FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

You should firstly know that most of a replacement tiled roof is prefabricated, which makes installing the product a quick process and non-disruptive. We will take precise measurements of your conservatory so we can tailor the design to suit.

As for what it’s made of, it uses a pre-engineered lightweight frame, insulating panels, insulated fire-grade plasterboard, exterior grade plywood and impenetrable membrane. You can have the roof tiles finished in one of several colours and include solid panels to make it look as authentic as your home.

Weight: It’s not advisable to use a clad over solution for existing conservatory frames due to their heaviness. You need a roof that’s lightweight so that it doesn’t compromise the framework. The lightest solid roof systems weigh around 31KG/M ².

Tip: Always ask your installer for the total unit weight of the new roof per Sq.M

Fire Safety: A ‘clad-over’ solution also doesn’t comply with fire safety regulations due to not being effectively fire tested as a completely roof structure, which is imperative to satisfy the relevant part of building regulations. As jobs vary, you often find that only certain roof components have been sufficiently fire tested. Solid roofs must be classified as AC, AB or AA in accordance with BS476-3.

Tip: Ahead of committing to a project, ask for sight of the fire safety certificate for the entire roof system. 

Building Regulations:

In general, a clad over system will not be given Building Regulations Approval because of its poor thermal value and lack of structural integrity. Building Regulations Approval should not be mistaken for planning permission, as they’re two entirely separate things. You must inform Building Control if you are looking to make an adjustment to a structure (including when replacing a glass or polycarbonate conservatory with a solid roof) as they need to confirm if the replacement roof is structurally sound.

Tip: Don’t commence with the conversion before local Building Control has been informed of your intentions. Keep the Building Regulations ‘Final’ Certificate somewhere safe.

That should no longer be the case as all our replacement roofs are made to provide recipients with year-round comfort. Old polycarbonate roofs would be responsible for conservatories feeling like greenhouses in summer, but with a new tiled roof, that should never happen. Solar control glazing is something worth considering and will make a significant contribution to the roof’s overall performance.

If you want the most energy efficient windows you can get buy in the UK, ‘A’ rated windows rank at the top according to the BFRC Rating Scheme. It’s the system used to rate the energy efficient levels of all replacement windows and helps identify if a window complies with Building Regulations.

Similar to the labelling of ‘white’ goods e.g. fridges, freezers and washing machines, replacement windows each have a Window Energy Rating, ranging from A-E. Knowing the energy rating of a window enables you to understand what you’re getting for your money and what the window will deliver.

For a small conservatory roof, it will be around £5,000 upwards, with a large conservatory roof costing about £12,000. There are finance packages you can use to spread the cost of buying a new roof. To find the most suitable package, use our finance calculator.

Very quickly as it happens! We can have a tiled solid roof installed in just a few days, so there will be minimal disruption at your home.

You don’t require planning permission if the extension meets certain rules. This is called ‘permitted development’.

If your extension will have one storey, you don’t need planning permission as
long as:

• it’s located at the back of the house
• it doesn’t go back further than 3 metres if it’s a terraced house, or 4 metres
• if it isn’t the height of the eaves (where the wall meets the roof) is no higher than 3 metres
• it’s not higher than 4 metres, including sloping roofs
• it doesn’t cover more floor area than your house does
• it doesn’t take up half the ‘curtilage’ – the grounds behind your home
• it isn’t within a conservation area

If you want to add a porch to a front door, back door or side door on your house, different rules apply.

Porches

You won’t need planning permission to add a porch to a front door, back door or side door on your house as long as:

• its footprint (the total floor area it takes up) is no greater than 3 square metres
• there’s at least 2 metres between the edge of the porch and any boundary facing a road
• it isn’t taller than 3 metres
• it isn’t within a conservation area

The granting of Building Regulations Approval by your local authority provides confirmation that the new roofing system has been inspected by a Building Control assessor and they have decided that it has been properly installed and is both structurally safe and thermally efficient. Once you have Building Regulations Approval, you can be assured that the work is fully authorised and there will no problems selling your house in the future that relate to the roof.

Yes. To make life easy for you, Ecofit can arrange a variety of affordable and convenient easy payment finance options (subject to application & status). Applying for finance is simple and we promise you a quick decision. Everything can be sorted out with you in the comfort of your home or at your local Ecofit Showroom, so you can enjoy whatever you’ve set your heart on right away.

If you’re arranging your own finance, you’ll need to call us as soon as you get the go ahead. If you’re taking up one of our offers, the company will tell us both directly, so there’s no need to call as we will get in touch with you.

Finance companies can turn down people for lots of reasons, for example if you’ve moved several times over the past few years. In these circumstances, we always do our best to help and sometimes it’s worth trying another provider, especially if they know you.

Sometimes our finance company will say ‘yes’ almost immediately and on other occasions it may take them a few days. This short delay can be for any number of reasons and you should not be unduly concerned.