What Are The Best Conservatory Roofing Materials?

If you’ve invested in a conservatory then you’ll know how beneficial they are, giving you extra floor space whilst connecting you with your outside space.

If you’re investing in a conservatory for the first time, then you’ll know (by now) that it’s an expensive addition. But if you’re going to spend money adding a conservatory onto your home, then you’re going to want to ensure that your conservatory is made from the best materials, and that includes choosing a conservatory roofing option that is the best you can afford.

But what about if you need to replace your conservatory roof. Do you know what different types of conservatory roof materials there are? Or what the best materials to use to replace a conservatory roof are? Should you tile a conservatory roof? Is aluminium the best conservatory roof material?

The point is, there are so many conservatory roofing options, narrowing down which is the best for you really depends on your conservatory, your situation and your budget.

The other questions you will want to ask yourself when choosing your conservatory roofing option is whether the roofing material is expensive? Which conservatory roof option is the strongest? Or is the material you’re using to replace your conservatory roof watertight?

Well, we have all the answers you’ll need to determine which is the best conservatory roofing material for you.

The three things you need to know about conservatory roofing materials are thus:

• Replacing a conservatory roof can be a costly affair, the exact price to replace a conservatory roof depends on the type of roofing material that you choose and the size of your conservatory.
• The most popular type of conservatory roof materials are glass, tiles and polycarbonate.
• You only need building regulatory approval to replace your conservatory roof, you don’t need planning permission.

How much does it cost to replace a conservatory roof?

Replacing a conservatory roof can be a costly business, setting you back anywhere between £2,000 to £6,000. The actual cost will depend on the size of your conservatory roof and what type of roofing material you choose.

Before 2010, the building regs surrounding conservatory roofs were quite relaxed, stating that conservatory roofs only had to contain at least 75% glazed materials, resulting in low grade roofs, or conservatory roofs being made from polycarbonate materials. Which meant that a lot of manufacturers tried to keep costs low by giving you the cheapest roof possible. But that meant the roof wouldn’t last, and your conservatory was typically hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter.

Luckily for you, the building industry has evolved and the types of conservatory roofing materials has expanded, but that also means the costs have increased. However, saying that, a tiled roof or a glazed roof will last you a lot longer than a polycarbonate roof. For an exact quote to replace your conservatory roof, you’re best to contact us.

So what is the difference between the different types of conservatory roof materials, and which is right for you?

The different types of conservatory roof materials

At Orangeries UK we offer timber conservatory roofs, polycarbonate conservatory roofs and glass conservatory roofs.

Timber conservatory roof

A timber conservatory roof is a great replacement conservatory roof, particularly if your current conservatory roof is pitched low, or if your conservatory is no longer capable of bearing the weight of a new roof. Using a timber frame will support your conservatory and elongate its life.

Polycarbonate conservatory roof

A polycarbonate conservatory roof is the cheapest conservatory roof to construct, as well as letting in lots of natural light and being cheap to upkeep, they also have a lifespan of 15-20 years. The downside is they have no thermal efficiency and so your conservatory can become boiling hot in summer and freezing cold in winter. And it’s noisy in the rain.

Glass conservatory roof

Replacing or constructing your conservatory roof from glass is the most popular option for the majority of our customers. Not least because the glass conservatory roofs that we offer have excellent thermal properties meaning they not only insulate, but advances in glazing technology means that a glass roof can regulate the temperature in your conservatory, ensuring it’s a comfortable temperature all year round.

A glass roof also allows the maximum amount of natural light into the room below, it’s durable and it has low maintenance costs, as long as you keep it clean (or you can opt for self cleaning glass), plus it comes with a life expectancy of 15-20 years. You can even choose to install tinted glass to prevent any UV damage to your furniture or yourself.

Tiled conservatory roof

Tiling your conservatory roof will ensure that your conservatory is truly a part of your home. However the downsides are that you reduce the amount of natural light that can come into your home. Saying that, the thermal efficiency of a tiled conservatory roof means that you reap the rewards in terms of the overall energy efficiency of your home. Plus it means that you can use your conservatory all year around and enjoy it’s ambient temperature whatever the weather outside.

If you wanted to add in more light you could always include roof lights or sky lights into your tiled conservatory roof.

However, a tiled conservatory roof is the most expensive option out of all the conservatory roofing material options, because it has higher associated installation costs, that and if you’re replacing your existing conservatory roof you might need to consider reinforcing the conservatory walls, as most existing conservatories won’t have been built to withstand the weight of a tiled roof. But the cost will be a worthwhile investment for your home as you can expect a tiled roof to last up to 50 years.

Finally

So, the choice is yours – the best type of conservatory roof material for you will be the one that suits your roofing needs, your budget and the size of your conservatory roof.