Plymouth's Conservatory Roof Specialists
Conservatory Roofs Explained
A conservatory roof is either glass, polycarbonate, a solid tiled warm roof, or a hybrid of tiles and glazing. Tiled warm roofs are the only option that insulates the room properly — around 0.18 W/m²K against 2.0–3.0 for glass — which is why most replacements go that way. Ours start from £6,000 fully fitted across Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall.
- Warm in winter, cool in summer
- No more leaks or condensation
- Fully insulated tiled roof systems
No pushy sales · Same-day reply · 10-year insurance-backed guarantee
A simple, considered approach.
Conservatory roofs: the four options
Nearly every conservatory roof in the UK is one of four types. Which one you have decides whether the room is usable in January and August — and which one you choose next decides whether you ever think about it again.
Polycarbonate
Twin- or multi-wall plastic sheets. Cheapest to build, worst to live under: it traps solar heat, loses warmth fast, and rain on it is loud enough to stop a conversation. Expect discolouration and leaks at the glazing bars from about 10–15 years.
Glass
Sealed double-glazed units, often with a solar-control or self-cleaning coating. Brighter and much quieter than polycarbonate, and modern glass is a genuine improvement on 1990s units — but even good glass sits at roughly 1.0–1.2 W/m²K, so the room still swings hot and cold. Seals typically fail at 15–20 years.
Tiled warm roof
A fully insulated solid roof: an engineered timber frame, layered insulation, breathable membrane and lightweight tiles outside, with a plastered and painted ceiling inside. U-values around 0.18 W/m²K, no cleaning, no noise, and Building Regulations sign-off. This is what turns a conservatory into a room you use in every month of the year — see warm roof conservatories and insulated tiled roofs.
Hybrid (tiles plus glazing)
A tiled warm roof with glazed panels or Velux-style roof windows set into it. You keep the daylight and the sky view but get the insulation. On most projects we fit two roof windows into a typical 3.5m × 3.5m roof.
Why most older conservatory roofs stop working.
Almost every project we visit starts with the same set of complaints.
Too hot in summer
Glass and polycarbonate roofs trap solar heat and make the room unusable.
Too cold in winter
Poor insulation lets warmth escape and pushes up your heating bills.
Leaks & condensation
Aging seals and single-skin roofs let damp in and cause recurring leaks.
Loud during rain
Thin roof materials amplify noise so the room never feels settled.
Which conservatory roof problem are you solving?
People rarely search for a roof — they search for the symptom. Here's the honest cause of each, and where to read more:
- Unbearable in summer — glass and polycarbonate let solar gain straight in and give it nowhere to go. Conservatory too hot in summer
- Freezing in winter — heat escapes through the roof faster than a radiator can replace it. Conservatory too cold in winter
- Leaks and drips — failed glazing-bar gaskets, perished seals and blocked box gutters. Leaking conservatory roof and leak repair
- Streaming condensation — warm damp air meeting a cold single-skin roof surface. Condensation in a conservatory
- Rain noise — thin plastic sheets act as a drum; tiles and insulation stop it dead.
Repairs make sense on a roof that's otherwise sound. Once two or more of the above are happening at once, replacing the roof usually costs less over five years than repeatedly patching it.
A complete insulated warm-roof system.
Engineered to building-reg standards and finished beautifully inside and out.
Conservatory roof replacement: what we fit
We fit one system and we fit it properly: the LABC-approved SupaLite™ lightweight tiled warm roof. Because it weighs roughly 30–35 kg/m² — often less than the glass roof coming off — your existing frame and base almost always take it without structural work, which is what keeps a full roof replacement affordable.
The build-up, outside in: lightweight tiles or slates, breathable membrane and battens, an engineered structural frame, layered insulation, vapour control, then plasterboard skimmed and painted. Flat, vaulted or coombed ceilings are all possible. Downlights, speakers and roof windows are designed in before the frame goes up, not cut in afterwards.
Tile finishes include lightweight slate in graphite, charcoal and heather, plus profiled metal tiles in terracotta and anthracite — see the full range of roofs and finishes.
Conservatory roof types by shape
Every conservatory shape needs a different roof frame design. We build for all of them:
- Victorian conservatory roofs — faceted three- or five-facet bays, the most common in Plymouth.
- Edwardian conservatory roofs — square or rectangular hipped roofs, the simplest to insulate well.
- Lean-to conservatory roofs — single-pitch, ideal where there's limited height under the eaves.
- Double-hipped and P-shaped roofs — larger wrap-around conservatories with two roof planes.
- Bespoke conservatory roofs — L-shapes, orangery-style perimeter ceilings and one-off designs.
Replacing glass specifically? See replacing a glass conservatory roof. Tired external frames can be finished at the same time with cladding.
Four clear steps from first visit to finished room.
Survey
We visit, measure and discuss exactly how you want to use the room.
Specify
A clear written quote — materials, finish and timeline up front.
Install
Old roof off, fully insulated warm-roof system on, by our own crew.
Finish
Plastered ceiling, full clean-down and walk-through with you.
A conservatory you actually want to spend time in.
Cool in summer
No more trapped heat — the room stays comfortable on the hottest days.
Warm in winter
Insulated to modern building-reg standards so you keep the heat in.
10 year guarantee
Insurance-backed guarantee, plus a 40-year guarantee on the tiles.
Fast install
Most projects are completed in just 2–4 days by our own crew.
Conservatory roof insulation — the numbers that matter
Insulation performance is measured as a U-value: watts of heat lost per square metre for each degree of temperature difference. Lower is better.
- Polycarbonate roof — around 2.0–3.0 W/m²K.
- Older double-glazed roof — around 1.6–2.0 W/m²K.
- Modern solar-control glass — around 1.0–1.2 W/m²K.
- Insulated tiled warm roof — around 0.15–0.18 W/m²K.
That's roughly a fifteen- to twenty-fold improvement over polycarbonate. In practice it means one radiator holds the room in winter, the space stops overheating in July, and the roof stops driving your heating bill. Building Regulations require the replacement roof to hit modern thermal standards, which is exactly why internal overlay panels fitted under an old roof can't be signed off.
What does it cost?
Honest, typical price ranges so you can plan with confidence — every quote is bespoke after a free home survey.
How much does a conservatory roof cost?
Ours start at £6,000 fully fitted — scaffolding, roof removal and disposal, the complete warm-roof system, plastered ceiling, Building Regulations application and sign-off, and a full clean-down included. Typical Plymouth projects land between £6,000 and £9,000; large or complex bespoke roofs run up to about £15,000.
The four things that move the price are roof shape, overall size, the number of roof windows, and the tile finish. Nothing is added afterwards — the quote you sign is the price you pay.
For a full breakdown by shape and size, with an instant online estimate, see the conservatory roof replacement cost guide.
Plymouth, Devon & Cornwall.
A locally based crew covering the South West — most projects are within 30 minutes of our Barbican workshop.
Conservatory roofs in Plymouth, Devon & Cornwall
We're based on Southside Street on the Barbican and work as a single crew, so the people who quote your roof are the people who fit it. Coastal properties around Plymouth, Plymstock and Torpoint take a battering from salt air and driven rain, which is exactly the weather that finishes off old glazing-bar seals.
We also cover Plympton, Ivybridge, Saltash, Tavistock and the wider Devon and Cornwall areas, with travel included in the quoted price.
Why our warm roof outperforms a traditional conservatory.
Frequently asked questions.
What are the different types of conservatory roof?+
There are four in common use. Polycarbonate is the cheapest and the worst performer — hot in summer, cold in winter and loud in rain. Glass is brighter and quieter, and modern self-cleaning solar-control glass is far better than older units, but it still can't insulate like a solid roof. A tiled warm roof is a fully insulated, plastered solid roof that turns the conservatory into a proper room. A hybrid combines a tiled warm roof with glazed panels or roof windows to keep the light. We fit tiled warm roofs and hybrids using the SupaLite™ system.
How much does a new conservatory roof cost?+
Conservatory roof replacements with us start from £6,000 fully fitted, including scaffolding, Building Regulations sign-off and a plastered ceiling. The final figure depends on the shape and size of the conservatory, the tile finish, how many roof windows you want and any internal finishing. Our online estimator gives an instant guide price, and every quote is confirmed after a free home survey.
How much does it cost to replace a conservatory roof?+
For a typical 3.5m × 3.5m lean-to or Victorian conservatory in Plymouth, expect £6,000–£9,000 fitted for a full insulated tiled warm roof. Larger P-shaped and L-shaped roofs, or roofs with several skylights, run higher. Very large or complex bespoke roofs top out around £15,000. Anything advertised at £2,000–£3,000 is normally an insulated overlay or internal ceiling panel, not a new roof.
Can I just insulate my existing conservatory roof?+
You can, but it rarely works well. Internal insulated ceiling panels and foil overlays fitted under an old glass or polycarbonate roof hide the existing roof rather than replace it. They trap moisture in the void, they don't stop leaks, they aren't signed off under Building Regulations and they usually can't be guaranteed. A proper warm roof replaces the roof structure, is ventilated correctly and is certified.
Do I need planning permission to change my conservatory roof?+
In almost all cases, no — replacing a roof on the existing footprint is normally permitted development. Building Regulations approval is a different thing and is usually required, because the thermal performance of the room changes. We submit the application, arrange the inspections and hand you the completion certificate, which matters when you sell the house.
How do you clean a conservatory roof?+
For glass and polycarbonate, use a soft telescopic brush with warm soapy water, rinse from the ridge down, and clear the gutters and glazing bars where moss builds up. Never use a pressure washer on polycarbonate — it forces water past the seals and scratches the surface. A tiled warm roof needs no cleaning at all, which is one of the reasons people switch.
What is the cheapest way to replace a conservatory roof?+
A lightweight tiled warm roof on your existing frame and base is the cheapest genuine replacement, because there's no rebuilding work. The SupaLite system we fit weighs around 30–35 kg/m² — usually less than the glass roof it replaces — so the existing structure copes without strengthening. Keeping the shape simple and limiting the number of roof windows also keeps the price down.
How long does a conservatory roof last?+
Polycarbonate typically discolours and starts leaking at 10–15 years. Glass units usually fail at the seals around 15–20 years. A tiled warm roof is a permanent roof — the tiles carry a 40-year manufacturer guarantee and our installation carries a 10-year insurance-backed guarantee.
Will a new conservatory roof make the room darker?+
Slightly, and most people prefer it. Overhead glare disappears and you're left with comfortable daylight from the windows and doors. Adding two Velux-style roof windows to a typical 3.5m × 3.5m roof keeps the room bright while still giving you full insulation.
Do you fit conservatory roofs across Plymouth and Devon?+
Yes. We cover Plymouth, Plympton, Plymstock, Sherford, Ivybridge, Yealmpton, Modbury, Kingsbridge, Tavistock, Saltash, Torpoint, Callington and the surrounding South Devon and South-East Cornwall villages. Travel is included in the quoted price.
Got questions?
Straight answers to the things people ask us most.
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