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A polycarbonate conservatory roof is made using a polycarbonate which is a contemporary plastic material that features several beneficial properties which gives it a high optical clarity as well as a good durability. Visually, it’s very similar to glass but its a lot more resistant to impact  which makes it just as strong as some metals. As a result, there are a lot of cases where polycarbonate is used as a replacement for security windows and more. If you happen to possess a polycarbonate conservatory, then you’d probably like to know how you can fix it in case of any damages. In this post, we’re going to consider how to repair polycarbonate conservatory roofs. Let’s take a look!

There are a bunch of effective methods you can consider for fusing or gluing polycarbonate plastic. Glues will leave an adhesive behind, while fusing results in a chemical reaction which enables the material to melt back together. Here is a great method you can use to repair polycarbonate plastic:

• Use of methyl methacrylate. Due to the fact that this creates a strong, resilient bond, methyl methacrylate is the best way to fuse polycarbonate. According to some of the users, if they try to pull the polycarbonate apart the unaffected part will break before the bond does. During the application of methyl methacrylate, you’d have to ensure you’re in a well ventilated area or outdoor. This is because the fume generated from methyl methacrylate can be toxic if it’s inhaled in a high concentration.

Conservatories are one of the best options to create more living space in your home. If you thinking about building a hardwood conservatory in your home, then you’d probably like to know exactly how much it’s going to cost you. The truth is, just like many other home improvement efforts, the cost of constructing a hardwood conservatory is dependent on a wide array of elements. While it is crucial to budget for your extension, it is also quite important to note the immense value a top quality hardwood conservatory can add to your home.

Hardwood conservatories look a lot elegant and luxurious, and is surely a necessity for all homes with character ( or a period property). With relative ease and effortlessly, they appear far more superior to any other materials you can think of, even using similar styles. However, a drawback to hardwood is the high maintenance requirements and the fact that they must be treated and painted every couple of years in order to maintain their aesthetic appearance. No one likes a flaking and weathered frame sitting in their compound. Despite this drawback, hardwood offers a wide range of styles and options. If you are building your own then you can bespoke the joinery styles for the carved frames, multiple colour options and lots more.

Amongst the best hardwood types for building conservatories are elms and beeches. They are very common due to their ability to increase the stability and durability of conservatories. An average hardwood conservatory kit will cost within the range of £10,000 to £20,000.

Apart from the good looks of hardwood conservatories, it also brings about a plethora of benefits which the owner can enjoy. Not only does it add more living space to your home and beautifies it, but also goes a long way to add great value to your home. It's a big task doing a DIY conservatory so make sure you are fully prepared before you start.

Building a conservatory can be a challenging task. But whether you plan to hire a professional to build your aluminium conservatory or are considering DIY, it’s good to start with a rough idea of how the process works.

It’s essential to begin with a strong conservatory base. The area needs to be measured out carefully and then dug out. You then need to level the earth and pour in concrete. Your damp proof course goes on top of this, preventing rising damp from entering your structure and creating the floor level.

Then, you need to build your conservatory walls. Start by building your dwarf wall, positioning the external sills on top. Next, fix in the frames and hang your doors. Sit your roof ridge on top of the frames, and add the roof rafters.

Finally, you need to fit the glazing sheets and guttering. Once this is all done, your new aluminium conservatory is ready to go!

How To Tile Conservatory Roof

If you’re thinking about replacing your old conservatory roof with a tiled one, you’d probably want to know how you can go about it. Tiling of a conservatory roof comes with a plethora of benefits with the most significant one being a much improved insulation which helps you save money on heating bills. This activity is also, however, a task that is best done by a professional. It requires working at height which can be very dangerous and also demands a particular set of skills as well as confidence to make the project a safe and successful one. In other words, if you lack any of the aforementioned attributes, then we’d strongly recommend that you call in a reliable professional who can guarantee the best results for help. In this article, we’ll walk you through the conservatory roof tiling process.

✓ Remove the existing roof. As you would have guessed, the first step is to remove the old existing roof and dispose off in an environmental friendly way.

✓ Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) rafters are fitted so as to develop the structural frame for the new solid roof.

✓ Waterproofing. The next step is to add 100% waterproof sheets under the GRP rafters.

✓ Insulation. Once the waterproof sheets have been installed, it’s then time to fit the insulation boards making sure that there’s a 15mm gap between the boards and the waterproof sheets.

✓ Outer sheets. To minimize the number of roofing bars and increase the conservatory’s efficiency, you’ll have to include the outer sheets at this stage.

✓ Tiling. This is the final step in the process. Add the tiles to the conservatory roof and make sure that they’re firmly secured. This wouldn’t take forever as most conservatories are not that big in size.

uPVC is unplasticised polyvinyl chloride. It is a favourite amongst homeowners and manufacturers for its cheap production cost and excellent benefits. uPVC is used for window frames, conservatories and doors. In fact, uPVC can be three times cheaper than wooden frames and is also the most energy efficient option.As well as this, uPVC is now available in a range of colours other than the typically seen bright white finish. It can also be recycled, is durable and resistant to changing weather conditions.

If you are considering building a wooden conservatory in your home, it’s normal to be curious about whether or not the home improvement effort is costly. Basically, wooden conservatories are ones that have been constructed using a wooden structure. There are options to choose from which timber and this can also play a part in the amount you’ll have to pay. Conservatories using hardwood, which are more durable and requires less preparation, are also considerably costlier than the softwood counterpart.

For just the timber in a kit build your own conservatory you would be looking at around £10,000 to £20,000. Generally, a wooden conservatory built for you will cost you a range between £20,000 to £50,000 based on the type of wood, the size as well as the style you opt for.

In addition, wooden conservatory prices are also determined by the supplier you’re dealing with. As a result, it’s advisable to conduct a proper and detailed market research about the available suppliers and identify the one who truly offers quality materials at an affordable rate. If you wish to go for an Oak frame, the price will typically be higher.

To give your house a more traditional look, you can go for a timber conservatory rather than a uPVC one. However, it requires more maintenance than the uPVC as well as regular weatherproofing to prevent it from warping or rotting as a result of changes in humidity or temperature. If you want the timber look there are options with modern uPVC which can give a similar style but at a lower cost.

When you build a new wood-constructed conservatory, or any type of conservatory, you’ll need to dig a trench for the footings. You’ll need to dig to a minimum depth of 600mm and at least 300mm below your property’s damp proof course. When you dig down, you might expose obstacles such as underground pipes.

If this happens, you’ll need lintels for your wood-constructed conservatory. These are usually concrete and protect the pipes or obstructions from being crushed. You may also want to use steel mesh for additional support.

Building Regulations state that if an opening is formed in a wall, the structure above the opening needs to be supported. This will be especially relevant if you’re building a wooden lean-to conservatory. It says that there are two ways that you can use lintels to provide support.

The first way involves using a steel lintel to support both the inner and outer leaf of a cavity wall. It can then serve as a cavity tray that directs moisture from the cavity through the outer skin of the wall as well.

The second way to use lintels is to use two steel or concrete lintels. They support each leaf of a cavity wall construction. You’ll need separate thermal insulation and a cavity tray as well.

Whatever type of lintel you use, it should have a suitable bearing onto the wall at each side. If you’re not sure, speak to the manufacturer of your wood-constructed conservatory, or ask a reputable company to install it for you.

You might think that all wooden conservatories are the same. But there are actually lots of differences between them, and some conservatories are better than others. One of the most important factors to consider when you’re looking for a wooden conservatory is the type of wood that it’s made from. Generally, there are two different types to look out for: softwood and hardwood. So what wood should be used for a wooden conservatory?

Softwood conservatories are usually made from European redwood or Siberian larch. These types of conservatories are the cheapest wooden conservatories you can buy because the wood grows much faster than hardwoods. However, due to their soft nature, they may only last 7-15 years, reducing their cost-effectivity.

The best wood to use for a wooden conservatory is a hardwood. The most expensive type is oak, but you get what you pay for – it looks fabulous and it can also be coated with a bug and pest-resistant solution to increase its longevity. If you haven’t got the budget for oak, other hardwood options include Brazilian cedar, idigbo and luan, which are still great choices. Make sure you speak to your conservatory installer about the ‘closeness’ of the wood grains, as close-grained hardwoods are said to be the most suitable for conservatories. You should also check that your supplier has strict control of the quality of the wood so can ensure that it’s been well seasoned and prepared for use in construction.