Replace conservatory roof - options

traco

Howdy, I'm considering replacing our existing glass conservatory roof with a solid one. I have been looking at options and Celuplast in Baldoyle seem to do a viable system. Price is not too bad and should be completed in 3 days so first impressions are good.

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience, comments or feedback on them or perhaps an alternative solution.

Thanks in advance

kkelliher

depends on cost and I have no experience with the company mentioned but you could look at getting any builder to replace it with a standard cut roof with rooflights and tiles or slate finish

martinn123

traco wrote: »

Howdy, I'm considering replacing our existing glass conservatory roof with a solid one. I have been looking at options and Celuplast in Baldoyle seem to do a viable system. Price is not too bad and should be completed in 3 days so first impressions are good.

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience, comments or feedback on them or perhaps an alternative solution.

Thanks in advance

I have looked at that system, and decided not to use it.
It's fairly lightweight, and the plasterboard finish internally, can crack, as the roof will/ may have some movement in windy conditions, also the external covering is an Aluminium sheeting, which '' looks like'' a tile

Some stories in the trade, of these roof's not standing up to extreme weather, or snow load

kkelliher wrote:

depends on cost and I have no experience with the company mentioned but you could look at getting any builder to replace it with a standard cut roof with rooflights and tiles or slate finish.

In general windows in a glass conservatory will not support a cut roof, especially with slates/tiles, as the windows were not designed to support such weight,

I am not commenting on structural issues here, but on the cheap/ cheerful replacement roof's being marketed at present in the Conservatory trade, usually by the same Co's who sold the Conservatory in the first place.

traco

Thanks for feedback.

@kkelliher The concern with a cut roof is the weight hence looking at these as they are lighter and designed for the job.

@martinn123, What option did you go with in the end? I was given a DVD presentation, marketing blurb but the system looks solid to be fair to it but as you say movement could be an issue as the current one gets a fair bashing with wind as its exposed due west

Ideally I'd like to take it down and redo completly and maybe I should price it up but I have to change a car for work and funds are really tight so I'll be scraping what I can together to do this by pushing the car chaneg back a few months and cutting the spend dramatically.

Bit more info might be helpful for you though, current conservatory is approx 15 years plus old as it was on the house when we bought it 11/12 years ago. Its pretty much the same as the pic below with the exception that the door is directly out the end facing the garden as opposed to on the side. Aside from the hot/cold issues the gutters are in bits and the flashing where the roof meets the house wall has started to leak so I'm going to have to do something.

The new solutions would address all those issues plus as we are semi detached the glass wall facing the nighbours garden wall would also be blocked up, insulated and skimmed giving me a solid internal wall where i am considering installing a solid fuel cast iron stove.

Other changes would be that the "exit door wall" would be altered to a gable format with glass to the apex giving a longer ridge line and making to room feel bigger plus teh new roof would have two velux windows also. This is opposed to the sloping roof that is currently there.

Costs for the entire job are 8k which I didn't think as too bad. Thats for the new roof, gable windows, new wall on one side, skim, paint and all electrics. If the stuff was good then it should see us through this poxy recession to the point where I can completely rip open the back of the house and do a proper build the full width with major strutural work and a complete gut job on the rest of the house.

So based on that is it worth it, would I get a builder to redo it completely for that price and has anyone any links to jobs or reference sites?
Thanks and sorry for long winded reponse

Link to video on system http://www.celuplast.com/prod-sunroom.htm

martinn123

traco wrote: »

Thanks for feedback.



@martinn123, What option did you go with in the end? I was given a DVD presentation, marketing blurb but the system looks solid to be fair to it but as you say movement could be an issue as the current one gets a fair bashing with wind as its exposed due west

Yea, I have seen the DVD, it's very long
I looked at this professionally, as I supply/fit Conservatories and Sunrooms.

traco wrote:

Costs for the entire job are 8k which I didn't think as too bad. Thats for the new roof, gable windows, new wall on one side, skim, paint and all electrics. If the stuff was good then it should see us through this poxy recession to the point where I can completely rip open the back of the house and do a proper build the full width with major strutural work and a complete gut job on the rest of the house.

So based on that is it worth it, would I get a builder to redo it completely for that price and has anyone any links to jobs or reference sites?
Thanks and sorry for long winded reponse

Spending 8K as a temporary measure sounds a plan, and the price seems about right for what you describe.
A complete replacement of the conservatory with a Sun-room would cost a lot more, in the region of 25-30K depending on the finishes.

Careful with the Wood Burner, in the wall adjoining your neighbour, remember you have to get the chimney out through the wall, and up high enough for it to draw properly

traco

martinn123 wrote: »

Yea, I have seen the DVD, it's very long
I looked at this professionally, as I supply/fit Conservatories and Sunrooms.

Spending 8K as a temporary measure sounds a plan, and the price seems about right for what you describe.
A complete replacement of the conservatory with a Sun-room would cost a lot more, in the region of 25-30K depending on the finishes.

Careful with the Wood Burner, in the wall adjoining your neighbour, remember you have to get the chimney out through the wall, and up high enough for it to draw properly

Thanks - so I'm not being fleeced, I thought it was a fair price.

There is about 2 feet between the foundation wall of the censervatory and the diving garden walls whic is really just dead space but I'd need to verify the height for the draw as you mention.

I'm thinking as a 5 year minimum plan it might be a runner, should lower heating costs a little and make the room more usable.

Appreciate the feedback so I'll do a bit more digging on them and if I do go ahead in the coming months I'll update here with the experience.

Ta!

daver123

knock it down and build a sunroom that is the best option

kkelliher

martinn123 wrote: »

In general windows in a glass conservatory will not support a cut roof, especially with slates/tiles, as the windows were not designed to support such weight,

I am not commenting on structural issues here, but on the cheap/ cheerful replacement roof's being marketed at present in the Conservatory trade, usually by the same Co's who sold the Conservatory in the first place.

It was always an assumption in my response that Engineering would be reviewed as part of the option. The standard practice on this issue is to install vertical columns at window joints and encase them in upvc to match the window finish internally.

martinn123

kkelliher wrote: »

It was always an assumption in my response that Engineering would be reviewed as part of the option. The standard practice on this issue is to install vertical columns at window joints and encase them in upvc to match the window finish internally.

Yes, correct, but my assumption in the question as asked, was that the original windows, remain.
Additional supports would alter the sizes of the windows, leading to removal and replacement, otherwise the dwarf walls could not accommodate the increased length/width.

kkelliher

martinn123 wrote: »

Yes, correct, but my assumption in the question as asked, was that the original windows, remain.
Additional supports would alter the sizes of the windows, leading to removal and replacement, otherwise the dwarf walls could not accommodate the increased length/width.

additional supports do not alter the sizes of the windows, they can be installed at window joint to joint

martinn123

kkelliher wrote: »

additional supports do not alter the sizes of the windows, they can be installed at window joint to joint

Well that depends, looking at the photo posted for example, the front aspect appears to be Two windows, with a coupler in the middle, you can see the coupler cover protrude, this coupler may be no more than 10mm.

What would be needed is an Aluminium coupler, min 20mm between each of the 4 window sections, i.e new windows, adjusted sizes.

Similarly at the corners, is a Corner post, probably not reinforced, so a new Steel, or Aluminium Post with cladding as you suggest, may change the overall size of the adjoining window,

At the Door, the windows appear to be fixed to the door frame, ( hard to tell from the photo) so again a Aluminium coupler min 20mm each side of the door, will reduce the window sizes.

What you are suggestion is the correct way to support a new Roof, with a new window/door layout.

Tombo2001

Sorry to hijack the thread but.....

If you had a conservatory built with glas roof......and you wanted to replace it with a sun room, that was thermally efficient.....

How much would that cost, say for a 4m x 2m conservatory....?

The foundation and floor would be there, perhaps the lower wall in the conservatory, so you would be putting on new new windows and an angled roof with good insulation......

I am think about €8k?

martinn123

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Sorry to hijack the thread but.....

If you had a conservatory built with glas roof......and you wanted to replace it with a sun room, that was thermally efficient.....

How much would that cost, say for a 4m x 2m conservatory....?

The foundation and floor would be there, perhaps the lower wall in the conservatory, so you would be putting on new new windows and an angled roof with good insulation......

I am think about €8k?

Well if you read post #4, the OP gives a good description of what he is getting for 8K, however he is keeping the original windows, so a new roof, lightweight, a new window in the gable, and a new wall at the neighbour side, if you want to replace everything from the dwarf walls up, double your estimate.

callie18

Hi Traco I've been searching boards for a conversation about Celuplast. Did you go with them in the end and how did it work out? I have the same type of conservatory as you, but larger and with victorian shape. I want to keep the glass windows all around but want a solid roof, but with no velux windows. My objective here is to make it a space we can use all year round (currently its way too cold in the winter) and I am also looking at putting in a stove with a back boiler. Celuplast Guardian roofs seem the best option - on video anyway! But I'd really like to talk to someone who's had it done. Also if anyone has info/advice on putting a stove with back boiler in a sunroom...it would be appreciated. Thanks!

callie18

Hi Traco I've been searching boards for a conversation about Celuplast. Did you go with them in the end and how did it work out? I have the same type of conservatory as you, but larger and with victorian shape. I want to keep the glass windows all around but want a solid roof, but with no velux windows. My objective here is to make it a space we can use all year round (currently its way too cold in the winter) and I am also looking at putting in a stove with a back boiler. Celuplast Guardian roofs seem the best option - on video anyway! But I'd really like to talk to someone who's had it done. Also if anyone has info/advice on putting a stove with back boiler in a sunroom...it would be appreciated. Thanks!