The roof is what makes a conservatory usable year-round — here's how to compare glass, tiled and hybrid roofs on the metrics that actually matter.
Polycarbonate roofs were the standard until roughly 2010. They're cheap and light but noisy in rain, hot in summer and freezing in winter. If your existing polycarbonate roof is failing, replacing it in kind is a false economy — the whole-life cost of a glass or tiled replacement is lower once you factor in heating.
A modern glass roof uses solar-control coatings that reflect infra-red heat while letting light through. Look for a whole-roof U-value under 1.2 W/m²K. Self-cleaning coatings (Pilkington Activ, Planitherm) break down organic dirt in sunlight so rain washes it away — worth having on a pitched roof you can't reach.
A tiled conservatory roof reclassifies the space as an extension for temperature purposes. Interior remains 5–8°C warmer in winter and cooler in summer than a glass roof. Downside: you lose overhead light, so a tiled roof works best when combined with a vaulted plaster ceiling, roof lights and a large lantern.
Hybrid systems combine solid insulated panels with glazed roof lights. You get thermal performance close to a tiled roof and light close to a glazed one. They cost 20–30% more than a like-for-like glass roof but deliver year-round usability, which is the real point of a conservatory.
Replacing a conservatory roof usually falls under permitted development, but changing to a solid roof needs LABC or FENSA sign-off because it changes the thermal envelope. Any reputable installer will handle Building Control on your behalf and post you the certificate afterwards.
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