"Solid" simply means a conservatory roof that light cannot pass through. We build ours from insulated aluminium panels around a 75 mm foam core, laid on your current frame over 1 to 3 days. Compared with 16 mm polycarbonate, roof heat loss falls by roughly 80 percent, and fitted prices begin at £3,000 with the old roof taken away.
Two routes to an opaque roof
"Solid roof" gets used for any opaque, insulated conservatory roof, in contrast to clear glass or polycarbonate. Broadly, there are two ways to end up with one: keep the frame and change only the covering to insulated panels, or pay for a full replacement roof built on a new frame.
Eco Tech specialises in the first route. Our insulated aluminium panels rest on the roof bars already there, so the windows, doors, dwarf walls and frame are untouched. Weight stays modest, the work takes 1 to 3 days, and the bill comes in far under the price of a brand new roof structure.
Inside each panel
On top sits an aluminium skin finished in the colour you pick. Below that is a 75 mm layer of rigid extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam, then a white aluminium skin that forms the new ceiling. That build gives a U-value of about 0.43 W/m²K, and the UK made panels are cut to measure. Full details are on our insulated roof panels page.
Will my conservatory take it?
In most cases, yes. The panels are light enough for most uPVC and aluminium frames, and since the frame stays, nothing new such as a ring beam or rafters needs holding up. Our free survey measures the roof and checks the following before any price is given:
- roof bars, ridge and gutter beam run true and are in good condition
- window frames show no bowing, cracking or movement
- the base and dwarf walls have no cracks or signs of sinking
- the seal against the house wall is sound
Should something be wrong, we explain the fault and the cost of fixing it before you commit to a penny. With more than 15 years spent on conservatory roofs, our surveyors know what to look for.
Life under a solid roof
Cold months: heat stays put
Picture 12 m² of roof with 20°C in the room and 0°C outside. In 16 mm polycarbonate it bleeds around 552 W, about what a small electric heater gives out on full. With our panels the figure falls to about 103 W. Even measured against 25 mm polycarbonate, the saving is about 73 percent.
Hot months: no greenhouse effect
Sun beats straight through a clear roof, so plenty of conservatories hit 35 to 40°C when it is bright. With an opaque insulated roof the overhead sun is shut out, and any warmth that does build up arrives mostly through the walls and doors. For more ways to keep the room comfortable, see why a conservatory gets too hot in summer.
Condensation and noise
The inside face of polycarbonate or old glass runs cold, so moisture in warm room air condenses and drips back down. A panel's inner skin stays close to room temperature, which means the ceiling mostly stays dry. The foam layer also muffles rain and hail.
Daylight, on your terms
Yes, a solid roof lets in less daylight than a clear one. Many customers fit one or two roof lights, which cost £395 each, while the white ceiling bounces round the daylight from the windows. With glazed walls on most sides, the room still feels light through the day.
Regulations and planning
Building regulations do not apply to a conservatory only so long as every one of these holds true:
- 75% or more of the roof and 50% or more of the walls let light through
- its floor area is below 30 m²
- external quality doors divide it from the house
- it is not heated from the main house heating system
Because a solid roof is opaque, the conservatory no longer meets those conditions, so building regulations may apply to the new roof. Approved Document L, in its 2021 edition (in force from June 2022), sets a target U-value of 0.15 W/m²K for a new roof element, so check what applies to your home before work starts.
Planning permission is not usually required, because keeping the same footprint and height counts as permitted development. Speak to the council first if your home is listed, or sits in a conservation area, National Landscape or national park, or if your permitted development rights have been withdrawn. Our article on whether a replacement roof needs planning permission runs through each situation.
Prices for a solid panel roof
Fitted, a small roof of up to 12 m² starts at £3,000, a medium roof between 12 and 25 m² starts at £4,000, and a large roof of 25 m² or more starts at £5,000. Most customers spend between £3,000 and £7,500. Roof shape matters too: a lean-to is the least costly and a P-shape the most.
| Style | Small (0 to 12 m²) | Medium (12 to 25 m²) | Large (25 m² and over) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lean-to | £3,000 to £3,550 | £3,950 to £4,700 | £5,450 to £6,450 |
| Edwardian | £3,200 to £3,800 | £4,200 to £4,950 | £5,800 to £6,850 |
| Victorian | £3,300 to £3,900 | £4,350 to £5,150 | £6,000 to £7,100 |
| Gable end | £3,350 to £4,000 | £4,450 to £5,250 | £6,100 to £7,250 |
| P-Shape | £3,500 to £4,150 | £4,600 to £5,450 | £6,300 to £7,500 |
All of these include stripping and recycling your old roof, panels in the colour of your choice, installation and the HomePro 10 year insurance backed warranty. You can add glazed roof lights at £395 each, LED spotlights for £345, and new gutters and fascia for £295. Our conservatory roof panel prices page goes into more detail, and finance through Kanda lets you spread the cost, subject to status.
From first call to finished roof
- Tell us about your conservatory online or by phone. Photos and rough measurements are enough to start.
- We visit for a free survey, measuring up, checking the frame and bars, and taking pictures.
- A fixed price arrives in writing.
- Our fitters spend 1 to 3 days on site, depending on size and shape, and scaffold is seldom needed.
- Your HomePro 10 year warranty paperwork is handed over.
Fitting normally follows the survey by 3 to 5 weeks. Each stage is explained on our our process page.
Questions people ask
Are a solid roof and a warm roof different things?
Not really. Both names describe an opaque, insulated roof designed to hold a steady temperature. Eco Tech builds ours from insulated panels laid on the frame you already have.
Will a solid roof work on a lean-to?
Yes, and a lean-to is the easiest shape to do, normally finished in one day. Our lean-to conservatory roof page has the sizes and prices.
Will a solid roof increase what my house is worth?
No honest installer can put a number on it, because it depends on the area and the rest of the property. What we can say is that buyers prefer a conservatory that is comfortable in every season to one that roasts or freezes.
Do we have to move out while you work?
No. Our fitters only work in and around the conservatory, and the rest of the house carries on as normal. Keep the conservatory door closed while the roof is open.
What if it rains on the day you fit the roof?
We keep an eye on the forecast and only strip as much roof as we can close up the same day. When heavy rain is forecast, we rebook rather than let water into your room.
