When you want to close off an outdoor space with a glass roof, you'll come across three different veranda systems: the classic veranda (standard fixed glass roof), the non-sloped veranda and the thermal-break veranda. All three do a similar job, but their structure, cost and how they're used differ quite a bit. In this guide, we introduce each system one by one and compare the differences between them in terms of price, weight, ease of installation and lighting.
All glass roof systems work on the same basic principle. Glass panels are placed into aluminum glass-carrier profiles. Caps are then fitted onto the carriers. EPDM seals provide the insulation, one along the bottom of the glass in the rail, and one along the top of the glass in the cap. The caps are screwed onto the carrier, clamping the glass between the two.
Water that falls on the system is drained away thanks to a slope. In standard and thermal-break systems, water flows toward a gutter at the front. In non-sloped systems, it flows into gutters on all four sides of the system. Water that enters through the drainage holes in the gutter travels down through the posts and reaches the ground or a water line.
The ideal slope in standard and thermal-break systems is between 4 and 10 degrees. In a non-sloped system, things work differently. The frame sits flat from the outside, looking as if there's no slope at all. But inside the frame, the glass-carrier profiles are angled between 4 and 6 degrees. In other words, the slope in a non-sloped system doesn't disappear, it's just hidden from view.
The three systems described in this guide are actually used to build the same type of space known by different names around the world. What's called a kış bahçesi (winter garden) in Turkish is known as a conservatory or sunroom in English, and as a Wintergarten in German. The name changes from country to country, but the logic of the structure stays the same: an aluminum frame, a fixed glass roof on top, and usually a glazed facade. Standard, non-sloped and thermal-break glass roof systems are exactly the building systems used to construct this kind of space. Whichever name you prefer, the systems you'll actually be choosing between are these same three.
The classic veranda is made up of a durable aluminum frame combined with 24 mm glass or a 50 mm sandwich panel. This combination creates a living space that's both attractive and comfortable. It's the most basic and most widely used glass roof system on the market.
In a non-sloped veranda system, there's a frame running around all four sides of the roof. Thanks to the gutters integrated into this frame, the system drains rainwater without needing any slope at all. It's the system of choice for users who want a flat look. As with the classic system, it uses 24 mm glass or a 50 mm sandwich panel.
The thermal-break veranda system is a glass roof solution built for superior insulation. Glass thickness starts at 24 mm and can go up to 54 mm with double- and triple-glazed options. Inside the aluminum profiles carrying this glass, a thermal break made of PA6GF25 material is integrated.
All three systems offer lighting options, but the way it's installed and how it looks differ from one to the next. In the standard system, holes are punched into the glass-carrier profiles and round LEDs are fitted into them. In the non-sloped system, the LED is integrated into the frame: strip LED or RGB LED can be fitted running around all four sides of the space. In the thermal-break system, the LED is handled through a special profile fitted onto the glass-carrier profiles, which lets strip LED be mounted along the rails.
Among the three veranda systems, price ranks from cheapest to most expensive as follows: the standard glass roof is the most affordable option, the non-sloped glass roof sits in the middle, and the thermal-break system is the most expensive. Three things drive this price difference: the weight of the aluminum profile used in the system, whether the profile is standard or thermal-break, and the type of glass chosen.
The weight ranking doesn't follow the same order as price. The heaviest system is the non-sloped glass roof. It's followed by the thermal-break glass roof. The lightest system is the standard glass roof.
The system that's hardest to install is the thermal-break veranda system. It uses more profiles than the other systems. It also requires more detailed sealing work and polymer-based waterproofing, which makes installation take longer. Installing the standard and non-sloped systems is roughly the same level of difficulty, and generally straightforward.
If budget is the priority, the standard veranda system is a solid starting point. If you want a flat look and good water drainage, the non-sloped system is a sensible choice. If you're looking for year-round use and superior insulation, the thermal-break system is the better fit.