Conservatory Roof Options and Pricing
Discussion
PH'ers
I have a fairly large conservatory, and it isn't getting used, due to the comedy temperature in both winter and summer. I've started to look at replacing the existing clear polycarbonate roof - and it appears the two best options are either a lightweight tiled system, or solid polypropylene insulated panels (some German product called Stadurlon seems to be the go-to).
Anyone had this Stadurlon stuff installed? It's white on the inside and outside, keeps the heat in and out, and has a sound-deadening layer too. Would you recommend it? I've a 36m2 roof - any ideas what I should be paying for it?
The lightweight tiling is the alternative - but I imagine that will be much more expensive, and I guess that would need Building regs approval?
Any of your experiences here might help,
Cheers
I have a fairly large conservatory, and it isn't getting used, due to the comedy temperature in both winter and summer. I've started to look at replacing the existing clear polycarbonate roof - and it appears the two best options are either a lightweight tiled system, or solid polypropylene insulated panels (some German product called Stadurlon seems to be the go-to).
Anyone had this Stadurlon stuff installed? It's white on the inside and outside, keeps the heat in and out, and has a sound-deadening layer too. Would you recommend it? I've a 36m2 roof - any ideas what I should be paying for it?
The lightweight tiling is the alternative - but I imagine that will be much more expensive, and I guess that would need Building regs approval?
Any of your experiences here might help,
Cheers
wobert said:
We had a Guardian Warm Roof added two years ago.
Conservatory like yours unusable in summer and winter.
It’s transformed the room into a usable all year round space.
Conservatory is 5x4m. Roof was £9k and come with BR approval and certification.
Excuse the fence panels...
Before:
After:
Looks really nice that - that the lightweight tile option then. V nice. Hmmm, cost wise I reckon it'd be £16k for me given the size of my roof. Thats quite a chunk isn't it.Conservatory like yours unusable in summer and winter.
It’s transformed the room into a usable all year round space.
Conservatory is 5x4m. Roof was £9k and come with BR approval and certification.
Excuse the fence panels...
Before:
After:
Very frustrating for me seeing everyone removing their pitched polycarbonate roof and replacing with solid tile or similar.
The conservatory that I inherited when I bought my house has a solid, flat roof and I'd like nothing more than to replace it with a normal pitched poly roof.... if only I could find someone who wanted to swap lol
The conservatory that I inherited when I bought my house has a solid, flat roof and I'd like nothing more than to replace it with a normal pitched poly roof.... if only I could find someone who wanted to swap lol
princeperch said:
Can someone please explain to me how three days worth of work, with what I am taking a leap of faith to presume are not massively expensive materials, and only a few men working on the job, comes to 9 grand ?
Here we go, I thought my post would get some kind of response along those lines 
Take at look at the Guardian website as it details the package they supply.
The roof structure is an aluminium structure designed and made to suit, including loading calcs and certication.
The kit is includes ready cut marine ply boards, insulation, tiles, guttering, and thermal plaster boards etc.
We had some extras as we wanted the cill boards replacing and some other bits and bobs.
I was wrong, it was four days to do plus the use of a plasterer.
Yes, it’s not a cheap solution, yes it can be done cheaper, but I didn’t have the skill, time or inclination to do it myself.
As a comparison, we had two guys round to quote a ‘traditional’ roofing solution, and they were less than a grand cheaper and their pricing didn’t include the plasterer, so the differential would have been less.
Additionally their solution had no BR certificate or loading calcs...
You pays yer money....
I was getting quotes for this and I just found justifying £10k on a roof for the conservatory too much to take. I ended up doing:
- Internal insulation and ceiling
- Plastering and then painting over visible brickwork
- Insulated floor & carpet
It is now a really nice office space for me with no temperature problems and it cost a fraction of the original quotes I was getting. I didn't do any of the work myself, unless you count glossing the skirting boards.
- Internal insulation and ceiling
- Plastering and then painting over visible brickwork
- Insulated floor & carpet
It is now a really nice office space for me with no temperature problems and it cost a fraction of the original quotes I was getting. I didn't do any of the work myself, unless you count glossing the skirting boards.
princeperch said:
Can someone please explain to me how three days worth of work, with what I am taking a leap of faith to presume are not massively expensive materials, and only a few men working on the job, comes to 9 grand ?
Travel to site, quote, explain why it's £9k, book job in, travel to site, put up scaffold, safely take down polycarb and skip, install guardian jobby, roof covering, liaise building control, install lighting, decorate, do something with gutter/fascia?, take down scaffold, clear up, send invoice, chase invoice.Materials say £2,500
Labour say 15 person days £3,000
Sparks £250
Scaffold £500
Including VAT thats £7.5k
I've only heard of guardian in passing so materials may be a bit more.
My Guardian roof was just north of £10k when I had it done last year. A bit pricy but it has transformed the room from one where the temperature was only right about two days a year to one that can be used all year round (although it was done last September so it’s not had to cope with any blazing outside temperatures yet).
Another benefit that doesn’t get much airtime is the sound proofing. Before it was like being inside a drum if it was raining and all other outside sounds came straight through the roof. Now there’s virtually nothing.
I partially justified the expense as making it in lieu of last year’s covid-cancelled foreign holiday.
Another benefit that doesn’t get much airtime is the sound proofing. Before it was like being inside a drum if it was raining and all other outside sounds came straight through the roof. Now there’s virtually nothing.
I partially justified the expense as making it in lieu of last year’s covid-cancelled foreign holiday.
I can see why it's an expensive job, frankly. The materials aren't cheap, people need to get paid, and they're running a business at the end of the day.
I've now had a quote for the solid polypropylene option, which is simpler - £6,000. Quote for the tiled option on Monday - but thats a proper job I'd say.
Food for thought - thanks for the replies
I've now had a quote for the solid polypropylene option, which is simpler - £6,000. Quote for the tiled option on Monday - but thats a proper job I'd say.
Food for thought - thanks for the replies
I’m rebuilding my mates conservatory after he got quotes of £10k for the roof, it was a typical 3x3. He now has a 5.5m x 3.5m sunroom/orangery, it cost £25k but will add more than that to the value of his house, while conservatories add zilch. I helped another mate do his with tri-iso and plasterboard a few years ago, it hasn't caused him any issues and has helped greatly with heat/cold.
To balance my earlier post...
When the conservatory was built I specifically had the foundations laid to accommodate a full 2-storey extension should we have chosen to go that way at a later date.
I did get some quotes to convert our conservatory to a single storey extension with bricked up walls, windows and four velux units in what would be the vaulted roof.
These came in at £30k+, so the warm roof seemed a good compromise to achieve a similar end.
I would agree it doesn’t add value in the same way as a brick structure would, but it fully resolved the issue we had with the conservatory, for less than 30% of the outlay of the alternative, plus it’s a good usable space (5m x 4m).
I decided that represented a good return on the outlay, hence we went ahead.
But like I say, it’s not the only way, but was my preferred based on what was offered as alternatives.
When the conservatory was built I specifically had the foundations laid to accommodate a full 2-storey extension should we have chosen to go that way at a later date.
I did get some quotes to convert our conservatory to a single storey extension with bricked up walls, windows and four velux units in what would be the vaulted roof.
These came in at £30k+, so the warm roof seemed a good compromise to achieve a similar end.
I would agree it doesn’t add value in the same way as a brick structure would, but it fully resolved the issue we had with the conservatory, for less than 30% of the outlay of the alternative, plus it’s a good usable space (5m x 4m).
I decided that represented a good return on the outlay, hence we went ahead.
But like I say, it’s not the only way, but was my preferred based on what was offered as alternatives.
I have a 15yr old brick wall 4x5m with a lean-to roof with wooden beams from the house walls supporting the poly roof. I've boxed in some of the areas between the beams with 75mm insulation and plywood. I've also changed all the windows & door for IR reflective double glazing and we put a huge thick rug on the tile flooring. The combination has made a massive difference. We used it all this winter as our main lounge and it was only about 26c in full sun a few days ago, compared to a max of +40c last summer. We did look at getting a "proper" roof fitted but it was too expensive for us at the time so we just settled with changing the glass for now.
Edited by tonyvid on Thursday 17th June 14:58
After living with my polycarbonate roof conservatory for 5 years I'm finally getting it being replaced for a tiled roof early August by Cosyroofs. I can't wait for it to go, I've seen better insulated rabbit hutches, as for the stupid finials, why and how were they ever considered fashionable?
I'm paying £7250 for mine. It's a pretty standard affair, 3.5x3m Edwardian style conservatory. Removal and disposal of the old roof and plastics, original aluminium frame remains and is reinforced, membrane and lightweight tiles added, new gutters, fascias and soffits, new lead work, 75mm kingspan inside and rockwool in the middle, plasterboarded and skimmed with wiring and 4 spot lights fitted.
I had a quote to replace the poly panels with insulated aluminium ones, everything else was retained from the original roof including end cappings and seals, 1 day installation off a ladder... £10,500... with £2k discount..... That was with Greenspace.
Personally I wouldn't mess around with anything else other than a proper insulated roof. Get some quotes in as it really can vary, always do a trustpilot check too before you commit, go for a firm who knows the game. I will let you know what its like in a few months time.
I'm paying £7250 for mine. It's a pretty standard affair, 3.5x3m Edwardian style conservatory. Removal and disposal of the old roof and plastics, original aluminium frame remains and is reinforced, membrane and lightweight tiles added, new gutters, fascias and soffits, new lead work, 75mm kingspan inside and rockwool in the middle, plasterboarded and skimmed with wiring and 4 spot lights fitted.
I had a quote to replace the poly panels with insulated aluminium ones, everything else was retained from the original roof including end cappings and seals, 1 day installation off a ladder... £10,500... with £2k discount..... That was with Greenspace.
Personally I wouldn't mess around with anything else other than a proper insulated roof. Get some quotes in as it really can vary, always do a trustpilot check too before you commit, go for a firm who knows the game. I will let you know what its like in a few months time.
Edited by Varelco on Thursday 17th June 15:10
I've just had the roof replaced on my conservatory - from awful, leaky, noisy polycarbonate to a "tiled" solution. i couldn't be more pleased. It's cost in the ballpark of £12k but as someone else has said, it's a proper, engineered, made-to-measure roof with tons of insulation. This particular brand was Supalite. Paid a bit extra to have downlights. Can finally use it as a room. Wish I'd made the leap sooner!
Moved into a house with this system, which is pretty good
https://www.ultraframe-conservatories.co.uk/solid-...
https://www.ultraframe-conservatories.co.uk/solid-...
Thread resurrection.
I've had some quotes to replace our aging glass roof on a 3.5x3m conservatory.
For an aluminium frame roof with insulation and plasterboard with about a third of the area as glass its £13k.
Another company quoted £7k for a wooden frame structure also insulted and plastered but with a 1x1m velux window in the centre.
What are the pros and cons of aluminium vs wood?
I've had some quotes to replace our aging glass roof on a 3.5x3m conservatory.
For an aluminium frame roof with insulation and plasterboard with about a third of the area as glass its £13k.
Another company quoted £7k for a wooden frame structure also insulted and plastered but with a 1x1m velux window in the centre.
What are the pros and cons of aluminium vs wood?
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