A conservatory offers homeowners the chance to expand their living space and some value to their property. However, most conservatories remain unused for the majority of the year.
This is because conservatories with polycarbonate or single-glazed roofs are unable to remain at a comfortable temperature. While cheaper, this often leaves the conservatory freezing cold in the winter and unbearably warm in the summer.
One of the very best solutions is to replace your conservatory roof with tiles. Below, we’ll go over conservatory roof replacement advantages, and how this can transform your conservatory into the bright and comfortable room it was meant to be.
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Benefits Of A Tiled Conservatory Roof
The advantages of conservatory roof replacement are numerous. The most significant benefits are the following:
1. Warmer In The Winter
A tiled conservatory roof significantly improves the thermal efficiency of your conservatory. This means that heat does not escape through a tiled roof, unlike polycarbonate or single-glazed panes.
Thermal efficiency is measured in U-values, with a lower value being better. This is a measure of how much heat energy transmits through a material.
- Polycarbonate roofs have a U-value of around 1.5 to 2.4 watts per square meter.
- Basic glass roofs have a U-value of around 2.2 to 3.1 watts per square meter.
- Tiled conservatory roof replacements have a U-value as low as 0.16 to 0.18 watts per square meter.
Tiled roofs achieve this through specialised materials and internal insulation layers that boost thermal efficiency. This means anywhere up to 180% better thermal efficiency and lower heating bills, as radiators and heaters have less work to do.
2. Cooler In The Summer
Another upshot of a tiled roof is that conservatories remain cool and comfortable during the hotter months. With a transparent or semi-translucent roof such as polycarbonate, conservatories can often turn into a sauna, especially if south facing.
Solid tile conservatory roofs remain cool during the summer by preventing the sun’s rays from directly entering the room. This prevents a greenhouse effect from happening, which can stop the space from being usable.
3. Block UV Rays
Something conservatory owners rarely consider is the effect UV light has on their skin and their furniture.
Within sunlight, we find both UVA and the more harmful UVB rays, which are only partially absorbed by polycarbonate and glazed roofs. This means that extended periods in a conservatory can even lead to a sunburn!
Fortunately, a tiled roof prevents this from happening, blocking these rays entirely. This protects your skin, making your conservatory usable (even without sunscreen!) and also prevents furniture and materials from fading due to the harsh direct sunlight.
4. Reduce Outside Noise
While a conservatory promises to be a relaxing getaway, the reality can sometimes be disappointing. Outside noise, such as traffic, can often be heard through polycarbonate sheeting, and heavy rainfall can be extremely loud.
Due to the layered construction of a tiled conservatory roof, rain and outside noise are no longer a problem. Instead, the roof has a sound-dampening effect, making the conservatory quiet, relaxing, and peaceful no matter what’s happening outside.
5. Lower Bills
In keeping the conservatory temperature regulated, a tiled roof is also a great way to lower your bills. Thermostatic radiator valves in a conservatory, for example, will constantly be requesting additional heat to remain at the desired temperature.
With a tiled roof, however, the heat remains in the conservatory. This means radiators and heaters do not need to be on as much.
6. Improve Conservatory Appearance
Conservatory tile roofs come in a variety of styles, textures, and colours, depending on the company and roofing technology they use.
This means you can make your conservatory roof better match the style of your property’s existing roof. After replacement, your conservatory will look less like an add-on and more like a genuine extension of your home.
7. Add Value To Your Home
A conservatory can add around 5% to a home’s value, but only if buyers see it as a usable room. If you’re looking to increase the value of your property, therefore, opting for a tiled roof is the best option.
With improved thermal efficiency offering all-year-round usage, better acoustics, improved appearance, and the promise of lower bills, a tiled conservatory roof is considered a real selling point.
Things To Consider
While there are plenty of conservatory roof replacement pros, there are some additional factors to consider:
Cost
On average, a tiled conservatory roof replacement costs between £5,000 to £7,500.
This price will vary depending on your area and the options you have chosen. For example, choosing a skylight will accrue additional costs, as well as finishing work such as plastering.
The tile material used will also dictate this price significantly. Patented, pre-fabricated roof technologies used by some companies carry a premium over more commercial options.
Disruption
It’s also worth noting that installing a tile conservatory roof will cause some disruption to your property while work is underway. This includes destruction as contractors remove the old roof material.
Installing a tile conservatory roof will take around 2 or 3 days. This depends on the size of your conservatory, with larger installations taking up to 5 days and potentially longer.
While a tiled conservatory roof can add anything up to 5% extra value to your home. There are better ways to increase the value of your property.
Permission
Most local councils do not require any additional permission to have a solid, tiled roof installed on your conservatory. This assumes your conservatory is separated from your main property by a door of some kind.
However, this is not universally true, and it is always best to enquire with your council before proceeding.
Alternatives To Conservatory Roof Replacement:
Treated glass
An alternative to conservatory roof tiles is to have a modern glass roof installed.
Nowadays, there are glass conservatory roofs with extremely low U-values thanks to triple-glazing and xenon and krypton insulating layers. These are expensive, however, and can be difficult to install.
Conservatory Insulation
A cheaper alternative is to insulate the interior of your conservatory ceiling using fairly inexpensive materials. This involves using thermally efficient foil to prevent heat from escaping through the ceiling of your conservatory and block sunlight from overheating the space.
This is possible to do yourself, but professional installations are also available. Get an idea of how much a professional installation will cost using our calculator.
Verdict
A solid tiled roof is a great way to make your conservatory usable all year round. A tiled conservatory keeps the room warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer and improves the comfort levels within.
While installing a tile conservatory roof is not cheap, it can add significant value to your home and improve its outward appearance. Get an estimated price in 30 seconds.
