Are Cladded Roof CON-versions Really Just That?

There has been a surge of 'roof conversion' companies coming to the market across the country recently, aiming to wow potential customers with extremely cheap prices and promises to make rooms more useable all year round. But is all as it seems and what exactly are cladded roof conversions?  

Cladded roof conversions are for existing conservatories with a glass or polycarbonate roof. The installer will take out the old polycarbonate sheets/glass, directly fix timber battens to the pre-existing roof and plaster over to create a 'solid roof'. This adds additional weight to the existing bars which can have extreme effects to the structural integrity of the roofing structure: remember that the existing structure was only designed to hold the roof which was in place already. No account will be made for additional snow loading in winter either.  

Here at Evolve Conservatories, we specialise in sunrooms and replacement solid roofs, using the Supalite Tiled Roof system.

So how does a Supalite Tiled Roof System compare to a Clad-Over?

U-Value:

All new installations must meet a specific U Value. A U Value is a measure of heat loss in a building element such as a wall, floor or roof and is required in order to meet Building Regulations; Regulations which are compulsory when changing your roof to a solid structure from glass/polycarbonate. When ordering a Supalite roof system with us, we guarantee that your new roof will achieve the required U Value. Remember to not only ask your clad-over installer what U Value will be provided when they re-do your roof but ask for evidence of this in calculation form. If they can't provide this, this is a warning sign in advance. You can check what U-Value your new room should be achieving using a 'U Value calculator' which you can find on all search engines online. If you are still unsure, you can always as for advice from your local Building Control Department within the Council.

Condensation:

There must be thermal barriers in place and enough air ventilation to ensure that condensation does not occur in the room. A Supalite tiled roof is designed to combat this. If there are no moisture or thermal barriers in place with a clad over roof, this will create leaks, damp patches and cracks in plaster. You are well within your rights to ask your clad-over company for a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate to show that it meets requirements.

Warranty:

Our work comes with a 10-year guarantee and on top of this, we are fully backed by the Independent Warranties Association who protect your deposit for you when you order with us. If you are in discussions with a company who is offering to clad your existing conservatory roof, be sure to ask what guarantee you will get with them. And would your home insurance company pay out if they didn't offer a suitable guarantee? Also, by adding weight to your conservatory structure and attaching the cladding, any existing guarantee you had on your conservatory would be invalidated. 

 So back to the original question: Are Cladded Roof CON-versions Really Just That?

All the information you need is above to make an informed decision about that. In our opinion, the only benefit to the customer for a clad over is the cost but while it might feel like the bargain of the century, when you consider the inevitable problems, it may cost you a lot in the long run.