Conservatory Roof Replacement Cost: what the job involves and who is registered to do it

How conservatory roofs works

1. Check what the existing frame will carry. A conservatory frame and its base were designed for the weight of the roof they came with. A solid roof is several times heavier than polycarbonate, so the first question is whether the existing structure takes it, and a competent installer will say if it does not.
2. Decide what the room is for. If it is a summer room, better glazing is often enough. If it is to become a year-round room, the roof, the glazing and the heating all have to change together, and a solid roof over single-glazed side frames just moves the cold spot.
3. Establish which rules apply. A conservatory exempt from the Building Regulations can stop being exempt when its roof becomes solid, because the exemption depends on the roof being substantially translucent. That is a question to settle before ordering, not during.
4. Ventilate and control condensation. Closing a translucent roof in changes where warm wet air goes. Trickle vents, a proper vapour control layer and an honest look at where the moisture comes from are what stop the new ceiling growing mould.
5. Get the guarantee and the certificate. Ask for the paperwork that shows the roof was signed off, whether that is a building control completion certificate or a competent person scheme certificate for the roofing element.

Insurance and paperwork

Common questions

Can any conservatory take a solid roof?

No. It depends on the frame, the base and the span. Reputable installers survey the existing structure and will sometimes reinforce it or refuse the job, which is a better answer than a roof the frame cannot hold.

Does a replacement conservatory roof need building regulations approval?

It can. A conservatory's exemption rests partly on the roof being largely translucent, so replacing it with a solid one is a change that commonly brings the room inside the regulations.

What is the cheapest way to make a conservatory usable in summer?

Replacing a tired polycarbonate sheet with a modern solar control unit is normally the cheapest meaningful change, and it is the option to price first before considering a full solid roof.

Registered contractors by region

• Registered roofers in the East Midlands postcode area
• Registered roofers in the East of England postcode area
• Registered roofers in the London postcode area
• Registered roofers in the North East postcode area
• Registered roofers in the North West postcode area
• Registered roofers in the Scotland postcode area
• Registered roofers in the South East postcode area
• Registered roofers in the South West postcode area
• Registered roofers in the Wales postcode area
• Registered roofers in the West Midlands postcode area
• Registered roofers in the Yorkshire and The Humber postcode area