Month: November 2023

How Do I Know If My Conservatory Skylight Needs Repairing?

Nobody likes to spend time and money fixing things in the house, but it is important to stay on top of maintenance to prevent problems becoming insurmountable in the future. 

This is particularly true when it comes to conservatory skylights, as ignoring any issues with your windows could lead to much bigger dilemas.

So, how do you know if your skylight needs repairing? Here are some signs you should call a conservatory specialist straight away. 

Condensation on glass

If you notice any condensation inside the glass, this is a red flag that the double-glazing is no longer working. It could be that the seal has failed and needs to be replaced. 

Damp underneath or around the window

You should also be concerned if there is dampness on the floor underneath the window or moisture around the skylight. 

Any excess water can cause mould to grow around the window, which is hard to shift and bad for your health. Some people might have allergic reactions to the mould, or even suffer from asthma attacks. 

Therefore, it is important that any signs of leaking, water damage, or condensation on the inside of the window are looked at as soon as possible. 

Skylight will not open or close

If you find the skylight is struggling to open or close and the mechanism is beginning to malfunction, this is a sign it needs to be examined. 

Being unable to open the skylight will reduce the amount of ventilation in the room, which will exacerbate the problem of condensation and, ultimately, mould. At the same time, being unable to close the window will make the room very cold, particularly in the winter, and risk water entering during rainy weather. 

Cracks in the glass

Although it can be difficult to check the glass on your skylight as it is in the ceiling, it is worth having a closer look if you suspect it is not working properly. 

You might find there are cracks in the glass, which could have occurred from something heavy falling on the roof of the conservatory. 

These cracks could cause draughts and leaks, putting the rest of the room at risk of damage. 

Peeling tinting on the glass

It is also wise to check the tinting on the glass to see whether it is peeling. Without fixing this quickly, it is likely the tint on the entire window will need to be replaced. 

There are many reasons why your tinting might be peeling, including that it is simply getting old and is past its best. The glue on the tint might also not have been strong enough or it may not have been installed properly. 

It might be that the window was not cleaned before it was fitted, or that there has been lots of sunlight coming through the window. This could have caused the adhesive to deteriorate over time. 

If you notice a change in your window’s tinting, it is sensible to remedy this as soon as possible before the job becomes much bigger.

What Is Self-Cleaning Glass And Should You Consider It?

One of the biggest rules so many people live by is the importance of being proactive, and this is also true when it comes to conservatory repair.

This is not only the case when it comes to scheduling preventative maintenance, particularly in the weeks leading up to winter to avoid any major problems in the springtime, but also when it comes to choosing technologies and options to make cleaning and repair jobs easier.

After all, it is said that prevention is worth more than a cure, and this is often the mindset used when considering whether to buy upgrades such as self-cleaning glass.

A self-cleaning glass system is a type of coating applied to a glass window, usually on a skylight or a glass roof that helps to reduce the build-up of dirt and grime, which breaks down and can be easily washed off.

The reason why this worked is through the use of titanium dioxide, a metal compound that not only helps to create water sheets that wash away dirt but also creates a chemical reaction when in contact with sunlight.

This leads to a two-stage process that enables homeowners to clear dirt without having to intensely scrub the surface or use harsh window cleaning materials.

The first stage, known as photocatalysis, is where the titania in the coating breaks down caked-in dirt, either destroying it entirely or making it far easier to wash off. A similar process is used to clean solar panels.

Part of the reason why titania is used is because it is exceptionally efficient at breaking down dirt in the presence of sunlight, as well as being chemically inert when there is no sunlight and relatively cheap and easy to apply to a variety of different surfaces.

The second stage, known as the hydrophilic stage, is where water will spread out across the surface of the glass, rather than pooling, forming lines or droplets across the surface.

This stands in contrast to hydrophobic coatings, which cause water to bead up and form droplets that roll away from the surface without dropping dirt.

The former is very useful for creating thin films of water that can completely and comprehensively wash all of the dirt away.

This can be beneficial for stopping dirt from caking up on the edges of the glass, which can cause the seals and mechanisms of the windows and roof to break down over time, necessitating repairs that can be expensive if not undertaken by an expert.

Because of this, it can be easy to consider, however, if you want to replace your current conservatory windows with self-cleaning glass or apply a coating, bear in mind that it can take up to a month for the titania to activate, and it can also take a week between cleanings to do so.

Also make sure to check whether you live in a hard water area, as this can sometimes cause limescale staining.

Avoid using abrasive materials, cream cleaners, chemical-based products in general and pressure washers, as these can either damage or stop the self-cleaning coating from functioning properly.

Why You Should Get Your Conservatory Checked After A Storm

The damage done by storm Ciaran is now being assessed, with the high winds having moved onto the continent after battering parts of the UK, especially in the south. The Channel Islands were hit hardest, with Jersey being struck by a Tornado.

While damage will have ranged from floods to fallen trees, many a home and conservatory will have taken a pasting. This may have come directly from the near hurricane-force winds, which can cause weaker structures to collapse. But damage can also be done by flying debris and falling tree branches.

In such circumstances, do not be surprised if you find your conservatory roof is leaking.

Even if your conservatory has not been affected this time, autumn is a common time for storms and that means there could be several occasions when householders will have to inspect for damage after the event. Ciaran has followed the damaging storm Babet in mid-October and late September’s Storm Agnes. 

Indeed, the Met Office Storm Centre has prepared a whole alphabet of names for the storms expected to arrive over the autumn and winter of 2023-24. Stand by for the arrival of Debi, Elin and Fergus soon.

If you have a roof leak, that could be for various reasons. A glass panel might have been loosened, a seal might have broken, allowing water in when it rains, or there may be a crack caused by fallen debris.

Not getting it dealt with at an early stage means there is a danger that matters will only get worse. Not only will the inside of the conservatory get wet every time it rains, but each successive spell of bad weather could make it worse.

That means something loosened in one storm may break off entirely next time. Clogged gutters will get more full of leaves and could rupture. A crack could increase in size. Indeed, in the latter case, this will happen when winter comes and the weather drops to around freezing point, which will turn a small fissure into a big one and then a fracture.

Of course, with Christmas coming you may feel like this is not a priority if you can get away with it. After all, you could be busy as the festive season approaches and not be keen to spend any money on fixing a conservatory leak when there are presents and turkeys to buy. But that would be a false economy because allowing things to get worse will cost you more.

By contrast, if you get the work done, you will do more than just stop an unpleasant leak that stops you from using your conservatory in winter. You will avoid matters getting worse but also have the problem resolved so well that all will be good as new, ensuring it is more resilient when the next storm arrives.

That way, damage from Debi won’t be followed by extra from Elin and fracture from Fergus. Instead, your conservatory will be secure to handle whatever the weather throws at it and in good shape when better conditions come in the spring.