Don’t fall victim to the ‘cladover cowboys’!

Thinking of replacing your old polycarbonate conservatory roof? Don’t fall victim to the ‘cladover cowboys’!

Replacing old polycarbonate conservatory roofs with new insulated tiled conservatory roofs is becoming much more popular, thanks to the increased energy efficiency they offer with home owners looking for ways to reduce their heating bills and enjoy their conservatories all year round.

A recent article in the Glass and Glazing Products magazine With demand increasing, unfortunately the cowboys are never far behind, so at Rodda & Hocking we wanted to raise awareness in what to look out for to ensure you don’t fall victim to the ‘cladover cowboys’ when looking to replace your old conservatory roof.

The Cowboy Approach

The cowboys will typically remove the old polycarbonate roofing sheets and then cut corners by fixing cheap timber battens directly to the existing aluminium frame, which are too heavy for the frame and structure to properly support them. They then use basic tiles and plasterboard and plaster over the battens to hide the shoddy workmanship.

The problem here for homeowners is that the roof can look almost as good as a professionally fitted, specially designed roofing system, but they will be completely unaware that it’s been completely botched underneath.

The Long Term Cost

Initially, at a fraction of the cost it will seem like the bargain of the century. However, the ‘cladover’ roof will provide virtually no insulation, and when it’s tested by a rain shower you will likely find that the roof will leak, as it has not been specifically designed to fit your conservatory frame.

Lack of Building Regulations

Furthermore, the conservatory will now be classed as an extension meaning it will now fall under building regulations, which the homeowner may be unaware of, until they come to sell the property or if a neighbour reports them to the council.

The conservatory base will then need to be checked to ensure it has the correct footings and the core checked for cavity wall and insulation, and naturally the homeowner will then have to go through the painfully expensive job of making the necessary changes to meet regulations.

How To Avoid The Whole Cowboy Caboodle

So, what can you do to avoid the trap of the cladover cowboys? Here are some ideas on ways to help you avoid the trap!;

• Check that the new roof meet the requirements of LABC (Local Authority Building Control) regulations,
• Make sure you will get a building regulations certificate when the job is complete.
• Look for companies which offer a guarantee on the roofing system
• Look for approved installers (For example here at Rodda & Hocking we are approved installers of the Supalite solid conservatory roofing systems)
• Ask to see the components of the roof, a reputable installer will be able to supply a diagram showing you exactly what is inside the roof
• Request an explanation of the process of replacing the conservatory roof and ensure that none of the above cowboy tricks, such as screwing directly into the existing aluminium frame, are part of the process.
• Ask to see some photographs or case studies of some recent installations

If In Doubt, Speak An Expert

We hope this advice will prove useful for homeowners and raise awareness of dodgy practices to ensure innocent homeowners don’t fall victim and also to make sure the reputation of good, honest suppliers and installers is not put at risk.

If you are looking to replace your conservatory roof in Cornwall, Rodda & Hocking are the authorized distributors and installers of the high quality SupaLite and Guardian roofing systems in the South West, which come with a 10 year guarantee and full local authority building control certification as part of our service, meaning you don’t have to worry with the stress and inconvenience of installing a new solid roof. Rodda & Hocking will handle all of the building control certification process on your behalf.

If you would would like some further advice or a free, no obligation quote, ask about our solid roofing system today.

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Sources: Glass & Glazing Products Magazine February 2017 (www.ggpmag.com)