Conservatory Roof Types Explained

Most conservatories in the UK were fitted with polycarbonate or single-glazed glass roofs in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Twenty-something years on, a lot of them are showing their age. Owners are dealing with rooms that are too hot in July, too cold in January, and too noisy whenever it rains hard.

A roof replacement is usually the answer, and the technology has moved on. There are now five genuinely different roof systems on the market, each with a clear use case and a clear cost. The right one for your home depends on how you use the conservatory, what your budget is, and what kind of property you have.

This guide covers what each type is, what it costs, how it performs, and when it makes sense. Where it helps, we’ve included rough U-values and price ranges so you can compare like for like.

Glass conservatory roofs

The most popular choice for homeowners who want to keep the bright, open feel of a traditional conservatory while gaining proper thermal performance. Modern glass roofs are a different product from the single-glazed units fitted in the 1990s, with self-cleaning coatings and solar control glass as standard.

What a glass roof actually is

A modern glass conservatory roof uses sealed double-glazed units in an aluminium or uPVC frame. The glass itself is usually solar-controlled and self-cleaning, with a coating that reflects part of the summer heat and breaks up dirt under sunlight so rain washes it off.

This is the most direct upgrade from older single-glazed or polycarbonate conservatory roofs, and it’s the option that keeps the original “garden room” feel.

Performance and cost

A typical glass conservatory roof costs between £4,500 and £8,500 fitted, depending on the size of the conservatory and the glass specification you choose. U-values sit in the 1.0 to 1.4 W/m²K range, roughly four to seven times better than older polycarbonate. Lifespan is 25 years or more.

When a glass roof works best

Glass is the right choice if you actively want the natural light and the view of the sky, and if you use the conservatory mainly in spring, summer and autumn. For families who want to use the room year-round as a proper living space, a solid or tiled roof is usually a better fit.

Polycarbonate conservatory roofs

The original budget option, and still the cheapest way to put a roof on a conservatory in 2026. Most older UK conservatories were built with polycarbonate, so a like-for-like replacement is often a homeowner’s first instinct before they look at what else has come onto the market in the last decade.

What polycarbonate roofs actually are

Polycarbonate is the original mass-market conservatory roof material from the 1990s. It comes in multiwall sheets, ranging from 10mm twin-wall to 35mm seven-wall, fitted into a lightweight aluminium framework. It’s the cheapest type of roof on the market.

Performance and cost

A like-for-like polycarbonate replacement typically costs £2,500 to £5,500 fitted. U-values are the worst of the four options at 1.5 to 2.5 W/m²K, and the material itself tends to discolour, crack and lose its insulating performance after 10 to 15 years. It’s also the noisiest in heavy rain.

When a polycarbonate roof still makes sense

Honestly, in most cases it doesn’t. The main reason people still choose polycarbonate is upfront budget, or a short-stay property like a rental where lifetime cost matters less. If you’re staying in the home long-term, glass usually represents better value over a 20-year horizon.

Solid insulated panel roofs

The fastest-growing category in conservatory roof replacements. These systems turn a seasonal room into a proper extension that’s comfortable year-round, at a fraction of what a brick-built single-storey extension would cost.

How solid roof systems work

Solid roof systems use a lightweight insulated uPVC panel that fits over the existing conservatory frame. The original glass or polycarbonate sheets are removed, and the new panels are installed using the existing glazing bars and gaskets. This makes the upgrade quick and avoids disturbing the rest of the conservatory structure.

These systems need LABC certification because the change from a translucent roof to a solid one is a regulated change to the building’s permitted use.

Performance and cost

A solid insulated panel roof costs between £7,500 and £12,000 fitted. The U-value is around 0.18 W/m²K, the same standard required for new extensions under Building Regs. Lifespan is 25 years or more.

When a solid insulated roof transforms a conservatory

If you currently can’t use the conservatory in summer (too hot) or winter (too cold), a solid roof is usually the right answer. It turns an underused space into a year-round living room. Most homeowners we work with in Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire who go this route do so because the conservatory has been sitting empty half the year.

The trade-off is that you lose some of the original natural light. Fixed glass panels can be included in some sections if you want to keep more daylight coming through.

For a more polished interior finish, the panels can be plasterboarded and skim-plastered internally. This is an optional upgrade rather than standard.

Standard Tiled Roofs

A step up from basic solid insulated panel systems, standard tiled roofs use lightweight thermoplastic or metal shingle-effect tiles to create the look of a traditional roof at a weight that can be retrofitted onto an existing conservatory frame. These are the systems most homeowners come across when researching “solid roof conversion” or “tiled conservatory roof” online.

How standard tiled roof systems work

A standard tiled roof system replaces the original translucent conservatory roof with a structural framework finished externally in lightweight thermoplastic or metal shingle-effect tiling, plastic claddings and ridge tiles. From a few feet away the finish reads as a normal roof, though up close the tiles are clearly synthetic rather than clay or concrete.

Internally, the roof can be finished in one of two ways. The simpler and cheaper option is uPVC panels fitted between the rafters, which gives a clean but more functional appearance. The more polished option is plasterboard with a plaster skim, which gives a finish closer to a normal extension ceiling.

These systems are LABC certified for the same reason as the basic solid panel: the change from a translucent to a solid roof converts the building’s permitted use and triggers Building Regs notice.

Performance and cost

A standard tiled roof costs between £8,000 and £14,000 fitted, depending on the size of the conservatory, the internal finish chosen and whether any glazed sections are included. U-values are typically 0.15 to 0.18 W/m²K, similar to or slightly better than a basic solid insulated panel.

Lifespan is 10 to 15 years, in line with the supplier’s standard manufacturer warranty.

When a standard tiled roof works best

A standard tiled system suits homeowners who want the look of a tiled roof from outside without the cost of a premium timber system. The thermal performance is good, the external finish gives the conservatory a real-roof appearance, and the cost sits roughly mid-way between the basic solid panel and the premium Warmer Roof option.

It’s a popular choice for shorter-stay properties, smaller conservatories, and homeowners who want to upgrade the roof without taking on the additional cost of a 25-year manufacturer-guaranteed timber system.

The premium end of the solid roof market, and the option most likely to be mistaken for a brick-built extension once it’s finished. Tiled roofs cost more than insulated panel systems but deliver a noticeably different result, both inside the room and from the street, and they tend to be the option that pays back longest in terms of usability and resale value.

How tiled roof systems work

A tiled conservatory roof is a heavy-duty, purpose-made modular roof system finished with individual lightweight tile effect slates. With matching ridge tiles fitted onto a structural framework. The tiles come in various colours & textures and are engineered to blend in with traditional roof tiles while staying light enough to retrofit onto an existing conservatory. From outside, the finished result is indistinguishable from a brick-built extension. Internally, the ceiling is fully plastered and can take downlights.

At Cristal we tend to specify the Warmer Roof system, a timber-based modular roof we’ve found delivers the best combination of thermal performance, build quality and finish. As a timber system rather than an aluminium one, it avoids cold bridging and the associated condensation risk that can shorten the life of cheaper solid roof systems. It also comes as standard with a 25-year manufacturing guarantee, which mirrors the system’s expected lifespan.

The standard Warmer Roof specification achieves a U-value of 0.15 W/m²K. The enhanced Warmer Roof PLUS specification brings this down to 0.12 W/m²K, which is exceptional even by new-build extension standards.

The system is genuinely modular. We can build in full-size double-glazed panels or roof lights wherever you want them, so you’re not restricted to a fully solid roof unless that’s what you choose. There’s a vast choice of tile profiles and colours, which makes the finished roof easy to match to the rest of the property, including period and character homes where this matters most.

Performance and cost

Tiled roofs cost between £9,000 and £20,000 fitted for average-size buildings, depending on size, complexity, the number of glazed panels or roof lights included, and tile selection. Large or bespoke designs will incur higher prices.

U-values are the best of any conservatory roof type. With the enhanced Warmer Roof PLUS specification, U-values reach 0.12 W/m²K, well below current Building Regs requirements for new extensions.

When a tiled roof is the right choice

Tiled roofs work best on three types of project. First, period or character properties where polycarbonate or glass looks out of place against the existing brickwork and roofline. Second, conservatories that are being repurposed as permanent rooms, such as kitchen extensions or dining rooms. Third, owners who care about resale value, since a tiled roof typically adds more to property value than the other options and tends to hold its appeal better over a 20-year horizon than lower-spec systems.

Side-by-side comparison

Here’s how the four roof types compare on the things that matter most when you’re choosing between them: cost, thermal performance, lifespan, light, and whether you’ll need Building Regs sign-off.

	Glass	Polycarbonate	Solid Panel	Standard Tiled	Warmer Roof
Cost (fitted)	£4,500 to £8,500	£2,500 to £5,500	£7,500 to £12,000	£8,000 to £14,000	£9,000 to £20,000
U-value (W/m²K)	1.0 to 1.4	1.5 to 2.5	0.18	0.15 to 0.18	0.12 to 0.15
Lifespan	25+ years	10 to 15 years	10 years	10 to 15 years	25 years
Natural light	Excellent	Good	Limited (with glass panels)	Limited (with skylights)	Limited (with skylights)
Year-round use	Limited	Poor	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Building Regs	Not usually required	Not usually required	Required (LABC)	Required (LABC)	Required (LABC)
Best for	Light lovers	Budget projects	Budget year-round upgrade	Mid-range tiled finish	Permanent extension feel

Lifespan figures reflect the manufacturer’s standard warranty period. These warranties are provided by the supplier and are not extended by Cristal.

How to choose the right roof for your home

The five types serve different needs. The scenarios below are the most common ones we see across Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire, with the roof type each one tends to point to.

Your conservatory is too hot or too cold

If summer makes the room unusable and winter makes it freezing, the issue is thermal performance. A solid or tiled roof solves this completely. Glass with solar control coating helps but won’t get you all the way there.

Your polycarbonate roof is cracked or yellowed

The cheapest like-for-like upgrade is a new glass roof, which gives you a real step-change in performance for similar money. If you’ve been thinking about using the conservatory more anyway, this is a natural moment to consider a solid or tiled option.

You live in a period or character property

In Farnham, Petersfield and Windsor and similar towns across our catchment, tiled roofs blend with the existing roofline far better than glass or polycarbonate. A premium Warmer Roof gives the closest match to original brickwork; a standard tiled system gets you most of the way there at a lower price. They look like part of the original house. If kerb appeal matters to you, this is the route.

You want it to feel like a real extension

A premium Warmer Roof gives you a plastered ceiling, downlights, and a finish that matches the rest of the house. A standard tiled system can deliver a similar look at a more accessible price, though with shorter warranty life. Either way, the room reads as an extension rather than a conservatory.

Budget is the deciding factor

Glass tends to offer the best value per pound spent over a 20-year horizon. Polycarbonate is cheaper upfront but you’ll likely be replacing it again in 10 to 15 years. Solid and tiled cost more but transform how the space is used, which often justifies the spend if you actually use the room.

What else to check when replacing your conservatory roof

Most conservatories were built between the 1990s and early 2000s, and the rest of the structure tends to be the same age as the roof. If the roof has reached the end of its life, the chances are the frames, doors and glazed units have too. We always survey the whole building, not just the roof.

Frames and load capacity

The first thing we check is whether the existing uPVC or aluminium frames can take the weight of a new solid or tiled roof. A solid roof is significantly heavier than the polycarbonate or glass it’s replacing, and many early conservatory frames were built without proper steel or aluminium reinforcement inside the uPVC.

If the frames are hollow uPVC with no internal reinforcement (common in conservatories from the late 1990s), they may need strengthening or replacing before a new roof can go on. We confirm this during the survey, so you know upfront whether the existing frames are part of the solution.

Doors and sealed glass units

It’s common to find that the doors and windows around the conservatory are showing their age too. Hinges drop, locks stiffen, gaskets perish, and the doors stop sealing properly against the weather.

We also frequently find failed sealed glass units with misting between the panes. Most of these were made with standard glass that’s well past its typical 5 to 10 year warranty period. While we’re on site for the roof, we can replace them with modern Low-E toughened safety glass, in either double or triple glazed specification. Combined with a new roof, this turns the whole building into a properly insulated, year-round room.

Walls and base

Some older conservatories were built on poorly insulated bases, with single-skin dwarf walls or even plastic panels at the bottom. These work against the thermal performance you’re paying for in a new roof, because heat will always escape through the weakest part of the structure.

If the existing base or walls aren’t up to standard, we’ll flag this during the survey and explain what’s worth upgrading. In most cases, addressing the base alongside the roof gives a far better end result than doing one without the other.

Building regulations and planning permission

The paperwork side of conservatory roof replacements is more straightforward than most people expect, but it’s worth knowing what applies before you start getting quotes. Two separate things are involved: Building Regs, which governs how the roof performs, and planning permission, which governs whether you’re allowed to build it.

When Building Regs apply

Solid and tiled roofs are classed as building work because they create a habitable room with full thermal performance. They require LABC notice and certification. Glass and polycarbonate replacements typically don’t trigger Building Regs unless the structural framework is changing.

Planning permission and conservation areas

Most conservatory roof replacements fall under permitted development and don’t need planning permission. The exceptions are listed buildings and conservation areas. Parts of Farnham, Winchester, Petersfield and Windsor have conservation designations, so we always check before quoting.

When a conservatory becomes an extension

This trips a lot of homeowners up. People sometimes assume they can remove the doors between the main house and the conservatory after a roof replacement, opening the space up as one big room.

Legally, those internal doors are part of what keeps the building classified as a conservatory rather than an extension. Take them away, and the room becomes part of the main house, which means it has to meet full Building Regs for extensions, including SAP energy calculations, and may need planning permission depending on size and location.

It’s not impossible to make this change, but it’s a much bigger project than simply removing the doors. If you’re considering it, we’ll talk through what’s involved during the survey.

How Cristal Windows handles the paperwork

We submit the LABC notice on solid and tiled installations and produce a FENSA certificate where applicable (typically when the conservatory has been classified as part of the main house under planning). You don’t need to apply for anything yourself. The paperwork is included as part of the supply-and-install package.

A note on cost

The price ranges in this guide are realistic for replacements on standard 3m by 4m and 4m by 5m conservatories across Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire. Larger conservatories, complex shapes (Edwardian, Victorian, P-shaped) and additional features like glazed roof panels, internal lighting, skylights or modified base walls all affect the final number. If the survey identifies frames, doors, sealed units or base walls that need work alongside the roof, those are quoted separately so you can see exactly what’s included.

Frequently Asked Questions

A few of the questions we get asked most often by homeowners weighing up a conservatory roof replacement.

Q. Can you replace a polycarbonate roof with a solid roof?

A. Yes, in most cases. The existing base, dwarf walls and frames are assessed first to confirm they can take the additional weight. We do this assessment as part of the survey, and most modern conservatories pass without issue.

Q. Do I need planning permission for a new conservatory roof?

A. Usually not. Conservatories typically fall under permitted development. You will need Building Regs sign-off for solid and tiled roofs, but planning permission is rare. Listed buildings and conservation areas have additional rules.

Q. How long does a conservatory roof replacement take?

A. Most projects take 2 to 5 days on site. Glass roofs are quickest, often a day and a half on a standard conservatory. Solid panel roofs typically take 2 to 3 days. Standard tiled roofs take 3 to 4 days. Warmer Roof installations take 4 to 5 days because of the additional structural work and finish.

Q. Will a solid roof make my conservatory dark?

A. It can, which is why two to four skylights are usually included as standard. With skylights, most homeowners report the room feels brighter than they expected, and far more usable than the original polycarbonate roof.

Q. Is a tiled conservatory roof cheaper than building an extension?

A. Yes, significantly. A full tiled roof transformation on a typical conservatory costs roughly 30 to 50 percent of a comparable single-storey extension, with similar usability and similar thermal performance. For owners who already have a conservatory shell, it’s the most cost-effective way to add a properly finished room.

Q. Can I remove the doors between my house and conservatory after a new roof?

A. Usually not without significant additional work. The internal doors are part of what keeps the building legally classified as a conservatory. Removing them changes the building’s status to an extension, which triggers full Building Regs (including SAP energy calculations) and may require planning permission.

Q. Should I replace the windows and doors at the same time as the conservatory roof?

A. In many cases yes, particularly if the conservatory is more than 15 years old. We often find that the frames, sealed units and doors are showing the same wear as the roof, with misting, draughts and failed seals. Doing both at the same time is cheaper than doing them separately, and the end result is a properly insulated, year-round room rather than a new roof on a tired structure.

Get a Quote from a Local Installer

Cristal Windows is a family-run company based in Fleet, supplying and installing across Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire. We’ve been members of the Glass and Glazing Federation for 34 years, we’re FENSA registered and a Which? Trusted Trader, and our installations come with full Building Regs certification where required.

If you’d like to talk through which conservatory roof type makes sense for your home, request a free, no-obligation quote and we’ll arrange a site survey at a time that suits you.

Get my free conservatory roof quote