Kevin Sherlock, Managing Director of Smartroof explores ‘room in roof’ solutions, a prefabricated roofing package that offers ease of installation and improved energy efficiency.
In the past 18 months we have spent more times in our homes than ever before, but in the UK our homes have been getting smaller. A 2019 survey carried out by LABC found that UK homes have reduced in size by an average of 10m2 since 2010. Much of this is a result of affordability and developers maximising the land on which they are building. Logic says that below ground basements or lofts are the best options for maximising smaller footprints and increasing the space in homes. However, basement excavation is a costly proposition and construction work below ground complex and carrying a significant degree of risk. It’s why the smart decision is to go up.
Habitable roof space
Creating habitable roofing spaces has been easier by the increased use of off-site fabrication and systems such as structural insulated panels (SIPS), and pre-engineered insulated roof systems such as our own ‘room in roof’ system. Manufactured off-site, the Smartroof system is a complete room in roof solution. Comprising a series of factory produced panels incorporating insulated roof panels, spandrel wall panels, dormers, roof windows, GRP chimneys, soffit and fascia, it is delivered to site and craned into place. Once in place, the roofs simply require roof tiling.
In addition, the interlocking design of the system makes it ideal for housebuilders adopting a fabric first approach. Production of the system in a factory-controlled environment ensures consistent and predictable thermal performance. With the latest changes to Part L of the Building Regulations, the factory insulated panels eliminate voids or cold spots and offer design flexibility as insulation levels can be easily upgraded to meet requirements.
An off-site solution can also reduce the detrimental impact of bad weather on build times, whilst faster weatherproofing of structures will reduce delays for follow on trades. Its off-site manufacturing reduces the time spent working at height and decreases on-site wastage to provide a cost-effective, modern method of construction. A full vaulted ceiling and an extended floor area in the eaves can be achieved in a matter of hours, making it a highly cost-effective package for house building projects of all sizes.
At a time when the skills shortage and tight margins are commonplace across the sector, the off-site fabrication of the roofs provides huge benefits in terms of health and safety, speed of construction and quality control.
To find out more about the Smartroof system visit https://smartroof.co.uk/
