Conservatory - will foundations support glass roof?

AmmDram

So I finally managed to get a window firm round to look at the conservatory. I told him I would want the windows replacing as well as the roof. 

He suggested replacing the polycarbonate roof with a metro tile roof with 3 velux added. He said it would be insulated and plastered. I asked about building regs/building control and he said we don’t need it… does this sound right? 

I will hopefully have a builder coming to look in a few weeks so will see what they say too…

Jeepers_Creepers

AmmDram said:

So I finally managed to get a window firm round to look at the conservatory. I told him I would want the windows replacing as well as the roof. 

He suggested replacing the polycarbonate roof with a metro tile roof with 3 velux added. He said it would be insulated and plastered. I asked about building regs/building control and he said we don’t need it… does this sound right? 

I will hopefully have a builder coming to look in a few weeks so will see what they say too…

Don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me since it isn't a normal habitable room (where BR would def be needed). Expect the roof to not be insulated to current buildings standards (which would make it ~6"+ thick...), but certainly a lot better than what you currently have.

I have to say, I'd be drawn towards a 'solid' roof with Velux-type windows too - just makes it into a 'proper' garden room as opposed to a 'connie'.

Will you want these windows opening for ventilation? If not, fixed DG units should be much cheaper. 

Anyhoo, expect a sizeable quote :-)

It'll be interesting how this compares with a 'normal' builder.

Section62

AmmDram said:

I asked about building regs/building control and he said we don’t need it… does this sound right? 

Do you know when that very large looking central heating radiator was installed?

It looks like it has a TRV on it... has the boiler been replaced recently?

greenface2

Thanks for the update . I fit guardian warm roof system and equinox sometimes for another firm but not often . Very similar products and there is 175mm of kingspan between the top ply board and plasterboard . I don't know the full figures with thermal values . I leave that to the pen pushers in the office . Without access into the garden and putting a solid roof on top without a door into the main house would make it a habitable room and may involve BR but again leave that to the clever people and worth asking the question to make sure if you want  to sell do I need  any blah blah. . Budget around £20k for a 5 m x 1.7 Edwardian equinox  with 3 velux and a 6 pane 14 foot bi fold in aluminium sliding 3 each way . Inc plastering and lights . 

greenface2

And put a vent in the window on the side where your wheelie bin is 

AmmDram

Do you know when that very large looking central heating radiator was installed?

It looks like it has a TRV on it... has the boiler been replaced recently?

It’s a very old school Worcester boiler. All dials on the front. It says 24CDi (I know less about boilers than I do about conservatories). I do not know when the  radiator was installed. I queried it and the lack of ‘proper’ external doors between the conservatory and house when we bought the place this May. We were told building regs ‘at the time’ wouldn’t have been needed but against today’s standards it probably doesn’t measure up. The sellers took out a building regs indemnity. I think it may all have been done early 80s (before our sellers owned the house). 

AmmDram

I should add, we are having ‘external’ doors added between our kitchen and the conservatory. 

AmmDram

greenface2 said:

Thanks for the update . I fit guardian warm roof system and equinox sometimes for another firm but not often . Very similar products and there is 175mm of kingspan between the top ply board and plasterboard . I don't know the full figures with thermal values . I leave that to the pen pushers in the office . Without access into the garden and putting a solid roof on top without a door into the main house would make it a habitable room and may involve BR but again leave that to the clever people and worth asking the question to make sure if you want  to sell do I need  any blah blah. . Budget around £20k for a 5 m x 1.7 Edwardian equinox  with 3 velux and a 6 pane 14 foot bi fold in aluminium sliding 3 each way . Inc plastering and lights . 

Thanks for replying. Oh wow. That’s a lot of money. I knew it wouldn’t be cheap but didn’t realise it might be that much. I wonder how much cheaper it would be for a blue glass roof and no bi fold? The window guy today estimated a solid roof with 3 velux would be about £1.5k more than a glass roof. No actual figures though as it was more of a conversation than a quote. He’s doing another job for us and I didn’t want him to think I was messing him around. I forget if he said the rock wool insulation in the roof would be 4 or 6 inches. 

AmmDram

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me since it isn't a normal habitable room (where BR would def be needed). Expect the roof to not be insulated to current buildings standards (which would make it ~6"+ thick...), but certainly a lot better than what you currently have.

I have to say, I'd be drawn towards a 'solid' roof with Velux-type windows too - just makes it into a 'proper' garden room as opposed to a 'connie'.

Will you want these windows opening for ventilation? If not, fixed DG units should be much cheaper. 

Anyhoo, expect a sizeable quote :-)

It'll be interesting how this compares with a 'normal' builder.

I did think if it was to be solid roof with Velux, I would want them to open, but I was reading something on their website the other day about the minimum height from the ground for opening velux windows and as our conservatory meets a built up patio, I wasn’t sure if we would be allowed opening velux?

Jeepers_Creepers

AmmDram said:

I did think if it was to be solid roof with Velux, I would want them to open, but I was reading something on their website the other day about the minimum height from the ground for opening velux windows and as our conservatory meets a built up patio, I wasn’t sure if we would be allowed opening velux?

Min height for opening Velux? Haven't a scooby, but that sounds weird. Why would there be?

If they are openers, how will you operate them? Remote opening? In which case extra dosh.

Your current roof doesn't open, and has far more solar gain. So the Veluxes should be 'cooler' (relatively), so less overall need for ventilation, at least not that couldn't be provided by the new wall windows.

It's your choice, but the difference in cost between opening Veluxes and simple fixed DG units will, I think, be very considerable.

For the wall windows, I think I'd personally have a style that opens up wide so that you can sit there on warm balmy days with full view and access to the rustling leaves, smell of fresh-mown grass and the gentle ruffling breeze. Or a door-slamming gale and horizontal rain.