For one reason or another, we probably spent more time in our homes in 2020 than ever before. In that time, we evaluated every inch of the places we live, we grew to love parts of it and possibly hate others. Many of us will have decided that where we called home just wasn’t big enough, due to this, plans for extensions have skyrocketed.
Extending Your Home?
If you’re planning to extend your home with a conservatory or give the one you already have a fresh new look, the choice goes beyond how big it should be. The roof is a key factor in not only how it looks but how it manages light, heat and sound. Let’s take a look at the different options available to help you decide what the best type of roof for your conservatory will be.
When residential conservatories first became popular, the choice of the roof wasn’t really a choice, it was made of the same glass and frame that the walls were. It looked uniform, but the lack of advances in glazing technology we have now, meant that they were too hot to use in the summer and too cold to use in the winter. Thankfully things have changed somewhat.
Different Materials
Fast forward to today and you can choose from an array of materials like glass, polycarbonate, tiles, you can have roof lanterns and even specialist materials like Ultratile. You can also opt for a hybrid roof, which is part glass and part solid, but what’s the difference? We’re glad you asked.
If you want to extend the standard look of your conservatory, then a glass roof is the way to go. Glazing technology has evolved so that they are now much more thermally efficient. They can reflect the sun’s glare but also retain the natural heat it provides. Glass roofs come in any shape and size, even to the point you can have a large atrium-style roof. The glass is obviously heavy, but it’s adequately supported by the strong aluminium frames in-between.
For those who want to limit the amount of sunlight coming in, or want the conservatory to look more like a natural extension of the house, then a tiled roof is often the preferred option. Tiles give you a vaulted or sloping ceiling and you can easily get ones that match the roof of your home. The solidity of the tiles means that temperature fluctuations are minimised and can be insulated to ensure minimal heat loss. A tiled roof doesn’t have to block out all sunlight, you can always add a Velux window (or two), if you want to get some extra sunshine through the solid roof.
The tiles you use don’t have to be made from stone. There are a number of materials, including UltraTile that look like traditional stone tiles but are actually made from thin steel and pressed into the classic tile profile. These tiles are lightweight, easy to install and come in a number of different colours. They have become a very viable option when it comes to conservatory roofing.
If you’re still torn between the two, then there are hybrid roofs that combine the best features of both. As the name suggests, the roof is made of a combination of both glass and solid panels. It gives you the rigidity of a tile, the light ingress of glass and together they give you a well-maintained temperature within.
Choosing a roof for your conservatory isn’t a choice to be taken lightly, if you’re looking for light and bright, then glass or even polycarbonate is the way to go. If your preference is to create a room that’s a literal extension of your home in style and decor, then tile might be best. As we come to love our homes in a whole new way, how they look top to bottom has never been more important.
To find the right roof for your conservatory, give us a call on 01604 946669 or please feel free to fill in the enquiry form on our contact page today.