's Building Control dept and speak to a building inspector. You need to do this yourself. Don't take anyone else's word for it. Conservatory companies will lie to you because they've already built a few of these and don't want to hear the expensive truth. They've also had their brochures printed.

Brochures regarding solid conservatory roofs always talk in terms of converting your existing conservatory. They wouldn't dare suggest in print building one from scratch, yet the salesmen who come out will try to sell you a whole "Orangery".

In particular I read a post on here stating that the LABC (the body in charge of your local authority Building Control) has approved these roofs. This a complete falsehood and the LABC have issued a technical guidance note stating the opposite - http://www.labc.uk.com/Media/Default/library/Technical%20Guides/MG0010411%20Application%20of%20Part%20L%20to%20Conservatories%20attached%20to%20existing%20dwellings.pdf

In our area Building Control send out enforcement notices when these come to their attention via the Planning Dept. Usually a neighbour reports they don't like what next door has built and the planners check whether it should have had permission. Even if is didn't need planning permission the planning department pass it on the Building Control.

Which is good news for me as I get paid to put them right.
Which generally means throwing away the roof and replacing with a glass one.
I wonder who gets the bill?



It is possible to build a sunroom/orangery/highly-glazed-solid-roofed extension under the building regulations. I've done it. It's a very specialised and expensive sort of construction which requires SAP cals to show a finished property no worse thermally than the original - generally meaning alterations to the existing property in terms heat loss. And proper foundations. And enough structure to support the roof. And roof ties, etc.... and all the other bits that go into a proper extension.


No doubt this thread will be populated with replies saying how their's is OK cos the company who took their money said they checked and it was OK... yeh, right.

smashingyour...

fluffymuffy wrote: »

These render the thing a non-conservatory and so not exempt from the building regulations.

I'm reading so many lies about this on here, and there are many companies offering these solid roofs.

Conservatories are exempt from the Building Regulations. They have at least 75% transparent or translucent roofs. The definition of a conservatory has not changed.

Anyone thinking of building one of these should phone their local council's Building Control dept and speak to a building inspector. You need to do this yourself. Don't take anyone else's word for it. Conservatory companies will lie to you because they've already built a few of these and don't want to hear the expensive truth. They've also had their brochures printed.

Brochures regarding solid conservatory roofs always talk in terms of converting your existing conservatory. They wouldn't dare suggest in print building one from scratch, yet the salesmen who come out will try to sell you a whole "Orangery".

In particular I read a post on here stating that the LABC (the body in charge of your local authority Building Control) has approved these roofs. This a complete falsehood and the LABC have issued a technical guidance note stating the opposite - http://www.labc.uk.com/Media/Default/library/Technical%20Guides/MG0010411%20Application%20of%20Part%20L%20to%20Conservatories%20attached%20to%20existing%20dwellings.pdf

In our area Building Control send out enforcement notices when these come to their attention via the Planning Dept. Usually a neighbour reports they don't like what next door has built and the planners check whether it should have had permission. Even if is didn't need planning permission the planning department pass it on the Building Control.

Which is good news for me as I get paid to put them right.
Which generally means throwing away the roof and replacing with a glass one.
I wonder who gets the bill?



It is possible to build a sunroom/orangery/highly-glazed-solid-roofed extension under the building regulations. I've done it. It's a very specialised and expensive sort of construction which requires SAP cals to show a finished property no worse thermally than the original - generally meaning alterations to the existing property in terms heat loss. And proper foundations. And enough structure to support the roof. And roof ties, etc.... and all the other bits that go into a proper extension.


No doubt this thread will be populated with replies saying how their's is OK cos the company who took their money said they checked and it was OK... yeh, right.

So let them keep doing it then.


Bit of a non post really.

Double glazing salesmen will lie to get your money. Who didn't know that?

fluffymuffy

smashingyour... wrote: »

So let them keep doing it then.


Bit of a non post really.

Double glazing salesmen will lie to get your money. Who didn't know that?

True.

Except a friend of mine almost fell for it.

I don't want to see a friend of mine go through all the upset of building something and then being told to take it down. And then have the battle over who is going to pay.

So it seems reasonable to warn others.

smashingyour...

fluffymuffy wrote: »

True.

Except a friend of mine almost fell for it.

I don't want to see a friend of mine go through all the upset of building something and then being told to take it down. And then have the battle over who is going to pay.

So it seems reasonable to warn others.

Who is responsible for building without regs the home owner or company?

I'll guess it's down to the homeowner to pay.;)

fluffymuffy

smashingyour... wrote: »

Who is responsible for building without regs the home owner or company?

With companies writing things on their websites like "you can now replace a conservatory roof with a solid roof without having to apply for building regulations" I guess it would be a matter for Trading Standards.