One of the most important things to consider when thinking about building a conservatory is which type of conservatory roof is best for meeting your needs. 

You’ve got to think about aesthetics which can vary dramatically, just as much as the functionality your require. 

In order to prioritise, think about what you want the space to achieve? Do you want lots of light and panoramic garden views to make optimal use of the summer months, or do you wish for a more versatile space that’s well insulated and will stay nice and toasty during winter? 

There are a range of conservatory roof options to choose from, each with their specific benefits and drawbacks. We’ll be going though each of them in due course!

Glass Conservatory Roofs

If filling your living space with natural light is your priority, a glass conservatory roof may be the optimal choice for you. As you can imagine with the transparency of glass, daylight or sunlight will just ooze into your conservatory, creating a very bright and airy space! 

There are many advantages that come with choosing a glass conservatory roof. Firstly, they can make a room feel lot bigger due to the combination of natural light and sky views. Therefore, if you’re working with a relatively smaller space, a glass roof can be a real game changer. 

Secondly, speaking of the latter point above, having panoramic view of your outdoor surroundings is something many crave with their conservatories. If you wish to feel more of a connection to the outdoors, a glass roof will certainly assist with that. 

Thirdly, modern glazing comes with the benefits of thermal efficiency and self-cleaning. Gone are the days when glass conservatories became a furnace in the summer and a freezer in the winter, as the heat regulation of contemporary glass fixes that old issue. 

Solid of Tiled Conservatory Roofs

In recent years, many homeowners are opting for a solid or tiled conservatory roof. It’s easy to see why as they provide the perfect hybrid between a conservatory and an extension, which yields many benefits.

Firstly, they look fantastic. They feel like a natural extension to your home, and you can even match the tiles to your existing roof for that added touch of synergy. Alternatively, you could opt for a completely different colour to provide a contrasting tone to your property. 

The main difference between an extension and a tiled roof conservatory is that you are able to fit much more glazing in the latter. Whether it be via large bi-folding doors, expansive glazing, rooflights or a combination of each…solid roof conservatories still provide that connection with your garden and the outdoors. 

Furthermore, as is to be expected, tiled conservatory roofs are more thermally efficient than glass and polycarbonate options. Solid roofs contain not only the tiles, but added layers of insulation which will keep the temperature of the room highly regulated. Your energy bills will also be kept down which is another huge positive! 

Cleaning is something you’ll barely have to think about solid roofs require minimal maintenance if any at all. They’re also extremely hard-wearing, durable and weather resistant…exactly like the roof on your house. 

The installation time is also minimal as you can replace an existing conservatory roof with a solid one, whilst maintaining your conservatory’s existing structure. Your new solid conservatory roof is also manufactured off-site then brought to your property to be installed. That means it only takes a few days to remove your old roof and install the new one! 

In terms of cost, a tiled conservatory roof is more expensive than a polycarbonate roof but is comparable to glass options. You just need to weigh up whether up which you’d value more…sky views or extra thermal efficiency? 

Installing rooflights is a nice mediator to get the best of both worlds, so you’ll still be able to see the sunny skies on bright days and the nighttime stars. However, there’s no getting away from the fact that there will be less views and much less natural light flowing into the space. Decisions, decisions. 

Polycarbonate Conservatory Roofs

Finally, there’s the classic polycarbonate conservatory roof option. Cheap and cheerful is probably the best way to describe this roof choice. It does the job and will last around 10-15 years before you’ll need to replace it. However, there are many drawbacks we’re afraid…

Aesthetically, polycarbonate conservatories are now a renovation of the past and these roofs do look very outdated compared to more glass and solid roofs. 

Solid roofs makes it seem as if there’s a seamless transition from your home to the extension. Whereas, glass provides an unrivalled ‘wow’ factor. Polycarbonate just has a bit of a tired look and provides a very contrasting appearance compared to the other two options. 

Polycarbonate roofs aren’t the most thermally efficient either. Their lack of insulation will make the living space difficult to use in the hotter months and colder months…you wont’ be able to use the space all year round, that’d for sure!

Then there’s the cleaning aspect. Polycarbonate roofs will showcase dirt quickly, smear, smudge and leave watermarks. It’s a very difficult material to clean and keep the roof looking immaculate. 

Furthermore, when it rains…you’ll know. When rains drops onto a polycarbonate roof, it will like a monsoon is pouring onto your home as the sound is incredibly noisy. If you’re looking to create an ambience of peace & quite, we would not recommend polycarbonate. 

Lastly, let’s talk about garden views and natural light. Polycarbonate is opaque compared to the transparency of glass, meaning the view will be hazy and burry due to the material finish. Garden or sky views will therefore be interrupted, and this also impedes the amount of natural light that will enter the living space as well! 

So…What Is The Best Conservatory Roof Material?

Unfortunately, the answer to this question is the age old…”it depends.” You know your needs, budget and desires for your living space. So, take some time considering all of the pros and cons before coming to a decision on which path is right for you! 

If you need some assistance in figuring out which conservatory roof type you should select, here at West Midlands Double Glazing, we provide a FREE consultation as standard and have an array of conservatory roof replacement and conversion options for you to choose from! 

They include glass conservatory roofs, guardian conservatory roofs, lantern conservatory roofs, orangery conservatory roofs, polycarbonate conservatory roofs and solid conservatory roofs. 

We are also one of the only renovation companies in the region to offer 0% finance options on all of our services! Get in touch today so we can make your dream home improvements happen!