Should you replace your conservatory roof in 2026?

If your conservatory is a sweltering greenhouse in July and a freezing box in January, you're not alone. Polycarbonate and old-style glass roofs were never designed for year-round comfort — they were designed to be cheap to put up. Replacing the roof with a fully-insulated tiled system is the single biggest upgrade you can make to the space.

What changes

• Temperature: usable all year. Summer 5–10°C cooler, winter 5–10°C warmer.
• Noise: rain on polycarbonate is a drum. Rain on a tiled roof is silence.
• Daylight: with 2–3 Velux or a roof lantern, you keep the bright airy feel and lose the glare.
• Light: a plastered ceiling looks like the rest of the house, not a leaky greenhouse roof.
• Resale value: estate agents will tell you a usable conservatory is worth thousands more than an unusable one.

What's involved

We strip the polycarbonate, install lightweight insulated panels designed for the existing conservatory frame, tile over the top, and plasterboard the inside. Two to four days on site for a typical lean-to. Five to seven for a Victorian or Edwardian conservatory.

Cost — straight answers

A standard 3m × 3m lean-to conservatory roof replacement starts around £8,000 fitted, including plasterboard ceiling, a Velux, and rubbish disposal. Bigger or more complex shapes — Victorian, Edwardian, P-shape — sit in the £10,000–£14,000 range. We always quote written and itemised so you know what you're paying for.