Conservatory - Glass Roof

Davesnave

Silvertabby said:

TELLIT01 said:

Silvertabby said:

You won't regret it.  However, before you start, do be sure that your foundations are up to the job as they are not all built to the same standards.

It's not just the strength of the footing which need checking.  Polycarbonate is much lighter than glass so the entire roof framework, and more, may need replacing.  Regarding the cost of the glass, when we needed a 8 ft by 2 1/2 ft pane replacing we were quoted around £400.  That was all singing, all dancing, self clean, reflective coat and gas filled unit.

Yes, complete new roof.  In our case, much of the weight is supported by the full height brick walls - but we still had a brace bar fitted.

Mind you, only a man could use the words 'self' and 'clean' in the same sentence!  Mr S still has to give ours the odd going over to remove bird droppings and dust.

Many self-clean roofs don't, because the dirt only runs off well at a10 degree angle or more, which is hard to achieve with some designs.

Hudsonbutler

We are ssw facing, and have had a solid roof put on ours. We had the pilkington k glass roof, and although reflective and self cleaning, was still very hot in the summer. We've lost a bit of light but not that much as to bother us.
So far haven't looked back. 

Davesnave

We're south facing and have the Pilkington k roof too, but the liveability of ours us governed primarily by the ventilation we designed in; we can get many m2 of that if we want it. However, like those wonderful wide bi-folds, ventilation in the countryside comes at the price of inviting more wildlife in, so when outside temperatures go towards the mid 20s, we just give up on the conservatory. Of course, being outdoors or in the cool on the other side of the building is preferable then anyway.

If your living area is too dark with a opaque or solid roof on the conservatory glass is the best option overall, but it won't solve all the problems. We probably use our conservatory 300 days in the year. Cold weather rarely rules out using it in daytime, but it isn't a high summer place despite the way these structures are usually advertised, and we don't bother heating ours at night in winter time, when garden views are irrelevant.

TELLIT01

I agree 'self clean' is a joke.  Ours has a pitched roof, way above 10 degrees and it certainly doesn't self clean fully.  Even the people who came to replace the damaged pane said they don't work.

Rosa_Damascena

Davesnave said:

If your living area is too dark with a opaque or solid roof on the conservatory glass is the best option overall, but it won't solve all the problems. We probably use our conservatory 300 days in the year. Cold weather rarely rules out using it in daytime, but it isn't a high summer place despite the way these structures are usually advertised, and we don't bother heating ours at night in winter time, when garden views are irrelevant.

I would be happy I I got anywhere near that usage. Although for the price I am paying for mine I would expect it to be used 365 days a year, and not just as a corridor.

Am anti bi-folds for the precise reason you cite. I would rather have tall windows which I appreciate are not total deterrents to any genus outside of hom sap but buy my poor brain a little piece of mind.

Davesnave

Rosa_Damascena said:

Davesnave said:

If your living area is too dark with a opaque or solid roof on the conservatory glass is the best option overall, but it won't solve all the problems. We probably use our conservatory 300 days in the year. Cold weather rarely rules out using it in daytime, but it isn't a high summer place despite the way these structures are usually advertised, and we don't bother heating ours at night in winter time, when garden views are irrelevant.

I would be happy I I got anywhere near that usage. Although for the price I am paying for mine I would expect it to be used 365 days a year, and not just as a corridor.

It depends on all sorts of things, including aspect, whether people are at home most days and what the heating/insulation is like. Apart from the roof, ours is well insulated, it picks up lots of free heating from winter sunshine and we often run a wood burner in the room behind on the fuel we create on our smallholding. We open/close the internal doors according to the situation. Right now it's about 7c outside with a cutting wind and the doors are wide open. Intermittent sunshine is giving all the heat we need in the day living end of the house.

Rosa_Damascena

Davesnave said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

Davesnave said:

If your living area is too dark with a opaque or solid roof on the conservatory glass is the best option overall, but it won't solve all the problems. We probably use our conservatory 300 days in the year. Cold weather rarely rules out using it in daytime, but it isn't a high summer place despite the way these structures are usually advertised, and we don't bother heating ours at night in winter time, when garden views are irrelevant.

I would be happy I I got anywhere near that usage. Although for the price I am paying for mine I would expect it to be used 365 days a year, and not just as a corridor.

It depends on all sorts of things, including aspect, whether people are at home most days and what the heating/insulation is like. Apart from the roof, ours is well insulated, it picks up lots of free heating from winter sunshine and we often run a wood burner in the room behind on the fuel we create on our smallholding. We open/close the internal doors according to the situation. Right now it's about 7c outside with a cutting wind and the doors are wide open. Intermittent sunshine is giving all the heat we need in the day living end of the house.

7c here also and the sunshine is going a fine job - its 42c inside with the doors and windows closed. The current polycarbonate roof accounts for a lot.

I want to be able to continue to work from home. My study is north facing and I was hoping that by relocating to the new orangery life might be a little warner year-round.

Davesnave

Roof lights are the most effective ventilation, though they come with the added risk of leaks. Ours don't, but they're only 5 years old. An added bonus is that insects often escape through them.

42c is pretty impossible to linger in, but with no openings to the outdoors open ours reached  nothing like that today. I regard anything over about 30c as intolerable and so do our young plants. Maybe you measured in direct sunshine?

Ganga

Wow we have been to Egypt many times and never been over 40 degrees ! 

greenface2

If your conny has a ringbeam it should be ok for like for like the roof will take the weight . Go for active blue roof . seems to be the best at present . shapes are more expensive . what is the floor size . Get them to tighten the corner posts with a load more screws . Few options to consider . ezi clean isn't what it says on roof systems . warm edge spacer and renew the gaskets to avoid any leaks . the polycarb would have caused it to possibly perish