Replacing a conservatory roof with insulated panels takes six steps: a few questions online or by phone, a free survey, a fixed written quote, a building control application, one to three days of fitting, then sign off and your paperwork. Most roofs are fitted 3 to 5 weeks after the survey, and a small lean-to is usually done in a single day.
The six steps at a glance
- A few questions: tell us your conservatory style, rough size and what the roof is made of now, online or by phone.
- A free survey: a surveyor measures the roof, checks the frame and glazing bars, and takes photos.
- A fixed written quote: one price, with every item and extra listed.
- Building control: we agree the specification and make the application for you.
- Fitting: one day for most small roofs, two to three for large ones.
- Sign off and paperwork: the completion certificate from building control and your guarantee documents.
Step 1: a few questions
Start with the quote form, which asks for your conservatory style, a rough size and what is on the roof now. That is enough for a guide price straight away. If you would rather talk it through, call us and we will ask the same questions over the phone.
We then ring or email to book a survey at a time that suits you, including Saturdays. Nobody will turn up unannounced and nobody will phone you ten times.
Step 2: what happens on survey day
The survey takes about an hour. You do not need to clear the room, but it helps if we can reach the house wall where the roof joins it and get round the outside of the conservatory.
Measuring the roof
The surveyor measures every section of the roof, the pitch, the length of each glazing bar and the height of the frame. Panels are made to measure, so these numbers go straight into the order. On a Victorian or P-shape this takes longer because there are more facets.
Checking the frame
This is the most important part of the visit. The surveyor looks at the ridge, the glazing bars, the ring beam that runs along the top of the frames, and the dwarf walls underneath. Our panels are light enough for most existing uPVC and aluminium frames, but a cracked bar or a wall that has moved must be put right first. Our guide on whether your frame can take a solid roof covers the checks in more depth.
Photos and questions
We photograph the roof, the frame and the junction with the house for the panel order and the building control application. Then we go through colours, roof lights, spotlights and gutters with you, and answer anything you want to ask. Nothing is signed on the day.
Step 3: your fixed written quote
The quote arrives in writing after the survey. It shows the price for the roof in your chosen colour, each extra you asked about, and any frame repair the surveyor found, each on its own line. The price does not change after you accept it unless you change the order.
We never ask for a deposit before the survey. Take the time you need to read it, and see our conservatory roof panel prices if you want to check it against our published figures.
Step 4: building control
A conservatory is only exempt from building regulations while at least 75% of its roof is translucent. Fitting a solid insulated roof removes that exemption, so building control approval is normally needed. We agree the roof specification with building control before we order your panels, then make the application on your behalf.
Building control officers do not all treat conservatory conversions the same way, which is why we settle the details before ordering rather than after. The building regulations guide explains the rules in full.
Step 5: fitting day, hour by hour
This is a typical day for a small lean-to or Edwardian roof, which a team of two usually finishes in one day. Most single storey roofs need no scaffold, just ladders and staging.
- 8am: the team arrives, walks round with you and agrees where to park, where waste goes and which door we will use.
- 8.30am: furniture moved to the middle of the room and covered, dust sheets down on the floor.
- 9am: the old roof comes off, starting with the glazing bar caps, then the polycarbonate sheets or glass units, which are stacked for recycling.
- 10.30am: the bare frame is checked again, any repairs from the quote are made, and the flashing line on the house wall is cleaned and prepared.
- 11am to 3pm: the panels go on, section by section, each one bedded, fixed and sealed. Roof lights are set in as the panels around them go down.
- 3pm: trims, the lead or wall flashing, and new gutters and fascia if you ordered them.
- 4pm: inside finish, including any spotlights, then the room is cleaned, hoovered and put back.
- 4.30pm: we walk you round the finished roof, inside and out, and take photos for building control.
You do not need to stay home all day, but please be in at the start and the end. If rain is forecast we keep the roof covered between steps, and if the weather is too bad to work safely we will call the day before to move the date.
When fitting takes two or three days
Medium roofs take one to two days and large or P-shaped roofs two to three. On a longer job the old roof comes off in stages, so the room is never left open overnight. Each evening the finished sections are sealed and any open part is covered and weighted down.
Step 6: sign off, certificate and aftercare
Building control inspects the work, either during fitting or once it is finished, depending on the council. When they are happy they issue a completion certificate, which usually follows a few weeks after fitting. Keep it with your house papers, because a buyer's solicitor will ask for it when you sell.
You also receive your 10 year insurance backed guarantee, with the details of what it covers and how to make a claim. Aftercare is simple: clear the gutters twice a year and wash the panels with warm soapy water when they look grubby. If anything seems wrong, call us and we will come back.
Lead times
Panels are made to measure after the survey, so there is always a short wait between survey and fitting.
| Roof | Time on site | Typical wait from survey to fitting |
|---|---|---|
| Small lean-to or Edwardian | Usually 1 day | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Medium, most Victorians | 1 to 2 days | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Large or P-shape | 2 to 3 days | 3 to 5 weeks |
Spring and early summer are the busiest months, so book the survey early if you want the roof on before the hot weather arrives.
Questions people ask
Do I need to be at home on fitting day?
Please be in when the team arrives and when they finish, so we can agree the plan in the morning and walk you round the roof at the end. In between you can go out, as long as we can get in and out of the conservatory.
Can I use the rest of the house while you work?
Yes. We work from the garden and the conservatory itself, so the rest of the house carries on as normal. The door between the house and conservatory stays closed while the old roof is off.
Do you need scaffolding?
Not on most single storey conservatory roofs. We work from ladders and roof staging, which keeps the cost down and means nothing goes up days before the fit.
What happens if it rains?
Light rain does not stop us, because the roof is covered between each stage. If the weather is too poor to work safely, we call the day before and rebook the first date you can do.
How soon can you fit my roof?
Most roofs are fitted 3 to 5 weeks after the survey, because each set of panels is made to measure. Start with the quote form to book your survey.
