✔ Retrofitting a conservatory with a solid roof is the best way to insulate it
✔ Another popular option is to layer insulating material onto the inner roof
✔ Conservatory roof insulation typically costs between £2,000 and £10,000
When it comes to conservatory roof insulation, you can’t just go with traditional options such as spray foam.
We’ll go over what the options are for conservatory roof insulation, how much it costs, and if it’s worth doing.
If you’re looking to insulate other parts of your home, such as your walls or loft, we can put you in touch with professional spray foam installers. Simply fill in our short form, and we’ll do the rest.
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Can you insulate your conservatory roof?
You can insulate your conservatory roof, but how you go about it will depend on the type of conservatory roof you have.
Conservatory roof insulation is usually installed on conservatories with roofs made from glass or polycarbonate panels, because conservatories with solid roofs are already well insulated.
The best way to insulate a conservatory with a glass or polycarbonate roof is to replace those panels with a solid roof. Another option is to layer insulating material onto the existing panels.
If your conservatory already has a solid roof and you want to insulate it further, you could always try installing traditional roof insulation, such as blanket insulation covered with plaster.
Types of conservatory roof insulation
There are three main types of conservatory roof insulation:
- A solid roof retrofit
- Internal roof insulation
- External insulating panels
Retrofitting a conservatory with a solid roof – to replace a glass or polycarbonate roof – is the most effective way to insulate it.
That being said, it’s also the most expensive option, and it’s not possible for everyone. You need to make sure the conservatory frame is strong enough to hold the weight of a solid roof.
If installing a solid roof isn’t possible, the next best option is to install a layer of internal insulation on the inside of the roof.
Internal insulation usually involves fixing a layer of insulation to the inner roof. The insulating material is composed of a light, quilted layer (typically made from aluminium foil and wadding) sandwiched between two wooden or uPVC frames.
If neither of these options are appealing, another course of action is attaching insulating panels to the outside of the roof. This method is the cheapest and most light-touch of the three.
The insulating panels are typically made of layers of aluminium and synthetic foam. Most installers also offer a variety of finishes, from uPVC sheets to lightweight plastic tiles.
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How much does conservatory roof insulation cost?
Type of conservatory roof insulation | Average cost |
|---|---|
Solid roof retrofit | £5,500-£10,000 |
Internal roof insulation | £2,500-£6,000 |
External insulating panels | £2,000-£5,000 |
Conservatory roof insulation typically costs anywhere from £2,000 to £10,000.
Costs will vary greatly depending on the type of insulation being installed, the materials used, the size of the conservatory roof, and your choice of installer.
For example, when retrofitting a conservatory with a solid roof, the type of finish you choose for the roof will affect the price. Felt roofing is typically the cheapest option, while roof shingles are the most expensive.
When installing internal conservatory roof insulation, the choice of finish will also affect the cost. A uPVC finish will be cheaper than a wooden one, for instance.
The benefits of conservatory roof insulation
The biggest benefits of conservatory roof insulation are:
- A warmer conservatory in the winter
- A cooler conservatory in the summer
- Reduced noise levels when it rains
Insulating a conservatory roof will help the conservatory as a whole stay warmer in the winter, although it still probably won’t be as warm as the rest of the rooms in the house. The walls are made of window panes, after all.
Insulation won’t just help in the winter, either. In the summer, it can help your conservatory stay cool.
Conservatories with clear roofs can get very hot in the summer months, as the sun beats down into the room.
All types of conservatory roof insulation create an opaque roof, which stops the sun from beating down directly into the conservatory, and helps keep it cool in the summer.
Adding insulation to the conservatory roof will also reduce noise levels when it rains.
The reason why is simple: when a conservatory roof is made from glass or polycarbonate, there’s only one barrier between the surface the rain is hitting and the inside of your home. Skylights pose the same problem.
By adding insulation, you’re creating an extra barrier between the outside of the conservatory roof and the inside of the conservatory, so the sound of rain hitting the roof should be minimised.
How long does conservatory roof insulation take to install?
Conservatory roof insulation takes between one to three days to install.
Simply installing an inner or outer layer of insulation should only take a day, as it’s a relatively simple process.
By comparison, replacing a clear roof with a solid roof typically takes three days. The process can last longer depending on how complex the work is and how much you want done – for example, getting lights installed in the new conservatory ceiling will add on to the installation time.
Can you do it yourself?
In general, it’s best to leave insulating your conservatory roof to the professionals.
Adding extra weight to the conservatory, in the form of insulating sheets or a whole new roof, can be risky if the conservatory frame isn’t strong.
That’s why we recommend you get your conservatory professionally assessed before starting any work.
If you want a form of DIY conservatory roof insulation, you could opt for foil insulation. Foil insulation is a thin roll which you can tape to the inside of your conservatory roof.
Unfortunately, it’s not the most effective form of insulation, and it’s not that pretty to look at.
But if you like the look of your glass conservatory roof, insulating foil can be a good temporary measure for the winter months.
Are there any grants for conservatory roof insulation?
There are no grants specifically for conservatory roof insulation.
It might be possible for you to fund the process of insulating your conservatory roof with one of the government’s many insulation grants, but only if your conservatory isn’t sealed off from the rest of your house – for example, if the living room opens straight into it.
In this scenario, insulating your conservatory would be a measure that would help the energy efficiency of your home overall, potentially making you eligible for a grant.
Grants such as the ECO4 scheme – and the Nest scheme in Wales – offer funding to low-income households or those on certain benefits for energy-efficient home improvements.
Is your conservatory roof suitable for insulation?
For a conservatory roof to be suitable for insulation, it’s vital that the conservatory as a whole be strong enough to withstand the extra weight.
This can be an issue for conservatories whose walls are entirely made of windows, without any solid walls in between them.
A qualified contractor or architect should be able to determine whether your conservatory roof is strong enough to house a new solid roof or a layer of internal insulation.
If the conservatory isn’t suitable for a solid roof retrofit or internal insulation, then external insulation panels might still be an option.
External panels are the lightest, most low-touch form of professional insulation, and are suitable for most conservatories.
If that’s not possible, you can insulate your conservatory in other ways. Adding carpets and insulated curtains can help preserve heat and make it feel cosier.
Is conservatory roof insulation worth it?
If your conservatory isn’t cut off from the rest of your home, then conservatory roof insulation is probably worth it.
Having an open-plan conservatory that’s uninsulated will decrease the energy efficiency of the rest of your home, and make it feel cold in the winter. Insulating your conservatory roof will help keep heat inside the adjacent rooms, and create a more comfortable environment for you.
If your conservatory is separated from the rest of your home by walls and doors, then it’s up to you to decide if insulation is worth it.
If you don’t plan on using your conservatory outside of the summer months, and treat it more like a part of your garden, then insulation might not be worth it. But if you want to use it all year round, then conservatory roof insulation is a worthy investment.
Summary
Insulating your conservatory roof can turn your conservatory into a room you can use whatever the weather, and can reduce noise levels when it rains.
This insulation will also improve the energy efficiency of your house if your conservatory isn’t cut off from the rest of your rooms.
If you want more insulation options for other parts of your house, we can help. Just fill in our quick form, and we’ll pass your details on to spray foam installers. They’ll be in touch with quotes.
Conservatory roof insulation: FAQs
How much heat is lost through a conservatory roof?
Around 80% of the heat in an uninsulated conservatory is lost through the roof. This is especially an issue in the winter, when a lot of conservatories become unusable because they’re simply too cold to be in.
Does insulating a conservatory roof cause condensation?
Insulating a conservatory should actually help minimise condensation. Condensation is caused by a difference in temperature between the inside and outside air. By adding insulation, you’ll create a barrier between the inside of your conservatory and the cold outside air, which will reduce the likelihood of condensation building up.
How thick should insulation be in a conservatory roof?
Insulation in a conservatory roof should be between 20 and 30 millimetres (mm) thick. This is less than what’s required for walls and lofts within the rest of your house, where the recommended thickness is between 150 and 200 mm. Most conservatory roofs can’t take the weight of thick insulation, so they don’t need to be as thermally sealed as rooms you spend all your time in.
