Roof systems used for Timber Conservatories

by

Charles Turner

A conservatory roof system is extremely important. With the right system you will be able to enjoy a maintenance free conservatory for many years. With the wrong system you may well become accustomed to fear the rain and the unexpected leaks.

When timber conservatories were first built keeping the weather at bay must have been a constant challenge and roof maintenance a regular event. However technology has dramatically improved and there are a number of proprietary systems that should ensure that your conservatory can be enjoyed come rain or shine.

At first glance one would say a conservatory roof was made from glass and roof beams. However, although they are the essential structural parts, by themselves they let water in all over the place, so systems had to be devised to allow people to enjoy the light through the glass roof but be protected from the elements.

The first method used to weatherproof the roofs was to attach a simple strip of wood that overlapped the glass panels. The strips of wood were then tightly screwed down into the roof beams to seal the unit. Whilst this provided some protection, this system is very vulnerable to leaks. The main reason for this is that wood is a natural material with a changing moisture content. This causes the strips to shrink or expand and in some instances crack. Over time these strips will deteriorate and hence the natural progression is leaks in your conservatory.

Most reputable conservatory manufactures no longer use the timber strip system, but you must always check as this is the cheapest system available and even expensive suppliers have been known to use it in the past.

By far the most efficient systems are the aluminium capping systems that are manufactured by companies such as Exitec. Vast amounts of research have gone into these systems to make them both maintenance free and highly efficient in weatherproofing hardwood conservatories. The roof caps are coated with a special powder which protects the aluminium against deterioration. But the real key to the system is the seals which are made from neoprene, the same material used for vehicle tyres. When the roof caps are pressed against the glass, pressure is applied to the neoprene seals which then weatherproof your timber conservatory.

By visiting the author’s website at

oakconservatories.co.uk

you will find useful information about

conservatory roof capping

.

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Roof systems used for Timber Conservatories

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