Roofing

Bringing daylight into darker rooms

Homes in Stockton have corners that always feel a little dark. It could be a landing, a box room, or a loft conversion. A roof skylight is a great way to open up a dark space like that. Compared to vertical windows, skylights catch more light because the entire sky is above the window rather than the edge of the room. So a skylight can bring in more light than a window of the same size.

That added brightness alters the feeling of a space. Rooms that once required lights on at midday now feel open and inviting, and homeowners often find they use those rooms much more once skylights are installed.

Loft conversions and top-floor living

Skylights are an ideal choice when you want to light up a new bedroom, study or play area created by converting a loft. They usually don’t need planning permissions. They can be built directly into the slope of the roof, making them flush with the roof. They also make a sloping ceiling look less cramped. Skylights with opening mechanisms let warm air out in the summer, which helps keep the room comfortable.

Good positioning is important. For example, the south-facing slope gets the most sun, and the north-facing slope gives a more even and soft light that is good for home offices or studios. Positioning is also important depending on your roof pitch. A local roofer can probably give some good advice for positioning depending on your roof layout.

Energy savings and comfort

Traditional skylights leak and let in cold drafts. But skylights have improved. Many have double or triple pane glass like windows and low emissivity coatings like window glazing. This means skylights retain heat, and like quality windows, keep heating costs down. Also, since skylights let in natural light, they reduce the need for electric lighting during the day. This also lowers energy costs.

Solar-control glass is worth considering for strong afternoon sun rooms. It reduces glare and limits overheating, so it keeps a room from feeling dim while avoiding overheating. Essentially, it keeps the brightness while avoiding the sweltering heat.

Why professional fitting matters

The quality of a skylight installation is very important. Poor flashing or badly cut tiles are common causes of leaks around roof windows. The right roofing contractor will cut the rafters carefully and use the right type of flashing for the tile or slate, as well as ensure that the surrounding membrane is properly lapped so that water runs away from the frame.

There can be sudden, unexpected changes in weather along the Stockton coast. Strong gusts can suddenly turn into heavy rain. That’s why waterproofing and sealing the roof of your extension should always be carried out by an experienced local professional team, and not by an amateur.

Looking after your skylight

Maintenance is relatively easy. Clean the glass a couple of times a year. Clear leaves and moss from the surrounding tiles. Check the seals and flashing after a severe storm. Blinds designed for roof windows add a level of privacy and also help in blocking out light at bedtime.

Want to add some skylights to your home? Give us a call to get a quote and discuss your options with no obligation on your part. We will explain what skylights will work best on your home, and in the right places to allow natural light to flood the areas of your home where you spend the most time.

As fall moves along, we experience even more blustery weather, which can lead to more storm damage. Now is a good time to review your property to take steps to better protect your home and reduce the risk of water damage.

Why Storms Are Hard on Roofs

Wind can lift off tiles and strip away ridge mortar, and take flashing with it. Driving rain will find a way through any imperfection in the roof covering. Even the smallest weakness can let water in, which can spread to other areas of the roof structure.

Walk Around and Look Up

Take a walk around your house to look for problem areas. Do a visual inspection for roof tiles that appear to be cracked or have shifted, valleys in the ridge lines that appear to be uneven, and areas where there is loose or collected debris on lower roofs or porches. If something doesn’t appear right to you from the ground, chances are it warrants a closer inspection from a professional.

Keep the Water Moving

Blocked gutters and downpipes can lead to damp patches on walls and ceilings. Make sure leaves and silt are not blocking the gutters and check joints for leaks. Make sure brackets are affixed firmly so they do not become dislodged during heavy downpours.

Secure the Details

Chimneys, flashing and vents can take a real beating in bad weather. Look for broken or cracked pointing, or lifting lead or cement fillets. All of these can allow water behind flashing and other flashings, and will eventually cause water damage. Repairing these small areas will be a lot cheaper than repairing interior damage caused by water.

Check Inside Too

On a dry day, take a torch up into the loft. Drips, stains on timbers and insulation, or daylight peeking through the roof, suggest a leak or a poor roof. It’s better to see these things in October, than in a January gale.

After the Storm

When the wind has stopped, look at the roof from the ground and see if there is any damage. If there is damage, then you need to take photos of the damage to make a claim on your insurance. Contact a roofer to come and make a temporary fix to the roof.

Need your roofs inspected? Stockton Roofs can do that. We can repair roofs as well. Don’t know how your roof will hold up this winter? Call us for a free discussion.

As a Stockton homeowner whose conservatory is uncomfortable in the summer and winter, you’re not alone. The biggest complaint we get from Stockton families is that their conservatories have become rooms that have a short usage window, typically 2 months. The good news is that an upgraded roof would give you year-round usage without the stress of a traditional roof extension.

Why old polycarbonate roofs fall short

Polycarbonate conservatory roofs have long been a budget option for adding light to a room, but they lack insulation and let in outdoor noise. As a result, polycarbonate roofs can make it difficult to carry on a conversation as the rain beats down and the room swings from a stuffy summer greenhouse to a cold winter fridge. The erratic temperature has led many Stockton homeowners to look into glass and tiled roof alternatives.

The case for a modern glass roof

High performance solar-controlled glass units in modern glazed roofs let in natural light and minimise heat gain. When combined with thermally broken roof frames, glass roofs can significantly improve the insulation of a conservatory. This erases the trade-offs of hot, greenhouses in summer and cold, unpleasant rooms in winter while preserving the bright and airy feel that most conservatories have. In glass room constructions that aim to bring a garden or seating area into a working or reading space, glazed roofs are often the best option.

Why some homeowners choose a tiled roof instead

Tiled conservatory roofs offer a completely unique solution. Rather than glazing, a lightweight tiled system is installed over an insulated structure. This can give a performance similar to a solid extension roof. This option is most useful for homeowners who are more likely to use their conservatory in the evenings, as a reception room or snug, where there is a greater priority to keep the area warm, quiet, and private, compared to having a lot of light. Also, a tiled roof has the benefit of blending in a conservatory much better, especially on more old-style properties around the Stockton area. A glass box roof looks really out of place on these properties.

Weighing up cost and planning considerations

Glass roofs are less expensive than fully tiled roofs. One reason is that glass roofs require less building work and often don’t require additional support. This is reflected in the cost. However, many homeowners say that a tiled roof pays for itself over the years that they have it. This is because of the savings they get from needing less heating within the house and the extra months in the year that they can use the house.

Planning permission is unlikely to be needed for either option if you are doing a direct replacement of your conservatory roof. A tiled conservatory roof may require Building Regulations approval as the performance of the roof is improved. It is worthwhile getting your local roofer to check your conservatory first. The age and condition of the frame, its orientation, and the condition it is in will have an impact on which solution is most cost effective.

Which option suits your home?

For Stockton area homeowners, the method of use determines the upgrade approach. Thinking about use cases like breakfast nooks, home offices, plant rooms, etc., balances the advantage and price of replacing a carcass roof (polycarbonate) with a modern, sleek glass roof. However, if you want an additional room that is usable year-round, a tiled roof conservatory is the way to go. Replacing an existing roof on a conservatory is a win-win for homeowners, resulting in an often housing-improved, frequently used room, especially considering the cost of the initial upgrade is less than most other improvement options.

Homeowners planning a new conservatory, or looking to replace an ageing roof, are increasingly choosing between traditional glass and modern tiled systems. Both have genuine advantages, so the right choice really comes down to how the room will be used.

The Appeal of Glass

Conservatories with glass roofs offer a bright and open atmosphere and a strong connection to the garden. Polycarbonate roofs did not perform well thermally, while modern, high-performing glazing does perform much better. However, even with this improvement, they still do not reach the level of thermal control of a fully insulated tiled roof.

The Case for Tiled Roofs

The structure is surrounded by lightweight insulating materials and the finish is made of lightweight tiles that allow for matching to the main house roof. This means the room will be definitely warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, and will have significantly less noise during heavy rain.

Natural Light Considerations

The main drawback of a tiled roof is that it blocks overhead natural light that you would otherwise get with glass. Many homeowners overcome this by adding rooflights or a lantern feature to the tiled roof, achieving a balance between insulation and natural light.

Cost and Long-Term Value

Even though tiled roofs generally have a greater installation cost than plain glass replacements, many homeowners recognize this as a value-added investment because the space can now be utilized year-round and heating expenses are reduced.

Making the Right Choice for Your Home

A glass roof may work for you if you mainly use your conservatory in the summer for entertaining. However, if you want a true extra room that can be used throughout the year, a tiled roof will usually be the better investment.

Our team would love to explain both options and give you an honest review based on how you plan to use your conservatory.

Sorting Out Your Cold (or Boiling) Conservatory

The original idea behind conservatories was to create a bright, light-filled space that brings the outside in. Which sounds lovely in a brochure. But in practice, what you get is a room with a massive expanse of glass or polycarbonate overhead that does basically nothing to stop heat escaping in winter or block solar heat in summer.

Polycarbonate roofs are particularly bad. They’re cheap, light, and let loads of light through. But they have virtually no insulation value. Your heating just goes straight through them. And in summer, they let all the sun’s heat in while trapping it inside. It’s like parking a car in the sun with the windows closed – you know how that goes.

Glass is slightly better but not much. Even modern double-glazed units in a conservatory roof aren’t great at insulation compared to a solid wall or proper roof. The angle doesn’t help either – a roof takes the full force of the sun, unlike vertical windows which only catch direct sun for part of the day.

What Are Your Options?

So you’ve got options, and they’re all a bit different in terms of cost and how much they help.

You can add conservatory roof insulation to your existing roof. This works better with polycarbonate than glass. Companies make foil-backed insulation panels that fit into the gaps between the roof bars. They’re usually made of something like Kingspan or Celotex and have a layer of reflective foil on one or both sides. This helps quite a bit with heat retention and cuts down the glare from the sun.

The downside is you lose some light and it still doesn’t get you anywhere near the insulation value of a proper roof. But it’s cheaper than replacing the whole thing. A fair bit cheaper actually.

Another option is fitting an insulated ceiling under your existing roof. The roof stays as it is, but you build a new insulated ceiling underneath at the height where your roof meets the walls. This creates an insulated space below and leaves a void above where air circulates. You end up with a room that’s much more comfortable, though you lose the ceiling height and obviously all the view of the roof structure and sky. Some people don’t mind this, others hate losing that sense of space.

Or you replace the whole roof with a solid insulated one. This is the most effective option but also the most expensive and involved. You’re essentially taking off the glass or polycarbonate and building a new insulated roof structure with proper tiles or slate on top. The U-value drops from around 2.6 down to 0.15 or better, which makes a massive difference to how the room feels.

What Actually Happens When You Insulate

The main thing is temperature stability. An insulated conservatory stays closer to the temperature of the rest of your house. It doesn’t heat up rapidly in the morning sun or lose all its heat the minute the sun goes down. That’s the key difference really.

In practical terms, this means you can use the space through winter and summer. You’re not avoiding it all summer because it’s unbearable, or giving up on it through winter because it’s too cold even with the heating on full. It becomes somewhere you can actually sit without constantly adjusting the thermostat or opening windows or whatever.

There’s also the noise factor, which people forget about until you mention it. If you’ve got a polycarbonate roof, the sound of rain is incredibly loud. Any kind of insulation – whether it’s panels between the bars or a full replacement roof – cuts that down dramatically. Some people like hearing the rain, but when you can’t hear the TV or have a conversation when it’s chucking it down, it gets old pretty fast.

The Technical Bits

U-values measure how well something insulates. Lower numbers are better – it means less heat escapes through the material. A typical polycarbonate conservatory roof has a U-value around 2.6 to 3.0. That’s terrible. Outside walls in modern houses have to be 0.3 or lower, and roofs around 0.15.

When you add insulation panels between the roof bars, you might get that down to around 1.5 to 2.0. Still not brilliant but noticeably better. You’ll feel the difference but it’s not going to solve the problem completely.

An insulated ceiling under the existing roof can get down to around 0.5 to 0.8 depending on how much insulation you pack in. That’s getting into reasonable territory.

A full replacement solid roof gets you to 0.15 or better, which meets current building regulations for roofs. This is proper insulation, the same standard as building a new extension.

The better the U-value, the less heat escapes through the roof. That means lower heating bills and a more comfortable space. It’s not just about winter though – good insulation works both ways. It keeps heat out in summer as well as keeping it in during winter. That’s what people don’t always realise.

Cost and Time

Adding insulation panels to an existing polycarbonate roof is the cheapest option. You might pay a couple of thousand pounds depending on size. It can sometimes be done in a day or two, which is handy if you need to keep disruption down.

Fitting an insulated ceiling is mid-range price-wise. Probably three to five thousand for an average-sized conservatory. Takes maybe two to three days to install, possibly a bit longer if there’s electrical work involved like adding downlights.

Full roof replacement with a solid tiled roof is the expensive option. You’re looking at upwards of five thousand and into double figures for larger conservatories. The work takes around four to seven days typically, sometimes longer if the weather’s bad or there’s complications with the existing structure.

Obviously these are rough figures. Actual costs depend on your specific conservatory, where you live, and who you use. But as a general rule, you get what you pay for. The cheapest option gives you some improvement, the middle option gives you quite a bit more, and the full replacement solves the problem properly. It’s worth getting a few quotes to see what the actual numbers look like for your situation.

Does It Actually Make a Difference?

Yes. The difference between an uninsulated and properly insulated conservatory is night and day. Instead of a room you avoid for large chunks of the year, you’ve got space you can actually use. Properly use, not just duck in and out of.

People who’ve had it done usually say they wish they’d done it sooner. That’s the most common thing you hear – “why didn’t we do this years ago?” The conservatory goes from being a problem – too hot, too cold, too noisy – to being just another room. You can put normal furniture in there without it fading in the sun, you can work in there, kids can use it as a play space, whatever you need really.

Some people give up on their conservatory entirely and just shut it off. Stick a radiator in there on frost protection and forget about it. But you’ve got this space that cost money to build, it’s taking up room in your garden, and you’re not using it. That seems daft when spending a few thousand pounds would turn it into somewhere usable.

The other issue with leaving a conservatory unused is maintenance still needs doing. They still need looking after – seals perish, gutters block, the structure deteriorates whether you’re using it or not. At least if you’re using the space you notice when things need attention and get them sorted before they become expensive problems.

Insulating the roof properly means you actually get value from the investment someone made – whether that was you or a previous owner. Instead of an expensive garden ornament that’s too hot or cold most of the time, you’ve got an actual room.