Category: General

Five Common Reasons Why Your Conservatory Roof Is Leaking

Conservatories are great at adding extra space, providing additional light, and letting homeowners enjoy views of their garden more. However, they can be problematic when the roof starts leaking.

Here are some common reasons why your conservatory roof might be past its best. 

Limited lifespan

Conservatories have a limited life span, and after a certain number of years they start to deteriorate. 

Ones with glass or polycarbonate roofs typically last around 20 years, while people with solid and tiled roofs can expect theirs to be in good condition for 50 years. 

Homeowners might find that if they have bought a house with a conservatory attached, it might have been fitted in the 1980s and 1990s when they became really popular. This makes them 40 to 50 years old, which means a conservatory roof replacement is definitely on the cards. 

Wear and tear

A huge number of conservatories are made with polycarbonate roofing panels. However, they deteriorate over the years thanks to wear and tear. 

This is likely to be quicker in areas where there are frequent storms and inclement weather conditions. 

After a while, the plastic will start to break down, and subsequently, the water will seep into the polycarbonate sheets and, eventually, into the conservatory. 

Poorly installed

If your conservatory was installed relatively recently, then the leaking is not due to wear and tear or age. 

Instead, the problem is likely to point at being installed incorrectly. This could mean that the joins between the framework do not seal properly with the roofing panels, which means water is able to get through.

Similarly, if the conservatory roof is not joined properly to the house due to incorrectly installed flashing, this could result in rain being able to leak through the roof into the building. 

It is essential that all the joints are properly sealed and connected to ensure there are no gaps in the structure. Otherwise, not only will it be susceptible to leaks, but it could become very cold as air will be able to easily enter.

Faulty guttering

Another cause of leaks is faulty or blocked guttering. These are designed to remove rainwater away from the roof, so if they are cracked or damaged in another way, they will not be doing their job properly. 

Therefore, water can pool on top of the roof, eventually seeping through to the house. Alternatively, if they have split, the water might run down the sides of the conservatory, getting in through the glass walls. 

Blocked gutters can also cause leaks, as water will accumulate on the roof if it is not able to drain away. Not only will this risk leaks, but it can also cause issues with damp and mould. 

Roof vents

Roof vents should be regularly checked as they are one of the most common reasons for leaks in conservatories. 

Although they are important to have, as they provide ventilation to the room, they can sometimes cause water to enter if the seals have worn away or the vents are not properly fitted. 

They are also subject to wear and tear, so if they have become old or faulty, there is a high chance that the conservatory will leak every time it rains.

How To Fix The Most Common Conservatory Regrets

Your home is the biggest investment you are likely to make in your life, and your conservatory is one of the biggest investments you are likely to make in your home.

With that in mind, there is a lot of pressure to ensure that an extension not only meets regulatory requirements but also meets your needs to be used for years to come and help boost the property value of your home.

That’s a lot of pressure and consideration to put into a single part of your home, and older conservatories in particular feature some unfortunately common issues that can lead to regrets on the part of homeowners, whether they organised its construction or bought the house later.

Some conservatory regrets cannot be fixed; whilst you can make the most of the space you have, you cannot make an extension any bigger without demolishing large parts of it. However, many common issues can be rectified with expert assistance and forethought.

Too Hot Or Too Cold

Whilst it is not the case that every single conservatory has temperature issues, complaints about searing heat in summer and frostbitten winters are so common that it has come to characterise an entire era of conservatory construction.

Modern conservatories tend to avoid this issue, and by using some of the techniques they use your conservatory can be fixed as well.

Improving insulation, typically by replacing the thin glass with double glazing, will stop heat getting out in winter and heat getting in over the summer, particularly if paired with a protective anti-UV coating.

Replacing a glass or clear plastic roof with a solid one will also provide a lot of benefits, and installing roof blinds or curtains provides insulation if more conventional options are not available.

Too Bright 

Conservatories are designed to let in as much natural light as possible, and this can be something of a double-edged sword if you have a south-facing garden.

Whilst it allows a lot of daylight, it also means that you get a lot of glare as well, something that contributes to the conservatory getting very hot in winter, as well as being uncomfortable in its own right.

Many of the solutions that reduce heat getting in, such as roof blinds, anti-glare glass coatings and a solid roof, will help with glare issues as well.

Leaking Roof

Whilst two of the main issues concern hot and cold days, wet days can be just as frustrating if water seems to be seeping into the conservatory itself through the roof.

There are several causes for this, most of which relate to either damage to the flashing or the frames, a crack to one of the roof panels or issues with the seals and grouting surrounding a conservatory.

An expert can help to fix these without issues or delays, and this can be important as the sooner you act to resolve a leak, the greater your chance of avoiding mould, damp and mildew.

They can also explore whether such a roof is worth replacing in favour of a more efficient modern roof arrangement that can improve the overall conservatory experience.

The Importance Of Boxed Guttering On A Conservatory Roof

Homeowners who have a pitched conservatory roof that slopes down towards the house wall need to have a fully functional boxed gutter. 

A boxed gutter is typically an aluminium rectangular box that is connected to the side guttering on UPVC conservatories, ensuring the water from both roofs drains away from the house. However, with timber frame ones, these gutters are usually lined with lead. 

The water collected is then diverted to the downpipe, so the water runs away from the walls. 

Boxed guttering takes its name from being boxed in on all sides, making them watertight. 

Internally, the boxed gutter will be covered up by UPVC or wood to disguise it and keep the roof looking aesthetically pleasing. 

To find out more about the importance of boxed guttering by reading on. 

For water run off

Boxed gutters should be fitted to sloped conservatory roofs because they remove any excess water and ensure water drainage between the extension and the main house continues.

Although the pitched roof prevents water from pooling when it rains, it is also important that the water does not run down the sides of the house, as this could cause damp issues. 

Boxed gutters, therefore, collect the rainwater that falls between the walls of the conservatory and the main house, in order to prevent the water from splashing on to the walls. Over time, this could result in the brickwork becoming drenched, which could make the internal walls damp and mouldy. 

For bungalows, boxed gutters often take the rainwater from the house roof as well, helping to keep the entire property in better condition for longer.

The problem of leaking gutters

Having a leaking boxed gutter is almost as bad as not having any at all, as water can come out at any point of the appliance. 

If this is allowed to happen, the water can damage the plaster on the conservatory walls and it will likely need replacing and the wall repainting. 

Other problems that can occur due to boxed gutter leaks include pest infestations and rodents. 

It also makes those living in the house at risk of germs and viruses, as it creates a breeding ground for these. Therefore, fixing the leak could make everyone feel a lot healthier and physically fit. 

However, repairing a boxed gutter is not an easy job as it may involve the removal of conservatory roof panels to work out where the leak is coming from. 

If it is found, flashings can be fitted to the holes to prevent more leaks from occurring. 

It is essential that this is done properly, however, as simply putting silicone, roofing felt, fibreglass, bitumen or a waterproofer on to the problem areas is unlikely to solve the issue, and certainly will not stand the test of time. 

Homeowners will find that they will simply have to carry out repairs again as the leaks will reoccur, possibly worse the second time round.

Why Now May Be A Good Time For Gutter Replacement

It has been a tough autumn and winter so far for conservatory owners. The arrival of Storm Isha will have added to their woes and Storm Jocelyn will do so even more.

While those in flood-prone areas may have had to mop out their conservatories, rain and high winds bring their own problems, ensuring anything loose does not remain attached for long and bringing lots of flying debris that can cause damage to conservatories and other property.

While a damaged window or skylight might be the most visually obvious problem – along with the dangers of broken glass – there are many other ways your conservatory can be damaged.

Indeed, when the storm calms and you come to inspect your conservatory for signs of damage you may find the gutters have fared badly. In some cases, it may be they just need to be unblocked or have relatively minor damage that can be repaired. However, you may need them to be replaced altogether.

It is important to establish just what the state of your gutters is. One reason is that there may be only minor damage or none at all. It could be that gutters can be cleaned out by methods such as jet washing.

There are some obvious signs that all is not well with your guttering. For instance, if water is spilling over the edges they are clearly not draining. Having birds landing in them is a similar sign, as it is providing them with a place clogged with debris that they can use for nesting. You may also see the gutter sagging, which is often a sign that it may be close to breaking.

In these cases, spillages of water can cause lots of water pooling just where you don’t want it, flooding your garden instead of going down the drain.

Caught early enough, these problems can be resolved by clearing the debris out of the gutter and making minor repairs. But if this does not happen in time, or if the damage done is already too bad, there is nothing left for it but to replace the guttering.

That means the first thing you need is an assessment. Secondly, any repair work that can be done must be done. Thirdly, if at any point it becomes clear that the guttering cannot be made as good as new, you should act as soon as possible.

The faster you remove the old guttering and bring in the new, the sooner the bad consequences of gutters that aren’t fit for purposes blight your home and garden. It means no more flooding and no bird poop and fallen dead chicks everywhere as they nest in it. It means no visual signs of damage that visitors and nosy neighbours will see.

Most importantly of all, it will ensure that your gutters are renewed ahead of the next storm. If this winter is anything to go by, there are sure to be more before the calmer, warmer and drier days of spring arrive.

By acting decisively, you can help ensure your conservatory is in tip-top shape when you come to use it most in the spring and summer months.

Why January’s Extreme Bad Weather May Not Be The Last

While the saying ‘fix the roof while the sun shines’ may be popular, some of the most important maintenance just won’t wait until the days are long and warm. Often what is needed is fast and decisive action to deal with the problem now before matters get worse.

Examples of this include skylight repair or any other form of glass damage. In these cases, the consequences of allowing lots of cold air, rain, snow and wind-blown debris into what should be a dry conservatory interior can be pretty severe, ranging from the disruption of the microclimate you may be nurturing plants in through to the winter to getting furniture wet.

Many conservatories across the UK will have suffered from the recent severe weather. There have been no fewer than eight named storms recorded by the Met Office over the autumn and winter so far.

Indeed, the Christmas and New Year period was particularly grim, with Storm Gerrit on December 27th and 28th and Storm Henk on January 2nd providing a mix of dire weather. Apart from a lot of flooding, severe structural damage included a tornado that ripped the roofs of homes in the town of Stalybridge near Manchester.

Some of these may have flooded conservatories in low-lying areas, but the worst damage that can happen is when falling trees or flying debris strike it, shattering glass and potentially causing further structural damage.

If such damage has occurred, the sooner it is tackled the better. Broken glass poses a danger and leaving a damaged conservatory open to the elements poses both short and long-term risks, including the potential for mould to flourish and for wildlife to enter, adding to the mess.

With plenty of winter left to go, there may be more storms, so if there has been some damage, this could leave your conservatory weakened and less able to withstand the next very windy day.

Suffice to say, storms Isha, Jocelyn and Kathleen could be on the way before long, threatening to batter homes and conservatories once again. That is all the more reason to get any damage that has already happened fixed, so that it is in the best possible shape to handle what comes next.

After the wind and the rain have come snow and sub-zero temperatures. These can also cause plenty of damage, as any cracks or weaknesses that water can seep into can be widened by the process of freeze-thaw.

This is a natural process that shapes landscapes and releases mineral nutrients to help feed plants, but it’s bad news for windows. It means small cracks and chips can widen and shatter windows.

With any plants you normally keep in mild temperatures in the conservatory at risk of being killed by the very cold conditions, even draughts and gaps that are not being widened by ice can produce a huge problem.

Put together, the challenges of winter weather and the impact of the damage it can cause give ample reasons for early action to fix any problems, ensuring your conservatory is in the best possible shape when the warmer and calmer days of spring arrive.

The Mystery Of Britain’s Most Famous Conservatory

Conservatories are designed to be harmonious additions to a home, and because of that take inspiration from a lot of the same places as the house they are built out of, as well as some of the historic landmarks of glass and steel that made up the history of conservatories.

Taking care of conservatories and effective repair can sometimes require an awareness of this history, to ensure that the fixes match all of the work that has gone into the conservatory and maintain the structure’s beauty.

A good example of what can happen when this is neglected came from the mysterious destruction of Britain’s most famous conservatory and one of its largest-ever temporary landmarks.

Conservatories And Crystal Palace

The building that would become known as Crystal Palace was never intended to last as long as it did. It was a gargantuan conservatory of clear glass walls draped over a modular cast-iron frame, only meant to last throughout 1851, the year of the Great Exhibition.

The reason for this was out of necessity; plans for what would be the first World’s Fair had only begun to take shape in 1849, and a year later, less than 12 months from the start of the event, construction of a temporary building in London’s Hyde Park had not even started.

There were 245 designs, but only two were even close to fitting all of the required elements for the event.

Enter Joseph Paxton. At this point, Mr Paxson was known for his work on the Great Conservatory at Chatsworth House, which was at the time the largest conservatory ever made and was the home of a variety of exotic plants, most notably the Cavendish banana that he had cultivated.

Mr Paxton was seen as a landscaper and a gardener more than an architect, but on a visit to 

London to meet John Ellis MP, mentioned an idea he had for the hall inspired by his work at Chatsworth House, the latter saying that if he could put together a proposal in nine days he should submit.

Allegedly, he spent a Midland Railway board meeting sketching a design on a piece of blotting paper that would later become the basis for Crystal Palace.

It was initially rejected due to arriving too late, but amidst pressure from the general public after it was published in the Illustrated London News, the plan would ultimately prevail, taking just 39 weeks from start to finish.

After the Great Exhibition closed after a successful six-month event, it was dismantled from Hyde Park and reconstructed on Sydenham Hill in a form remarkably different to the one from the Great Exhibition.

Unfortunately, the move was extraordinarily expensive, costing £1.3m (£150m adjusted for inflation) which ended up never being paid back.

This led to the building being increasingly neglected from the 1890s until the 1920s, but just as it appeared that the building would have a new lease of life and remain a permanent fixture of London’s skyline, it caught fire on 30th November 1936.

For reasons that are still speculated on to this day, an explosion in the women’s cloakroom started an office fire that very quickly spread thanks to the wooden floors, setting the entire building alight within hours and burning the palace almost completely to the ground.

To this day it is unknown who started it and why, although John Logie Baird, the man who invented the first working live television system, allegedly believed it was set to sabotage his work, with some of his early mechanical television equipment stored in one of the towers.

How Conservatories Have Changed Dramatically Over The Years

Conservatories in 2024 are stylish additions to a home, helping to flood a house with light, bring the garden indoors, and create a larger family space. 

However, they have changed significantly over the years, having first been introduced in the UK in the 17th Century. 

Read on to find out a brief history of conservatory design in Britain. 

Orangeries for the wealthy

Conservatories were originally designed as separate structures to help grow plants that would not survive the British climate. 

They were only for wealthy Brits who wanted to enjoy the taste of citrus fruits despite not being able to grow them in their gardens due to the inclement weather. 

The orangeries, as they became known, were made of stone and glass, which helped to trap in heat and attract sunlight so the fruit had a better chance of survival. 

Homes for exotic plants

By the Victorian period, their purpose had evolved, as upper classes used their orangeries not only to grow exotic fruit but also tropical plants. Conservatory roofs and walls began to be made entirely out of glass to help these foreign species get as much sunlight as possible. 

They were regarded as an important status symbol, and guests were shown around the conservatory to marvel at the exciting flowers that were thriving despite being from the other side of the world. 

One of the most famous conservatories built during this period has to be Kew Gardens’ Palm House. Originally built in 1844, the reconstructed building contained 16,000 panes of toughened glass. 

It houses many endangered species of plants from all over the world, thanks to its humidity of above 75 per cent. There are now 50,000 types of flora in Kew Gardens, including the oldest potted plant in the world, which has been there since 1775. 

Domestic houses

While the Palm House might be the most famous conservatory, it is certainly not a typical one. 

During the 20th Century, orangeries began to be built attached to people’s homes, as the appeal for glass rooms grew. 

Although their popularity waned during the World Wars, interest in them took off again from the ‘50s. This time, thanks to developments in the steel industry, the metal was used to frame the glass.

Consequently, this made traditional conservatories a lot cheaper, so were no longer only for the wealthy. 

Indeed, many people now own a house with an orangery attached, allowing them to enjoy views of their garden even when the weather isn’t the best. Although they are not usually used for growing citrus fruit, many homeowners like having lots of greenery in their conservatory, helping them to feel closer to nature. 

What’s in store for 2024?

Next year, the popularity of conservatories is set to continue. Not only are they a place to enjoy the outdoors in the comfort of your house, but during a time when the housing market is unstable, they are helping homeowners bridge the gap before buying a bigger property. 

Over the last year, house prices have fallen by one per cent and it remains to be seen whether they will continue to decline in 2024. At the same time, mortgage rates are very high and lending criteria tight. 

Therefore, homeowners who would have wanted to climb the property ladder are more likely to stay put until the property market levels out, and extend their house instead by installing a modern conservatory.

Top Tips For Refreshing Your Conservatory Space After Repair

The winter months are typically when a lot of repairs of summer equipment take place, either because of general maintenance or because of particularly harsh winter weather causing damage.

This is particularly true of conservatories, which can in some cases be difficult to use in winter due to limited insulation and are typically left unused once the Indian summer part of autumn ends.

The process of repairing a conservatory during winter is very useful for the same reasons repairing a boiler in summer is; it saves a lot of hassle, time and expense during a time when you want to make the most of it.

However, a significant repair also is a great impetus to try a new design or style in time for the spring season. Here are some tips and ideas for refreshing your conservatory space this winter.

Add A Focal Feature

One of the common design issues with conservatories, when people try to make them useful all year round, is that they try to add so many small design elements useful at different times of the year that it becomes inadvertently cluttered and not ideal at any time.

Instead of this, try to design the room like any other in your house by focusing your design on a single point or piece of furniture.

Conservatories are perfect for this as they are designed to allow both indoor and outdoor furniture, allowing for a wide range of different types of furniture to be used to define a very distinct style.

As the repair has been booked is an ideal time to go shopping around for a central focus for your conservatory’s design.

The key is to have a central feature that is useful all year round and versatile enough to be paired with a wide range of throws and accessories

Maximise Space With Mirrors

There are some tricks that always work in interior design, and one of the most effective ways to maximise the space of your room is to take advantage of typical light maximisation tricks often used in small rooms.

Light pastel colours, whites, beiges and neutral tones reflect light outward rather than absorb it, causing the eye to perceive the space as bigger than it is.

However, the best way to use this optical illusion is through the use of strategically placed mirrors on the back wall, which not only helps light to move around the space but also creates a beautiful reflection of the garden itself.

As long as the mirror keeps with the design philosophy of the rest of the conservatory this will work highly effectively.

Choose A Central Colour

Whilst it can be tempting to stick with white or off-white for your main conservatory colour, your extension will stand out and become a highly attractive place to be all year round with the help of a more vibrant colour scheme.

It can still be quite light and pastel, with blues and greens highly effective at maintaining the naturalistic charm of the garden. 

If your garden has a particular colour theme, then adding splashes of it to the conservatory will help keep that summer feeling a little longer.

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.