Is Building Regulation Approval Required

Clearview is an accredited member of the GGF

The Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF) is the professional body which oversees our industry, and they advise that by adding a solid roof you are ‘changing the status’ of the installation and ‘the local authority building control office should be consulted’. They too advise on a full investigation of the existing structure to check for structural stability & integrity.

By using a professional company like Clearview, who both support and give full building regulation approval on every solid roof installation, you are buying greater peace of mind. This is because your certificate says ‘my solid roof conservatory / Orangery / Garden Room is completely safe and fit for purpose, no matter what the weather, additionally, I will encounter no issues if I come to sell my property’.

We offer 3 solid roof options (2 solid-glass hybrids and a traditional solid roof with Velux roof lights) and in each case we will ensure that the existing foundations, walls and frames meet the required criteria before embarking on a solid roof installation. Where issues are identified that would question the integrity of the existing structure, Clearview can advise on how best to overcome these issues during consultation with you.
What to watch out for…

‘Cold roof’ versus ‘warm roof’

As mentioned earlier, there are several solid roof options available in today’s market. Some options are defined as ‘cold roofs’ and some as ‘warm roof’. So what’s the difference?

‘Cold roofs’ are typically based on a standard conservatory roof design where the metallic chassis is exposed to both warm air from the room below and to the cold roof outer shell which is exposed to the cold outside elements, this is known as ‘cold bridging’. In this situation, condensation is a very real risk; however, this will rarely be obvious for many months. If not correctly designed and installed, condensation can easily form on the metallic structure which will be concealed by the plaster board. The condensation can track down the spars to the ring beam and will eventually show itself as damp or mould spores creeping through the plastered finish. When this happens, major work must be undertaken to remedy the symptom but little can be done to rectify the cause. Consumers should be aware that such systems are usually cheaper but do come with these inherent risks. These risks are further exacerbated where there is little no ventilation designed into the roof structure.

‘Warm roofs’ on the contrary are designed and manufactured so that all metallic elements of the structure are insulated on both sides therefore maintaining an even (warm) temperature which, by design, eliminates any condensation risk. A good indicator as to an installer’s confidence in their solid roof is their willingness to advise on and offer building regulation approval with the installation. It’s worth ‘digging deeper’ if an installer advises that building regulations are not required.

‘Future proof your home’ – Don’t risk delaying or losing the sale of your property

Every week we are contacted by existing customers who are selling their property. Properties with a glass or polycarbonate roof conservatory (with thermal separation) are exempt from building regulations but despite this, the buyer’s Conveyancing Solicitors still request this document. We provide adequate supporting information to our clients to overcome this hurdle.

In the case of a solid roof conservatory, it is more likely that the solicitor will insist on a building regulations certificate because there is an overwhelming justification that one should have been provided as this also gives a ‘Professional Indemnity’ which ‘underwrites’ the structure and the installation. From our point of view, it demonstrates that our independent building inspection company (JHAI**, who are regulated by the Construction Industry Council) has carried out all of the necessary checks and inspections to the correct standards.

In the absence of a building certificate, there is every chance the sale will not only be delayed but it could also be lost due to excessive time delays as the homeowner attempts to obtain retrospective building regulation approval through the LABC (Local Authority Building control). This is a process known as ‘Regularisation’.

Regularisation involves exposing the footings, cavity wall insulation, base insulation and the roof insulation. Naturally this will be a costly exercise and at best means the room will need redecorating, at worst, it may involve costly underpinning. Visit the JHAI website for more information on this important practice.

From an ‘added value’ consideration, ‘housing value’ market research has proven that your new solid roof conservatory is deemed to be an extension and as such this positively impacts on the sale value of your home to the order of +5% to +7%! This underlines the difference between ‘cost’ and ‘investment’ but remember, this will only apply for those solid roof installations that carry building regulation approval and certification.