What comes off and what stays
Only the infill leaves. The glazing bars, ridge and wall plate that make up the frame are checked at the survey and stay in place, because the 75 mm panels are fitted onto them. Everything that sat between those bars goes:
- Polycarbonate sheets, or sealed double glazed roof units
- The plastic or aluminium end caps, top caps and gaskets that held them
- Old sealant, foam strips, breather tape and the odd bird's nest
- Any ridge cresting and finials, if the new roof does not reuse them
The walls, windows and doors are not touched. You can see a roof halfway through on the fitting day page.
Where each material ends up
A roof is a mix of materials, and each has its own route. We do not quote recycling rates because they depend on which recyclers are open to which materials near you at the time. What we can tell you is what happens to each part:
| What it is | Where it goes | |
|---|---|---|
| Polycarbonate sheets | A rigid plastic, often dirty and full of algae | A plastics recycler where one takes it, otherwise a licensed waste site |
| Glass roof units | Two panes, a spacer bar and a sealant edge | A glass recycler that separates the panes from the edge |
| Aluminium caps and trims | Metal | Scrap metal recycling |
| Gaskets, foam and sealant | Mixed rubber and plastic | General waste through a licensed site |
How the day keeps the mess off your garden
The roof comes off in sections, not all at once, so only a bay or two stands uncovered at any moment. Each sheet is unclipped, lifted down and stacked straight into the van. Small bits such as old caps and screws go into bags as the team works, rather than dropping into the borders.
The old roof from bar to van
- Caps offTop caps along each glazing bar are unclipped to free the sheets or units beneath.
- Sheets liftedEach one is slid out and passed down the ladder, never thrown.
- Straight into the vanSheets are stacked flat in the van as they come down, so nothing sits on the lawn.
- Bars cleanedOld sealant and debris are scraped off the frame before the first panel goes on.
- Sweep upGutters, paths and the room are cleared before the team leaves for the day.
If the survey finds something unusual
Most roofs we see are polycarbonate or glass and come off without fuss. Older lean-tos sometimes have corrugated sheets that are older than the conservatory itself, and some cement based sheets from before 2000 can contain asbestos. If the surveyor sees anything like that, we tell you on the day of the survey, and it is removed by a licensed specialist before our work starts. It is not something we take away in the van.
The same applies to anything resting on the roof that is not part of it, such as a satellite dish bracket or a security light fixed to a bar. Mention them when you ask for a survey and we will plan around them.
Is disposal an extra cost?
No separate charge appears for it. Clearing away the old roof belongs to the work we price at the survey, and the fixed written price you get afterwards already includes it. Guide prices begin at £3,000 for roofs of 12 m² or less, and our prices page shows how size and shape move that figure.
