Any problems with your conservatory roof are fixable with a complete replacement, regardless of whether this is a needs-must or optional project. If only it were that simple.
As is always the case with any significant building project, the question is whether the work, time, and costs involved are going to be worth it afterwards.
As good a place as any to get an answer is from the people who have already done it. The videos below share results for Leka customers:
Leka warm roof system customers have no regrets replacing their glazed/polycarbonate conservatory roof with a solid system. It’s typical for it to be an improvement they wish they had done sooner, after years of struggling to make good use of their conservatory.
Scenarios for conservatory roof replacement
Your conservatory is different to Janice’s down the street or any other you happen to drive past, but your problems are probably quite similar:
- Your conservatory roof is dilapidated and no longer fit for purpose. Then it definitely needs replacing. The alternative is tearing down the structure and rebuilding it at significantly higher cost or going back to no conservatory.
- Your conservatory roof is leaky and attracts condensation. Repairs are temporary for glazed and polycarbonate conservatory roofs because they contract and expand in different seasons, and the problems come back. Replacement makes sense when repairs are no longer viable, or you’re sick of kicking the can down the road.
- A recent repair has shown up problems with the original installation. Probably the connection of the roof to your house, or a too-heavy roof for the structure. You should replace it if it’s likely to cause problems.
- Your conservatory roof is ugly and not befitting of your house. It’s a common problem, but also the most difficult to justify with replacement. If there’s nothing functionally wrong with your old roof, this is a vanity project, but possibly a worthwhile one if it’s ruining your ability to enjoy your home.
- Your conservatory isn’t usable in all seasons. By far, this is the biggest reason for most conservatory roof replacements. The amount of glass and plastic in old roofs means minimal insulation and maximum solar heat gain. A solid roof replacement will drastically improve the usability of your conservatory.
The types of replacement roofs available
Solid roofs
The Leka roof has a GRP structure, solid insulation panels, and engineered roof tiles, achieving a U Value as low as 0.10, which is far superior to the standards set out in building regulations and rivals the most energy-efficient homes on sale today.
Solid conservatory roofs are superior to glazed roofs because they block solar heat gain in its entirety and match the roof of your home perfectly.
Unlike patched-together glazed systems, the Leka roof is also pre-approved for building regulations following assessment by MFA Building Control, meaning the fabricated structure is compliant as standard for fast approval.
Hybrid roofs (solid plus glazing)
These are solid roofs with skylights or other glazed panels. They insulate better than solar glass roofs, but less so than solid roofs.
Adding a skylight to your solid roof will make it a hybrid one. You can get skylights and smaller glazing with a solar coating for the best of both worlds.
If you’re wondering why you’d bother, it’s for additional light and to be able to see the sky; it also helps smaller spaces feel much larger.
Solar glass roofs
These use solar-efficient glazed panels and either an aluminium/steel structure or a UPVC structure lined with metal.
Glazed conservatory roofs that use the latest solar glazing are a significant improvement over those using standard glass. However, the external coating on the glass does not block out the sun, and so, lots of solar heat gain is inevitable.
Double and triple glazing is standard, of course, which is as good a heat and noise insulator as the windows on your house.
The problem with old conservatory roofs
The truth is that glazed and polycarbonate roofs are extremely cheap to make and fast to erect. Homeowners have also been told for decades that it’s how conservatories are meant to be. If everyone has them, what’s the issue?
The kicker is that we know glazed and polycarbonate roofs are incompatible with seasonal living. They let in too much sunlight, gain too much heat from it, and fail to trap heat when you’re using a radiator in there. Yet people still sell them.
A by-product from that reality is the likes of solar window film and shutters, which at least make a change but fail to address the problems completely:
- Solar heat gain through the glass
- Low thermal insulation
- Poor sound insulation
- Condensation
- Rotting timber
- Mismatched design versus the house roof
Conservatory roof replacement is the only way to knock all these problems down with one ball, and the modern solution is to go for a solid roof.
The benefits of upgrading to a solid conservatory roof system
It makes sense if you’re unhappy with your existing conservatory roof for one reason or another. Replacement will provide you with a system that will outlive the structure and last for the duration of your home ownership.
Here’s how you stand to benefit from a solid roof:
- You get a warmer space in winter
- Your conservatory is cooler in the summer
- You can read and watch TV with significantly less glare
- Your space is quieter
- Your conservatory looks and feels like an extension
- You can do away with any window blinds and shutters
- There’s no, or minimal, roof glazing to keep clean and maintain
Now, let’s compare those benefits against the latest solar glazing and old roofs:
| Benefit | Solid roof | Solar glass roof | Old glazed/polycarbonate |
| Warmer space in winter | ✅ | ✅ (double/triple glazing helps) | ❌ |
| Cooler in summer | ✅ | ⚠️ (improved but still some heat gain) | ❌ |
| Reduced glare for reading/TV | ✅ | ⚠️ (solar coating helps but doesn’t eliminate) | ❌ |
| Quieter space | ✅ | ✅ (double/triple glazing helps) | ❌ |
| Looks and feels like an extension | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| No need for blinds/shutters | ✅ | ❌ (likely still needed) | ❌ |
| Minimal roof maintenance | ✅ | ❌ (glass still needs cleaning) | ❌ |
Addressing concerns over planning permission
One of the reasons people put off replacing their conservatory roof is that they don’t want to have to deal with the local planning authority.
Getting planning permission costs money, after all, and means potential letters to neighbours who will then know about the works in advance, which could cause problems.
Because planning laws are often set locally, it is advisable to contact your local authority before replacing your conservatory roof with a solid one. There’s a good chance they will say it’s permitted development, but it’s still best to make sure.
IN ANY CASE, building regulations approval does apply. These regulations specify the minimum quality and insulation standards for new roofs.
As we previously touched upon, the Leka roof system has MFA approval, so in most cases, it is fast-tracked for building regs approval.
The Leka system is pre-fabricated and built only by approved installers. You’ll get a certificate for the installation, proving your works are up to standard.
Deciding on a conservatory roof replacement for yourself
To summarize:
- A solid conservatory roof addresses the heat loss and gain problems you are experiencing in different seasons that make your space unusable. Additionally, it:
- Rejects more noise than your old roof
- Requires no cleaning
- Slashes glare and does away with the need for roof shutters
- The upgrade does not usually require planning permission; also, Leka’s system has MFA approval to fast-track its way through building regulations sign-off.
- It is cheaper to replace your conservatory roof than it is to knock everything down and start again. The Leka system is compatible with most structures.
- Solid roofs are the only roofs that will match your home. The Leka roof provides a choice of engineered tiles to mimic it.
You can find out all you need to know about the Leka roof system here.
