An orangery roof is usually a flat perimeter roof around the edge of the room with a glazed roof lantern set into the centre. The solid edge gives the room a finished, ceiling-like feel, while the lantern pulls daylight down into the middle of the space. The main choices you make are the size and style of the glazed section, the frame material and colour, and the type of glass.
If you are planning an orangery in Hampshire, Surrey or Berkshire, the roof is the part that shapes how the room feels more than anything else. This guide walks through the common orangery roof options, how they compare, and what to think about before you choose.
What makes an orangery roof different
The roof is the clearest difference between an orangery and a conservatory. A conservatory roof is mostly glass or another lightweight material from edge to edge. An orangery keeps a solid, framed section around the outside and puts the glass where it does the most good, in the centre.
That layout gives you three things at once. The perimeter roof lets you fit plastered ceilings, spotlights and a neat internal finish, so the room feels like part of the house. The lantern keeps the room bright. And together with the brick pillars that support an orangery, the solid sections help the room stay more comfortable through the year than an all-glass structure. If you are still weighing up the two types of room, our guide to orangery vs conservatory covers the wider differences.
The main orangery roof options
Most orangery roofs are a combination of a flat or perimeter roof and one or more glazed elements. Here are the options you are most likely to be shown.
Flat perimeter roof with a roof lantern
This is the classic orangery look and the one most homeowners picture. A flat roof runs around the edges of the room, and a pitched glass lantern sits in the middle, like a decorative ceiling window. The lantern can be colour matched to your windows and doors, and opening vents can be added for fresh air.
It works well for kitchen diners, family rooms and garden rooms where you want plenty of light over the centre of the room without the whole ceiling being glass.
Larger glazed roof sections
For bigger rooms, some roof systems use a wider pitched glazed section on top of the flat roof rather than a compact lantern. This gives a more open, airy feel and lets much more of the sky into view. It suits larger extensions, and rooms where wide bifold or sliding doors open out onto the garden.
Flat rooflights and skylights
If you prefer a clean, modern look, a flat rooflight can take the place of a pitched lantern. These are single glazed panels set into the flat roof, sometimes raised on a kerb. They sit lower on the roofline, so they can suit contemporary homes or rooms where you do not want a lantern to show above the eaves. Several smaller skylights can also be spread across the ceiling to light different parts of the room.
A glass roof with an internal pelmet
Another route starts from a glazed conservatory style roof and adds an insulated pelmet around the inside edge. From inside, this creates the band of solid ceiling you would expect in an orangery, with room for spotlights, while most of the roof stays glazed. It can be a way to get an orangery feel with more glass overhead.
Choosing the lantern or glazed section
Once you know the overall style, the details of the glazed part make a big difference to how the room looks and performs.
Size and proportion
The lantern should be in proportion to the room. Too small and the centre of the room can feel dim; too large and you lose the solid ceiling that makes an orangery feel like an orangery. Roof lanterns are made to measure, so the size can be matched to your room rather than squeezed into a standard shape.
Sightlines and frame style
Slimmer frames mean more glass and less bar across your view of the sky. Some lanterns are designed with very slim profiles and low external sightlines, which gives a sleek look from both inside and outside. Thicker, more traditional bars can suit period homes.
Frame material and colour
Lanterns are commonly made in aluminium, or in aluminium with a uPVC capping. White, black and anthracite grey are popular, and aluminium lanterns can be finished in a wide range of RAL colours to match or contrast with your windows and doors.
Ventilation
A lantern or rooflight can be fixed or opening. Opening vents, including remote controlled options, help release warm air in summer. If the room already has good airflow from doors and windows, a fixed lantern may be all you need.
Glass choices for an orangery roof
The glass you choose has a big effect on comfort, especially on a south facing orangery that catches the sun for much of the day.
Double glazed units with toughened safety glass are the usual standard for roof lanterns. Many homeowners add solar control glass, which helps limit glare and unwanted heat gain on bright days while still letting in plenty of light. Solar control glass is available in a neutral tint, so it does not change the feel of the room much. Thermally efficient glazing helps keep warmth in during the colder months.
It is worth talking through which way your orangery faces and how you plan to use it. A room used mainly as a summer dining space may need different glass from one used as a year-round home office.
Turning a conservatory into an orangery
If you already have a conservatory, you may not need to start from scratch. Depending on the condition of the existing structure, a conservatory can sometimes be converted into an orangery style room by adding brick pillars, a new perimeter roof and a roof lantern.
This is often a good option for homeowners in Fleet, Farnborough, Camberley and the surrounding towns whose conservatory is too hot in summer and too cold in winter, but whose base and frames are still sound. A survey will show whether your existing structure is suitable.
Planning permission and building regulations
Many orangeries fall under permitted development, which can mean you do not need to make a full planning application. Whether that applies depends on the size, height and position of the orangery, and on whether your home still has its permitted development rights. Homes in conservation areas, listed buildings and properties that have already been extended may have different rules.
Building regulations are a separate question. Because an orangery has a more solid roof than a conservatory, it is often treated more like an extension, particularly if it is open to the rest of the house. Your installer and your local building control team can tell you what applies to your project before work starts.
Orangery roofs across Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire
Cristal Windows supplies and installs orangeries for homeowners across Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire, working within around 30 miles of our base in Fleet. Our orangeries come from Ultraframe, and we also install made to measure roof lanterns and rooflights for extensions and refurbishment projects. You can see more on our orangeries and roof lanterns pages.
Cristal Windows is FENSA registered, a Which? Trusted Trader and a member of the GGF, so you can choose your orangery roof with confidence that the installation is in experienced hands.
Frequently asked questions
What type of roof does an orangery have
An orangery usually has a flat perimeter roof around the edges with a glazed roof lantern or rooflight in the centre. This gives a solid ceiling around the room and natural light over the middle.
Can an orangery have a fully glass roof
Orangeries are defined by their solid perimeter, so a fully glass roof is closer to a conservatory. If you want more glass overhead, a larger glazed section or a glass roof with an internal pelmet can give you an orangery feel with more light.
Will an orangery roof make the room too hot in summer
The solid perimeter roof already reduces the glazed area compared with a conservatory. Choosing solar control glass for the lantern and adding opening vents can help keep the room comfortable on sunny days.
Can I add a roof lantern to my existing conservatory
In some cases a conservatory can be converted into an orangery style room with brick pillars, a new perimeter roof and a roof lantern. A survey will confirm whether your existing structure is suitable.
Do I need planning permission for an orangery
Many orangeries fall under permitted development, but it depends on the size, height and position of the build and on your property. Conservation areas and listed homes may need permission, so it is worth checking before work starts.
Book a free survey
If you are thinking about an orangery or a new roof lantern, Cristal Windows can visit your home, talk through the roof options that suit your space and give you a clear written quote. Contact Cristal Windows to book your free survey.
