Conservatory roof - DIY tiled replacements?
Discussion
I have a conservatory that was built about three and a half years ago and I'm considering changing the roof for a tiled one. The current roof is the polycarbonate type which as we all know is s**t although I've never had any trouble with it other than the usual red hot in summer, freezing in winter woes. It does have wet UFH (independently controlled of the combi) but that sits under a laminate floor and is pretty much like an on/off switch as the floor retains about zero heat.
Has anyone done a DIY on their own conservatory? Is it easy enough to do? I had thought about putting a ceiling in at eaves height instead of following the line of the roof as this would be easier - is that a good/bad idea?
Mine is 4m x 5m, double hipped roof. I fear that getting someone to do it would cost a fortune as the neighbours had theirs quoted at £8k (3m x 3m, hipped lean to).
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Has anyone done a DIY on their own conservatory? Is it easy enough to do? I had thought about putting a ceiling in at eaves height instead of following the line of the roof as this would be easier - is that a good/bad idea?
Mine is 4m x 5m, double hipped roof. I fear that getting someone to do it would cost a fortune as the neighbours had theirs quoted at £8k (3m x 3m, hipped lean to).
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
I've recently had one built from scratch, there are very heavy duty steel posts in the front two corners, RSJs linking it back to the house, and steel beams supporting the hipped roof, not to mention a s
t load of insulation everywhere. It's more like an extension with a lot of windows than a conservatory with a roof, I'm not sure it would be practical to convert an existing conservatory.
t load of insulation everywhere. It's more like an extension with a lot of windows than a conservatory with a roof, I'm not sure it would be practical to convert an existing conservatory.I did ours.
Superquilt stapled to the battens.
Then battened over the top.
Plasterboard.
I didn't bother tiling on top but we are on a roof terrace, so not ever going to see it from above, although it looks no different as our poly roof was dark tinted anyway.
Now the most efficient room in the house.
7m x 7m with 7m of glass windows/doors and we haven't even bothered plumbing a rad in there.
It used to drop to around 3-4ºc above the outside temp, now warms during the day (not too much tough) and then doesn't really drop all that much. We put a 2kw electric rad up just to get an idea of the size of rad we would need, with it set to 21ºc it only kicks in for about 3-4 hours a day.
I have it set up for an hour before we get up, then from 5pm through to midnight and as I said, it is on for around 3-4 hours in total.
It has added about £20 a month to our electricty bill a month through the really cold months, Dec-Feb, and half that for the couple of months either side.
However, we now don't use the rest of the house, so we are saving around £40 a month on the gas in the colder months.
It took me 3 days and cost me around a grand, but as I said, that was for around 55m2 ceiling and a 7m wide wall too.
I reckon you could do a normal size conservatory in a day for £3-400.
My Mum and Dad were so impressed they did theirs, but they put those lightweight tile sheets on it as well which cost another grand, half of which was labour I guess.
But well worth doing, changes it from a room you can hardly use to another proper room in the house.
Superquilt stapled to the battens.
Then battened over the top.
Plasterboard.
I didn't bother tiling on top but we are on a roof terrace, so not ever going to see it from above, although it looks no different as our poly roof was dark tinted anyway.
Now the most efficient room in the house.
7m x 7m with 7m of glass windows/doors and we haven't even bothered plumbing a rad in there.
It used to drop to around 3-4ºc above the outside temp, now warms during the day (not too much tough) and then doesn't really drop all that much. We put a 2kw electric rad up just to get an idea of the size of rad we would need, with it set to 21ºc it only kicks in for about 3-4 hours a day.
I have it set up for an hour before we get up, then from 5pm through to midnight and as I said, it is on for around 3-4 hours in total.
It has added about £20 a month to our electricty bill a month through the really cold months, Dec-Feb, and half that for the couple of months either side.
However, we now don't use the rest of the house, so we are saving around £40 a month on the gas in the colder months.
It took me 3 days and cost me around a grand, but as I said, that was for around 55m2 ceiling and a 7m wide wall too.
I reckon you could do a normal size conservatory in a day for £3-400.
My Mum and Dad were so impressed they did theirs, but they put those lightweight tile sheets on it as well which cost another grand, half of which was labour I guess.
But well worth doing, changes it from a room you can hardly use to another proper room in the house.
frg530 said:
Thanks for the input.
In response to the above - I'm not sure if the structure would take the load, I wouldn't know how to check that out.
I like the idea of just leaving the polycarb. up there though and creating the ceiling below.
You would need to get a structural engineer involved to do the calculations, mine needed to pass building regulations and the steel frame supporting the roof was very substantial, I've checked the calcs and the posts were 90x90x8mm section, the beams 152x89UB16, and the roof frame 127x 76UB13.In response to the above - I'm not sure if the structure would take the load, I wouldn't know how to check that out.
I like the idea of just leaving the polycarb. up there though and creating the ceiling below.
frg530 said:
Thanks for the input.
In response to the above - I'm not sure if the structure would take the load, I wouldn't know how to check that out.
I like the idea of just leaving the polycarb. up there though and creating the ceiling below.
I can't see it being an issue. Have a look at the sites that do it daily, that will give you an idea. In response to the above - I'm not sure if the structure would take the load, I wouldn't know how to check that out.
I like the idea of just leaving the polycarb. up there though and creating the ceiling below.
The Foil is pretty light, the battens weigh bugger all and I used 9.5mm board, that was because of space between board and window rather than weight though.
The weight is spread.
One of my neighbours (about to retire joiner/carpenter) has painted the inside of the polycarbonate black and built some joists in and fastened white plastic matchboarding as the ceiling. I think he insulated it too. It looks good both inside and out but my concern about leaving the roof would be that the polycarbonate will eventually break down and leak. He agrees and he will eventually build something permanent.
Welshbeef said:
Have building regs been involved/have you asked them if this is fine to do before commencing the work?
Anyone who does this and sells would clearly have to have all the answers for the seller - or if needed retrospective approvals.
No. I will never sell this property. Anyone who does this and sells would clearly have to have all the answers for the seller - or if needed retrospective approvals.
It is the top floor of a property I own the freehold on. If it had been something I was going to sell I would have done it all very differently.
33q said:
One of my neighbours (about to retire joiner/carpenter) has painted the inside of the polycarbonate black and built some joists in and fastened white plastic matchboarding as the ceiling. I think he insulated it too. It looks good both inside and out but my concern about leaving the roof would be that the polycarbonate will eventually break down and leak. He agrees and he will eventually build something permanent.
Yeah, this is the issue. I will have to either put new poly roof on before too long or fit a lightweight tile system over the top.
gizlaroc said:
33q said:
One of my neighbours (about to retire joiner/carpenter) has painted the inside of the polycarbonate black and built some joists in and fastened white plastic matchboarding as the ceiling. I think he insulated it too. It looks good both inside and out but my concern about leaving the roof would be that the polycarbonate will eventually break down and leak. He agrees and he will eventually build something permanent.
Yeah, this is the issue. I will have to either put new poly roof on before too long or fit a lightweight tile system over the top.
bmwmike said:
Interested in this too. Just had a quote from a company that specialises in this sort of thing and they want 28k plus VAT. Its a big Connie at about 10m by 3m ish but still.
Seems to be the next 'double glazing' type sales thing now solar is done.You could build a f
king extension for £28k + VAT.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff