Roof panel colours: matching your new roof to your home

The popular colours

RAL is the standard colour chart used across the building trade, and every colour has a four digit number. Giving the RAL number means the roof, trims and any new gutters are made in exactly the same shade, rather than something close.

Anthracite grey is widely used on new windows and doors, and it looks at home on most houses. White is the natural choice where the conservatory frames, gutters and fascia are all white uPVC and you want the roof to blend in rather than stand out.

The colours side by side

• Anthracite greyRAL 7016
• Agate greyRAL 7038
• Traffic whiteRAL 9016
• Jet blackRAL 9005
• CreamRAL 9001
• Chartwell greenRAL 6021
• Sepia brownRAL 8014
• Basalt greyRAL 7012

Screen colours are a guide. The surveyor brings real samples, and any RAL shade can be made to order.

How to choose

Start with the frames

The roof sits on top of your window frames, so the two are always seen together. Most people either match the roof to the frames, or pick a darker roof to sit above lighter frames. A grey roof over white frames is a common and tidy combination, whereas a white roof over grey frames tends to look odd.

Look at the main roof of the house

From the garden you will usually see the conservatory roof and the house roof together. A dark grey or black panel roof sits well under a dark house roof, while a lighter house roof can suit a lighter grey or white.

Think about the brick or render

Red and orange brick usually suits anthracite grey or black. Buff brick, stone and cream render often look best with cream or a mid grey. White render gives you the widest choice.

See it in daylight

Screens and printed charts show RAL colours differently from real life. Look at a physical sample outside, against your frames and wall, on a grey day as well as a bright one before you decide.

Inside, the panels are white

The inner skin of every panel is white, and it becomes your new ceiling. White reflects the most daylight back into the room, which matters once the roof is no longer clear. It needs no plastering or painting, and a wipe with a damp cloth keeps it clean.

If you add roof lights or LED spotlights, a white ceiling also spreads their light more evenly across the room.

Gutters, fascia and trims

The ridge, hip and edge trims we fit with the roof are made in the same colour as the panels. Your existing gutters and fascia stay unless you ask us to change them.

That matters if you choose a dark roof over old white gutters. If you would like the gutters and fascia to match the roof, new ones cost £295 and are fitted on the same day. It is also a good moment to replace gutters that are cracked, sagging or discoloured, as the roof edge is open anyway.

Does colour change the temperature?

A dark outer skin gets hotter in strong sun than a white one, as it does on a car. On our panels that heat stays on the outside, because the 75 mm foam core between the two skins keeps it from reaching the room. The white inner skin stays close to room temperature whatever colour the outside is.

So choose the colour for how it looks. The insulation comes from the core, and our guide on keeping a conservatory cool in summer covers the bigger factors, like facing direction and ventilation.

Colour and the rules

Changing the colour of a conservatory roof does not normally need planning permission, as long as the footprint and height stay the same. If you live in a listed building or a conservation area, check with your council first, as they may have views on colours that face the street. The planning permission guide covers the details.

Building control approval is normally needed for the roof itself, whatever its colour, because an insulated roof is no longer translucent. We apply for you as part of every job, as described on our conservatory roof panels page.

Combinations that work

• Anthracite grey roof, white frames: the most common pairing on older white uPVC conservatories. The roof reads as a darker cap on top, which suits most brick houses.
• Anthracite grey roof, grey frames: one colour for the whole conservatory, often chosen after new grey windows have gone into the house.
• White roof, white frames: the quietest look, best where the house is rendered white or the conservatory can be seen from the street.
• Cream roof, cream frames: suits stone houses and cottages, where bright white can look out of place.
• Black roof, black or dark grey frames: a sharp, modern look that works well against dark brick and oak.

If you plan to replace the windows in the house soon, choose the roof colour with the new windows in mind. The roof and the windows will be seen together from the garden for many years.

Looking after the finish

The outer skin is factory coated, so it does not need painting. Washing it with warm water and a mild detergent once or twice a year keeps it looking fresh and stops moss and leaves building up in the gutters. Avoid abrasive pads and pressure washers, which can damage the coating and the seals.