Warmlid

Questions

Conservatory roof questions, answered briefly

These are the conservatory roof questions we hear most, each answered in a sentence or three. The quick summary: a panel roof starts from £3,000, goes on in one day for most rooms, and in our model cuts the waking hours your room spends above 25°C by 76%. Open any question below for the detail, or follow the links for the full story.

Hipped conservatory with a new white insulated panel roof, front view

Before you book

Price, survey and paperwork. The guide price comes from three size bands, and the shape of your roof nudges it up a little. Nothing is paid before the survey, and the written price after it is the one you pay. The quote journey gives you a starting figure on screen before anyone visits, so you know roughly where you stand first.

Guide prices, fitted, before extras
Floor area From
Small Up to 12 m² £3,000
Medium 12 to 25 m² £4,000
Large Over 25 m² £5,000

The roof itself

What the panels are, how warm and cool they keep the room, and what they do to light and sound. Short version: the summer change is large, the winter change is real but smaller, and the room gets calmer to sit in. The figures come from our Comfort Calendar model of a typical room in 104 towns.

33°C
July 3pm under polycarbonate
25°C
July 3pm under panels
1,003
extra usable hours a year

Fitting day

One day for most roofs, two for the largest. The team arrives at 8am, the last old sheet is on the drive before eleven, and you get a walk round by late afternoon. The full running order, hour by hour, is on the fitting day page.

Sealant being run along the edge of a grey roof panel
Every joint gets sealed before the caps go on.

After

Ten years of insurance backed cover on the panels, seals and workmanship, a yearly rinse, and a simple way to tell us if something is not right. More on the aftercare page.

Window seat in a conservatory with a glossy panel ceiling
A window seat you can sit on in January.

All the questions

How much does a panel roof cost?

Fitted prices start at £3,000 for a small lean-to, £4,000 for a medium roof and £5,000 for a large one. Shapes with more facets add a little: about 5% for Edwardian, 10% for Victorian, 12% for gable end and 18% for P-shape, as set out on the prices page.

Is the survey really free?

Yes, and there is nothing to pay before it. Expect about an hour with a tape measure, a look at every bar, and colour samples on the table. Then you decide in your own time.

Do I need planning permission?

Most roof swaps on an existing conservatory do not need planning permission, and we check your situation at the survey.

Will my frame take the weight?

Panels are light enough for most sound frames, which is why we check every bar at the survey. If a part needs strengthening, it is priced separately before you commit.

How thick is the roof?

The panels are 75 mm thick: a foam core with an aluminium skin on each face. From inside you see a smooth white ceiling.

Will the room be darker?

A little, since daylight then comes in through the walls only. One or two roof lights keep the middle of a deep room bright, and the glare that bounces off screens under a clear roof disappears.

How much cooler will it be in summer?

In our model a typical July afternoon at 3pm drops from 33°C under polycarbonate to 25°C under panels. Check your own town on the Comfort Calendar.

Will it be warm enough in winter?

Warmer, not toasty. Heating costs fall by only about 15% in our model, because the glass walls still lose heat, but you need a much smaller heater to hold 19°C.

Is rain still noisy?

No more drumming. Rain lands on 75 mm of foam instead of a hollow sheet, so a downpour sounds like a light patter.

What colours can I choose?

White, light grey and anthracite are the usual picks, with a few others such as copper tone. See them on real roofs on the colours and finishes page.

How long does fitting take?

Most roofs are finished in one working day, starting at 8am. Large and P-shaped roofs take two, and the roof is made watertight before the team leaves on day one.

What happens to my old roof?

We take it away the same day and recycle it where possible. Nothing is left on your drive.

Does rain stop the job?

Light rain is fine. If a heavy band is due while the roof would be open, we would sooner pick another day than gamble on it.

What does the guarantee cover?

The panels, the seals and our workmanship, for 10 years, insurance backed. Damage and parts of the frame we did not touch are outside it.

How do I clean the new roof?

A hose and a soft brush once a year, gutters kept clear, and never a pressure washer near the joints.

Which roofs do you replace?

Polycarbonate sheet roofs of any thickness and glass roofs, on lean-to, Edwardian, Victorian, gable end and P-shape conservatories. Browse them by roof shape.

Will a solid roof stop my conservatory smelling damp?

Often, because the warm inner skin gives moist air no cold surface to settle on. Damp that comes up through the floor or walls needs its own fix, covered on why a conservatory smells damp.

Can I add lights to the ceiling later?

Yes, but ask us first. Spotlights go through the inner skin, and fitting them our way keeps the guarantee whole.

Keep reading

Ready to stop guessing?

Answer a few quick questions about your conservatory and get a guide price on screen. A surveyor then measures up and fixes it in writing.