FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The bulk of a replacement solid tiled roof is built in our manufacturing facility to expedite the final fitting of the product. We can fit the roof far more quickly than you would expect. It will be perfectly made so that it sits nicely on top of the structure, just like your existing roof does.

As for what it is made of, it has a pre-engineered lightweight frame, insulating panels, insulated fire-grade plasterboard, exterior grade plywood and an impenetrable membrane. Add any finish that you like to the tiles and include solid panels to make the roof a near replica of your traditional roof.

Weight: You often find that a clad over solution can be too weighty for existing frames because of them using heavy timber, insulating materials and tiles. It needs to be a lightweight covering. The lightest solid roof systems weigh around 31KG/M ².

Tip: Always ask your installer for the total unit weight of the new roof per Sq.M

Fire Safety: A ‘clad-over’ system will not comply with current fire safety regulations as it is not effectively fire tested as a complete roof structure, which it must be if it is to satisfy the relevant part of building regulations. Often, only certain components may have been fire tested, which isn’t enough. Solid roofs must be classified as AC, AB or AA in accordance with BS476-3.

Tip: Ask to see the fire safety certificate of the entire roof system before you commit to the project.

Building Regulations: It’s also rare for a clad over system to receive Building Regulations Approval because of its poor thermal value and insufficient structural integrity. Building Regulations Approval is not to be confused with planning permission. Building Control has to be notified when changes are being proposed to a structure (including replacing a glass or polycarbonate roof with a solid roof) as they have to be satisfied that it is structurally sound. 

Tip: Check that local Building Control has been informed before the conversion starts. Obtain a Building Regulations ‘Final’ Certificate and file it in a safe place.

You will be pleased to know that no, it won’t, as that’s what it’s meant to resolve. It was such an unpleasant atmosphere inside conservatories with old polycarbonate roofs in the hot summer months as they would feel akin to an oven. The solar control glazing in a solid roof makes all the difference and will give you a conservatory that you can once again get frequent use out of.

When you buy an ‘A’ rated set of replacement windows, you are purchasing the UK’s most energy efficient windows. All windows sold in this country are energy labelled and it helps you identify if they comply with building regulations.

If you’ve shopped for ‘white’ goods recently, you will likely have noticed that they are also rated for their energy efficiency using a similar scale. Knowing how energy efficient products such as windows are, helps you to understand how successfully they will insulate your space and how much energy they will save you in the long run.

In our experience, for a small conservatory roof you will be looking at a cost from £5,000, and a larger conservatory roof will come in at around £12,000. We can offer you finance if you wish to spread the cost of paying for a new roof over a certain period. Our finance calculator may prove useful in this instance for working out a suitable payment system.

Usually it can be done in just a matter of ways, meaning that hardly any disruption will be caused at your house.

You will not require planning permission to upgrade the roof, but Building Regulations Approval will be needed and you will have to present evidence when selling the property in the future.

When Building Regulations Approval is gained from your local authority, it symbolises that the new roof has been given the OK from a government approved building control inspector, who is satisfied that it has been correctly installed and is both thermally efficient and structurally sound. This will also avoid any hold-ups or hiccups when you are looking to sell the house to another buyer, as you must show proof of this approval.

Yes. To make life easy for you, TWC can arrange a variety of affordable and convenient easy payment finance options (subject to application & status). Applying for finance is simple and we promise you a quick decision. Everything can be sorted out with you in the comfort of your home or at your local TWC Showroom, so you can enjoy whatever you’ve set your heart on right away.

If you’re arranging your own finance, you’ll need to call us as soon as you get the go ahead. If you’re taking up one of our offers, the company will tell us both directly, so there’s no need to call as we will get in touch with you.

Finance companies can turn down people for lots of reasons, for example if you’ve moved several times over the past few years. In these circumstances, we always do our best to help and sometimes it’s worth trying another provider, especially if they know you.

Sometimes our finance company will say ‘yes’ almost immediately and on other occasions it may take them a few days. This short delay can be for any number of reasons and you should not be unduly concerned.