Judge a conservatory roof company on what it will put in writing, not on the sales pitch. Get the panel thickness and U-value on paper, a full list of what the price covers, proof that an insurer stands behind the 10 year guarantee, and the deposit amount. Be wary of any deposit far above roughly 25% of the total.
Before the first visit
Take this list to every survey and phone call and write the replies down. Side by side, written answers reveal more than the bottom line. A quote that comes in £500 lower may simply leave out taking away the old roof, panels made for your frame or a guarantee worth having.
Under each check we have set out the answer Eco Tech gives, so you have something to measure every company against, including us.
Money and timing
1. How much do you want up front, and when do I pay the rest?
Handing over a big deposit puts your money at risk if something goes wrong before fitting day. A deposit well over 25% of the total deserves a question, and being asked for the whole sum before work begins is a red flag.
What to listen for: a modest deposit, with the balance paid once the roof is finished. If you would rather spread the cost, Eco Tech offers finance through Kanda, subject to status.
2. Is the price fixed, and what would change it?
Once a survey has been done, a written price should hold unless you add to the job or something hidden turns up when the old roof comes off. Ask what would count as hidden and how it would be charged.
What to listen for: a fixed written price, with optional items like LED spotlights, roof lights or new gutters listed on their own lines. That is how every Eco Tech quote is laid out.
3. How many days on site, and must I stay in?
The length of the job depends on the roof. With panels, a small lean-to or Edwardian is normally a one day job and a medium roof takes one or two, while big roofs and P-shapes need two or three. Scaffolding is not needed on most single storey conservatories.
What to listen for: a firm number of days, a realistic wait from survey to fitting, and a plan if it rains. Ours is usually 3 to 5 weeks from survey, and most of our roofs go on in a single day.
The roof itself
4. How thick is the insulation, and what U-value does that give?
No technical question matters more. A competent fitter quotes both figures and can show the working. Roughly, a 25 mm foam core comes out at about 1.14 W/m²K, 50 mm at about 0.62 and 75 mm at about 0.43. Our guide to panel thickness sets out the calculation.
What to listen for: a thickness in millimetres and a U-value, both printed on the quote. Ours are 75 mm and about 0.43, and we will not quote a better number than the panel achieves.
5. Are the panels made for my roof or cut from stock?
Stock sheets trimmed on the driveway can leave gaps and joints that let air through. Panels made to order match the measured size of every bay in your roof.
What to listen for: yes, built from survey measurements and ready within a few weeks. Ours are made in the UK.
6. Will someone look at the frame and base before the price is final?
A new roof is only as sound as the frame and base it sits on. A company that fixes a price from photos alone, without inspecting the bars, the ring beam and the dwarf wall, is only guessing. See can my conservatory frame take a solid roof for the points worth checking.
What to listen for: a visit in person, with any repairs written into the quote. Eco Tech can give a guide figure from your photos and measurements, but the fixed price always follows a survey.
7. Who takes the old roof away?
Disposing of old polycarbonate or glass costs time and money, and some quotes leave it out.
What to listen for: removal and recycling included in the price, as they are in ours.
Paperwork
8. Is every promise on the written quote?
Spoken promises are easily forgotten by both sides. The quote ought to name the panel and its colour, list any roof lights or spotlights, and confirm both the guarantee and who removes the old roof.
What to listen for: a single written quote covering every item, with no verbal extras.
9. Will the contract carry your full company details?
The contract should name the company, show a registered address and explain your right to cancel. If there is a problem later, that is the business you deal with.
What to listen for: yes, with the company name, address and 14 day cancellation period. Eco Tech Conservatories Ltd is registered in England and Wales, with its head office in Coventry, and we are FENSA registered.
10. Will I need planning permission?
Normally not, as the footprint and height stay the same. The exceptions are listed homes, conservation areas, protected landscapes such as National Parks, and properties whose permitted development rights were withdrawn. Our planning permission guide goes through each one.
What to listen for: usually not, followed by a question about whether any of those cases fit your home.
The guarantee
11. Is it backed by insurance?
A guarantee that rests on the installer alone is worth only as much as the installer. An insurance backed guarantee exists to protect you if the firm stops trading.
What to listen for: yes, with the term stated and the certificate handed over at the end. Eco Tech is a HomePro member, and every roof we fit carries a 10 year insurance backed warranty through HomePro.
12. What does it cover, exactly?
Find out whether the panels, the workmanship, leaks and seals are all included, and what you must do to keep it valid. Ask too whether it moves to the next owner if you sell.
What to listen for: written terms rather than a spoken promise. Our warranty page lists what ours covers.
A sheet for comparing quotes
Copy this out once for each quote you get. Blank spaces in the right hand column are usually where the price gaps come from.
| Point to compare | Note down |
|---|---|
| Insulation depth and U-value | Both figures, on paper |
| Panels built to your sizes | Yes or no |
| Removal and recycling of the old roof | Included, or charged extra |
| Contract naming the company and address | Yes or no |
| Guarantee term and insurer | Years, and insured or not |
| Optional items | Roof lights, spotlights, gutters and fascia, each with a price |
| Deposit | How much, and when the rest is due |
| Time on site and wait from survey | Days fitting, weeks waiting |
Sign a contract at home and consumer law normally gives you 14 days to change your mind. Being told a discount disappears unless you sign tonight is a sales tactic, not a better deal.
Signs to walk away
- A discount that only lasts until the salesperson leaves.
- No U-value in writing, or a suspiciously low figure for a thin panel.
- A firm price without anyone looking at the frame.
- A request for the full amount before work starts.
- A guarantee with no insurance behind it, or with no written terms.
Eco Tech prices, for reference
Every fitted price includes clearing away the old roof, UK made 75 mm panels sized for your frame in your chosen colour, fitting and the HomePro warranty. Roofs up to 12 m² begin at £3,000, medium roofs at £4,000, and P-shapes or anything over 25 m² at £5,000. The typical home spends somewhere from £3,000 to £7,500. Optional extras are priced on their own: £395 per glazed roof light, £345 for LED spotlights and £295 for new gutters and fascia.
Where to start
Put your sizes into the roof price calculator for a range before anyone comes out. Then arrange a free survey with Eco Tech and ask us all 12 questions. Our process page shows each step from first call to fitting day.
Questions people ask
How many conservatory roof quotes is enough?
Two or three normally shows you a fair price. Compare them point by point (U-value, panel depth, guarantee, and whether the old roof is taken away) rather than just the totals.
What size of deposit is reasonable for a new conservatory roof?
A modest one, seldom much over about 25% of the total, with the rest paid when the job is done. Paying everything in advance is a warning sign.
What does an insurance backed guarantee mean?
An insurer stands behind it, so you are protected if the installer ceases trading. Ask for the terms on paper. Ours is a 10 year warranty through HomePro.
