Did you know you can improve your house and standard of living while saving money on energy with a warm conservatory roof?
Conservatories are notoriously inefficient structures – an unfortunate by-product of being exempt from Building Regulation control. It means conservatories are cheap and simple to erect but poorly insulated from top to bottom.
For example, it is typical for conservatories to have a concrete floor with no insulation boards, uninsulated cavity walls, and a glazed or polycarbonate roof. It is the roof that is the source of most conservatory insulation problems.
Conservatories that are too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter can be made usable all year with a warm conservatory roof constructed with an air gap, insulation sheets, and solid tiles that mimic the house’s roof.
Why upgrade to a warm conservatory roof?
If your conservatory has a polycarbonate or glazed roof, it will naturally suffer from unwanted heat loss and heat gain.
Windows lose heat through conduction and convection, where the inner panes of glass/plastic absorb internal heat and transmit it to the outside panes. Over time, they can also suffer from air leakage due to gaps.
In the summer, light and UV radiation penetrate transparent materials like glass and polycarbonate, radiating heat into your conservatory. This warms up the space too much and creates lots of sun glare.
A solid conservatory roof solves the heat loss and heat gain problem immediately, creating an insulated barrier that also cuts out glare, turning your old conservatory into a room that mimics the performance of an extension.
Save money on your energy bills
There is an interconnected relationship between thermal performance and space heat demand, with poorly insulated spaces like conservatories requiring significantly more energy to get up to temperature and stay there.
This might mean running an oil-filled radiator, a heated fan, or a portable air conditioner for several hours, none of which are cheap.
For example, a 2kW electric radiator costs £0.68p per hour based on the current energy price cap – run it for five hours, and it will cost £3.40. A portable air conditioner can consume up to 7.4kW, costing £2.51 to run for an hour.
A solid conservatory roof might cost you a few thousand pounds, but your space heat demand will drop considerably. Your conservatory will hold onto heat for longer, and you will probably notice a drop in your energy bills.
The savings are small, but they add up over time.
Improve your home
Let’s face it – conservatories aren’t the best living spaces, and they lack the warmth of proper extensions and feel different to the rest of the house. They can feel less homely and comfortable, especially in unseasonable hot and cold weather.
Upgrading to a warm conservatory roof is the best way to transform your conservatory without ripping it down and starting again. There is no need to build an extension and put yourself through weeks of building work.
The Leka roof is a prefabricated system, built to order, installed by Leka-approved installers to simplify the installation process for you.
Tiled conservatory roofs offer better insulative qualities than a traditional build, glass, and polycarbonate roofing systems, helping trap warm air to keep the space warm for longer and make your conservatory usable all year.
You must also factor in the improved appearance – the tiled roof will match your house and give your conservatory the look of an extension.
If you ever come to sell your home, your conservatory’s solid roof will be a huge selling point. Poorly insulated conservatories turn off many buyers, but yours will have a worthwhile modification.
There is no limit to the roof pitch or style, letting you change the design (e.g., from Edwardian to Victorian), add Velux windows and roof lanterns, and even change the internal roof height to make the interior look bigger.
Can you get a warm roof conservatory?
The short answer is yes in most instances.
The beauty of the Leka roofing system is it weighs within 10-12% of a traditional glass conservatory roof, so your existing structure will easily support it.
Should you require modifications, Leka Xi provides a modular wall and base system, with solutions for dwarf walls and full walls.
The Leka roof comprises a glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) frame with internal boards one-third of the weight of dry plasterboard and external sheets that are stronger but lighter than plywood or MDF, ensuring fantastic performance.
The total weight is typically 30-40kg more than the equivalent glazed roof, which, spread across the total mass, is nothing. Most weight comes from engineered tiles, which can mimic the look of your house tiles.
Find out more
Contact our team for a chat if you have any unanswered concerns or queries.
