Conservatory Roof Options: Which One is Right for You?

When choosing a conservatory, you need to think about the roof options and which choice is best for you. You may have a certain budget that you need to stick to. In this blog post we will have a look at conservatory roof options and discuss the pros and cons of each helping you to make the best decision. We will also look at conservatory roof insulation and discuss how this can contribute towards the energy efficiency of your conservatory. 

The importance of the right conservatory roof

The right conservatory roof plays a role in how comfortable your conservatory will be throughout winter and summer. Badly insulated roofs or outdated roofs can make your energy bills higher by causing loss of heat. If you choose quality roofing material and insulation you can turn your conservatory into a room that can be used all year round. 

Conservatory roof options 

There are different roof options available for your conservatory. Let’s look at the popular choices. These include:

1. Glass conservatory roofs 

These are a popular choice and are known for providing conservatories with the maximum light. 

• Advantages:

• Natural light – These are the best roof option if you want to get the most natural light into your conservatory. They also reduce the need for artificial lighting in the daytime. 
• Modern look – Glass roofs add a modern design to your home this helps add value to your property, as it becomes more appealing to potential buyers. You can add a personalised touch by fitting decorative or tinted glass.  
• Low maintenance – There are low maintenance options available like self-cleaning glass. 

• Disadvantages:

• Overheating in summer – The glass adds in lots of natural light, but this can lead to your conservatory being overheated in the summer. You could add insulated conservatory roof panels to help keep the temperature regulated. 
• Glass roof conservatories also cause the ultraviolet light to fade your furniture
• Our accredited contractors also offer a range of different glass options such as, solar glass, self-cleaning glass, energy efficient glass and thermal glass.
• When considering a conservatory purchase you should allow in the budget to have the roof insulated.
• Heat loss in winter – Glass roofs lose more heat than solid or tiled roofs. This makes your conservatory less energy efficient in the winter. 
• Noise – Glass roofs will not keep the external noise of rain to a minimum level. 

2. Polycarbonate conservatory roofs 

These are a budget-friendly option if you are looking for something more affordable. 

• Advantages:

• • • Cost-effective – A key advantage of polycarbonate conservatory roofs is that they are the most affordable. This makes it a good choice if you have a lower budget.
    • Easy to install – The panels are easy to install. This will reduce labour costs and installation time. 
    • Durable and weather resistant – Polycarbonate can withstand weather conditions such as snow, wind and rain, preventing cracking and damage to your conservatory. 

• Disadvantages:

• • Thermal insulation – This type of conservatory is not the best for thermal performance. They lose heat quickly in the winter which will affect your cost of energy bills. You might want to consider adding insulated conservatory roof panels to help with this. 
  • Noise –   A polycarbonate conservatory roof is known to have a higher level of noise when it rains or hails. This could make your conservatory less comfortable in bad weather conditions. 
  • Lifespan- Polycarbonate roofs are known to be durable, but they generally have a shorter lifespan compared to other conservatory roof options. You may have to do regular maintenance to your polycarbonate roof to lengthen the lifespan. 
  • A polycarbonate roof is very bad in terms of insulation qualities and it will allow heat in and allow heat out thus making the conservatory totally in-usable. Once again the only solution to the problem is to have the conservatory roof insulated.

3. Tiled conservatory roofs 

These are the best option if you are wanting a highly insulated and longer lifespan conservatory. 

• Advantages:

• • Insulation – The insulation on a tiled conservatory roof is superior compared to glass or polycarbonate. By having a tiled conservatory roof installed your energy bills will be reduced, and your conservatory will be comfortable to use all year round. 
  • Noise reduction – They reduce the noise level from outside significantly. This would create a more relaxing and quieter conservatory for you. 
  • Durability – Having a tiled conservatory roof installed would give you a longer lasting solution. They are excellent in bad weather conditions and their lifespan is greater than glass or polycarbonate conservatories. 

• Disadvantages:

  • Cost – They can be costly and are generally more expensive than glass or polycarbonate conservatory roofs. 
  • Reduced natural light – If you prefer to have a lot of natural light in your conservatory then a tiled roof may not be the best option for you. 
  • Longer installation – A tiled roof will take a longer time to install as it is more complex than a glass or polycarbonate roof. 

In our opinion we would suggest having a tiled conservatory roof installed as they have greater benefits compared to glass and polycarbonate roofs. Whichever option you choose at consumer advisory we can put you directly in touch with accredited professionals. 

The role of insulated conservatory roof panels

Insulated conservatory roof panels are designed to replace polycarbonate and glass roofs. They contribute to making your conservatory thermally efficient. They help to keep warm air in the conservatory in the winter and stop overheating in the summer. 

How much does it cost to insulate a conservatory roof? 

The cost of insulating a conservatory roof depends on the method you wish to use:

• Aluminium foil and thermal wadding system – Costs range between £3,500 to £7,000. Please do not get confused with polymer systems they are not fit for purpose for conservatory roofs. Always use an accredited contractor whose system has been fully tested. Otherwise, you are wasting your money.

• Thermal inserts or panels – Costs range between £4,500 to £9,000. 
• Aluminium insulated panels- Cost range £10.500 to £18.500.

• Solid roof replacement – Costs range between £9,500 to £20,000. 

How to insulate a conservatory roof? 

You might want to consider installing your conservatory roof yourself. Have a think about the following steps:

1. Check the roof 

It is important that you check your roof for any damages and repair these before going ahead with installing your insulation. 

2. Choose materials 

Have a think about and choose the best materials. Choices could include insulated panels or multi-layer foil insulation. 

3. Install insulation 

If you are using foil insulation secure the layers beneath the roof. If you are using insulated panels replace the existing panels. 

4. Finishings 

Finish off by covering the insulation with plasterboard and then check the effectiveness by monitoring the temperature. 

Conclusion

When choosing a conservatory roof you need to take into consideration your overall goal and the amount you are willing to spend. We think the best option is to have a tiled conservatory roof installed because they have the best insulation, the most reduced noise level and a longer lifespan. The second more cost effective solution is an internal conservatory insulation system, but it must be from an accredited contractor who can demonstrate the system has been independently tested and is therefore fit for purpose for conservatory roofs.

Our accredited contractors can confirm their systems are totally compliant.

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