Conservatory Roof Types: Which One Should You Choose?
Updated: Oct 9
There are four main conservatory roof types: polycarbonate, glass, solid (tiled or insulated panel) and hybrid. Polycarbonate is the cheapest but the least comfortable; a glass roof with modern solar control and low-emissivity coatings keeps the light and fixes most of the heat problems; a solid roof is the warmest and quietest but gives up the sky; and a hybrid, such as a solid roof with a lantern, sits between the two.
The right one depends on how you use the room, which way it faces and what the existing frame can carry. The roof is only one part of the choice; our guide to the types of conservatory covers the room styles themselves.
The main conservatory roof types at a glance
Typical figures, which vary with the specification:
Polycarbonate: lowest cost; a U-value of roughly 1.5 to 2.4 W/m²K for 25mm to 16mm sheet; translucent rather than clear light; noisy in rain.
Glass: mid to high cost; roughly 1.1 to 1.3 W/m²K for a good double glazed roof unit; clear, full light; much quieter than polycarbonate.
Solid or tiled: mid to high cost plus structural work; can reach around 0.15 to 0.2 W/m²K, in line with a house roof; light only from the walls and any rooflights; quiet.
Hybrid: mid to high cost; solid-roof performance over most of the area, glass over the rest; light from above where it is wanted; quiet over the solid sections.
Our guide to conservatory roof replacement cost explains what drives the price of each.
Polycarbonate conservatory roofs
Polycarbonate was the default choice for years because it is lightweight and cost-effective, and you will still see it on many older conservatories. It costs less up front than glass, suits a wide range of existing frames and is quick to install and replace in sections; our guide to conservatory roof panels explains when a single sheet can be swapped.
The drawbacks are the reasons people replace it. It lets in a lot of solar gain in summer and loses heat quickly in winter, rain is noticeably louder, and it discolours and looks tired as it weathers. Polycarbonate works if the conservatory is used occasionally and budget is the overriding factor, but it is usually the first roof type people replace when they want genuine comfort.
Glass conservatory roofs
A modern glass roof is a big step up in comfort and looks. Our modern glazed structures are designed around natural light and performance, often using advanced glazing, including triple glazing in some designs, to support year-round comfort.
A glass roof gives more natural light, a cleaner look, better insulation than polycarbonate and a real sense of space, even in a compact room. It costs more than polycarbonate, and glare, overheating and heat loss at night can still be problems if the glass specification is not right for the room's aspect and use. It is the strong choice if you love the conservatory feel, bright and connected to the garden, and are willing to invest in the right glazing.
Is glass or polycarbonate best for a conservatory roof?
It depends on how you use the space. Choose polycarbonate if the room is used seasonally, the budget is tight, or you plan a bigger renovation later. Choose glass if you want better comfort, a brighter and clearer finish, and a roof that suits a high-end room. The differences most homeowners notice are sound (glass is quieter in rain), comfort (better, provided the glazing is chosen properly) and appearance (glass keeps its look far longer).
If you are already frustrated by temperature extremes, glare or noise, the comparison often ends with a third option: an insulated solid roof.
Solid and tiled “warm roof” conservatory replacements
A solid roof replacement, usually tiled outside and insulated and plastered inside, solves the common conservatory complaints in one move: overheating, heat loss, glare and rain noise. K&S Bespoke Builds, a company specialising in conservatory roof replacement, positions it as the upgrade that turns a boiling, freezing, noisy room into a comfortable year-round one.
The trade-off is less sky, unless you include a lantern or glazed section, more structural work than swapping panels, and a higher cost than polycarbonate and often entry-level glass. If you want to use the room every day, as a home office, playroom, snug or dining space, a warm roof is usually the most problem-solving choice, and our guide to the solid roof conservatory sets out when that trade-off is worth making.
Hybrid conservatory roofs: solid and glazed sections
A hybrid roof keeps the bright-room feeling while gaining most of the insulation and glare control of a solid roof. The best-known version is the orangery-style roof: a solid, insulated perimeter with a glazed roof lantern in the centre, which lights the middle of the room and gives the ceiling height. Other versions put glazed panels over the garden end and solid sections over the house end, and the design can be tailored to which side faces the sun.
Conservatory roof shapes
Roof type is the material; roof shape is the form, and the two are chosen together. The common shapes are:
Lean-to: a single slope running down from the house wall. The simplest and usually the least expensive shape, it suits bungalows and houses with limited height under first-floor windows, and it takes glass, polycarbonate or a solid covering equally well.
Victorian: a steep, multi-faceted roof over a bay front, with a ridge and ornate cresting on period designs. The facets make it more complex to reglaze or convert to solid.
Edwardian (Georgian): a square or rectangular plan with a hipped roof sloping on three sides. It makes the most of the floor space and is straightforward to fit with solar control glass or a hybrid section.
Gable: a pitched roof with an upright glazed triangle at the front, which gives the most height inside and a strong presence from the garden.
P-shape and T-shape: combinations of the above for larger rooms, often with a lean-to section joined to a Victorian or gable section.
Flat roof with a lantern: the orangery form, a solid perimeter with a glazed lantern in the centre.
Steeper pitches shed water and dirt better and give more height inside; shallow pitches suit low eaves but need careful detailing to drain.
Replacing an existing conservatory roof
There are three routes. A polycarbonate-to-glass or glass-to-glass upgrade keeps the all-glass feel and suits a frame in good condition where the room is mostly comfortable already; check the orientation (south and west roofs need solar control glass), the ventilation and shading, and the glazing specification, because not all double glazing performs the same. A hybrid keeps a glazed section and adds comfort. A solid roof conversion removes the old roof and fits an insulated one, and is the route most people choose when they want the conservatory to feel like a proper extension; K&S Bespoke Builds is one firm that carries out these conversions. Replacing a glazed roof with a solid one generally needs building regulations approval, because the new roof changes the structure and thermal performance of the room. Our guide to building regulations for a conservatory explains when a conservatory is exempt and what changes that.
Signs you may be ready to replace your roof
The room is uncomfortable for large parts of the year
You avoid using the space except in mild weather
Rain noise is disruptive
You’re spending more on heating without getting real comfort
The roof is ageing (leaks, failed seals, discolouration, or general wear)
How to choose the right conservatory roof type for your home
Three questions narrow it down.
1) How do you want to use the room?
Occasional summer use: polycarbonate or entry-level glass may be enough
Regular use (dining, lounge, playroom): better-spec glass or hybrid
Daily use as a true room: a solid warm roof is often best
2) What’s your biggest problem right now?
Too hot or too bright: solar control glass, hybrid or solid roof
Too cold or expensive to heat: solid warm roof or higher-spec glazing
Too noisy in the rain: a solid roof usually delivers the biggest improvement
3) Do you love the “glass roof” feeling?
If the sky view is the whole point of the conservatory for you, a full glass roof, or a hybrid with a lantern, keeps that character. If comfort and usability matter more, solid insulation becomes the priority.
If you are weighing up a new roof, talk to our design team about which route suits your conservatory.
