Your conservatory roof material has a big impact on how comfortable, energy efficient and stylish your conservatory is. The best roof material will be fully insulated to prevent heat from escaping, so your conservatory will be warm and inviting all year round.
What We'll Cover
Types of conservatory roofs
Conservatories come in many shapes or sizes – you can even choose a bespoke one.
An Edwardian conservatory, like the one pictured above, is a popular option because of its character and style. There’s also Victorian, Gable-end, Lean-to and Contemporary conservatories to choose from, and each have their own charm and roof styles, from variable pitches to flat slopes like a Lean-to conservatory roof.
You could also install roof windows or glazed panels like in our Equinox Vega roof to let in plenty of natural light.
Conservatory roof material options
A conservatory typically loses most of its heat through a poorly insulated roof.
That’s why the roof material is one of the most important home improvement decisions you will make. It needs to be airtight and help you use the space comfortably all year round.
Glass
A glass conservatory roof can look stunning, opening up your home and filling it with natural light.
But it might not always be practical, especially if you plan to use the space for relaxing, entertaining or working. That’s because it can cause a greenhouse effect where your conservatory becomes sweltering in the summer. This can also lead to higher levels of humidity and condensation.
Similarly, if the glass used is single-glazed it can feel cold in the winter. It won’t be very energy efficient which can increase your energy bills because any heat will rise and escape.
Polycarbonate
A polycarbonate conservatory roof is low cost and lightweight, which makes it a popular option. It’s a thermoplastic and can come transparent or tinted.
But older conservatories tend to use a single polycarbonate sheet with little to no insulation. This causes issues with temperature in your conservatory and heat loss through the roof.
A polycarbonate roof lasts around 10 years in a conservatory, which isn’t long at all. It can also be noisy, especially when it’s raining, and can get dirty and change colour. The panels can also come loose or move place under impact or extreme weather leading to gaps, cracks and leaks.
Tiles
High-quality tiles are a superior choice for your conservatory roof.
Depending on the material, tiles offer strength, impact resistance and durability. Tiles also makes for one of the most energy efficient conservatory roofs.
Eurocell’s Equinox Tiled Roof system helps to reduce noise and glare in a conservatory, while still letting in plenty of light. It comes in 16 styles and colours.
Composite slate tiles are highly impact resistant and strong, whereas steel tiles are low maintenance. Both come with a 40 years guarantee.
There’s also Envirotile, which is made from recycled materials and has antifungal properties and mould resistance, and Slateskin, a GRP sheet roof tile system for fast installation. While tiles can get heavy, Eurocell’s products are designed to be lightweight, which makes them a perfect fit for a conservatory.
Are tiles the best conservatory roof material?
Tiles are a top choice for your conservatory roof.
A modern solution, like a solid tiled roof, is fully insulated, energy efficient and weather resistant. It means you can use your conservatory all year round without worrying about the temperature and maintenance.
Eurocell’s Tiled Conservatory Roof has U-values as low as 0.15, so it’s very energy efficient.
It’s held together with an aluminium frame and interlocking panels, which are carefully designed to improve ventilation. The structure means it won’t get damaged even in extreme weather conditions like hail or storms.
Do I need permission to put a solid roof on my conservatory?
You typically don’t need planning permission to put a solid roof on your conservatory because you’re protected by Permitted Development rights. This means your conservatory can be built without permission as long as it meets certain requirements – for example, it can’t take up over 50% of your garden and it shouldn’t be higher than your existing roof.
In some cases, like listed buildings or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you will need planning permission for a conservatory. So, if you’re unsure, consult with your local planning authority who can advise.
What about Building Regulations?
If your conservatory is under 30 square metres, you also won’t need Building Regulations approval either. In fact, a tiled roof improves ventilation, insulation and energy efficiency, so it’s actually more in line with Building Regulation standards.
How to replace a conservatory roof
Replacing a conservatory roof sounds like extensive work but it doesn’t have to be.
It’s always best to hire an expert who knows what they’re doing. At Eurocell we have more than 50 years’ experience and install over 200 conservatories per month. We’ve come up with solutions like our Equinox Conservatory Roof Replacement, which is quickly installed in around two days keeping disruption to a minimum.
How it works:
- Get in touch
- We’ll connect you with our expert installers
- Free site survey
- You’ll be sent a quote if your conservatory is suitable
- Roof is made-to-measure
- Fitted in around two days
Can you put a new roof on an old conservatory?
You can put a new roof on an old conservatory as long as it is structurally sound. We will conduct a site survey first to let you know if this is possible.
Eurocell’s Tiled Conservatory Roof Replacement can be fitted to an existing frame – or a new one – transforming your conservatory into a peaceful and comfortable retreat all year round. It’s suitable for conservatory roofs with a minimum pitch of five degrees.
Find out how a tiled roof helped one homeowner increase her living space.
Choosing the best conservatory roof
A conservatory roof is a big investment.
At the least, it should add value, be durable, energy efficient, insulated, and impact and weather resistant.
Eurocell’s Equinox Tiled Roof System is built with that in mind, and it’s also cost-effective because it can lead to energy bill savings and means you won’t have to replace or maintain your roof as often. It also comes with a 10-year guarantee.
Find out how a tiled roof can transform your conservatory.
