If your conservatory becomes unbearably hot when the sun comes out, you are certainly not alone. Older conservatories, particularly those with dated glass or polycarbonate roofs, can suffer from excessive solar heat gain, glare and exposure to UV rays.
The result can be a conservatory that is too hot to enjoy in summer, yet quickly loses heat and becomes too cold in winter.
You may have considered conservatory roof blinds, reflective films or temporary shading. While these can provide some relief, if you want to make your conservatory more comfortable throughout the year, upgrading the roof itself can provide a much more effective long-term solution.
At Elmhurst Windows, we offer a choice of replacement conservatory roof solutions, including solar-control glass roofs and insulated SupaLite solid roofs, helping homeowners across Leeds and West Yorkshire turn older conservatories into rooms they can enjoy for much more of the year.
Why Does My Conservatory Get So Hot?
A traditional conservatory contains a very large area of glazing. When sunlight passes through the roof and windows, solar energy enters the room and the temperature can rise rapidly.
This is particularly noticeable in south- and west-facing conservatories.
Modern solar-control glass is specifically designed to reduce the amount of solar heat entering through the glazing while still allowing natural daylight into the conservatory.
This means you don’t necessarily have to choose between a bright conservatory and a cooler conservatory.
Can Conservatory Roof Glass Reduce UV Rays?
Modern high-performance glazing can significantly reduce the amount of harmful UV reaching the interior and help protect furnishings from UV-related fading.
Solar-control glass also tackles another major problem: solar heat gain.
Rather than simply covering the glass once the heat and sunlight have reached your conservatory, specialist solar-control glazing is designed to manage how much solar energy passes through the roof.
This can make a noticeable difference to the comfort of the conservatory during sunny weather.
What About Conservatory Roof Blinds?
Roof blinds can certainly provide shade and reduce glare, and for some homeowners they may be all that is required.
However, there is an important difference between shading an existing roof and upgrading the thermal performance of the roof itself.
Blinds don’t change the fundamental construction or insulation performance of an ageing conservatory roof. You may therefore still have the familiar problem of a conservatory becoming very warm in summer and losing heat quickly during colder weather.
They can also require cleaning and maintenance, particularly when fitted high above the floor.
If you are looking for a longer-term solution, replacing the conservatory roof gives you the opportunity to tackle the performance of the room itself.
Solar-Control Glass Conservatory Roofs
If you love the bright, open feeling of a traditional conservatory, a modern solar-control glass roof could be the ideal solution.
High-performance solar-control glazing is designed to reduce solar heat gain while maintaining good levels of natural daylight.
Modern glazing can also combine solar-control properties with thermal insulation. This helps tackle both sides of the traditional conservatory problem:
In summer: less solar heat enters through the roof, helping the conservatory remain more comfortable.
In winter: improved thermal performance helps reduce the amount of heat escaping through the glazing.
The result is a brighter conservatory that is much easier to enjoy throughout the changing seasons.
Would a Solid Conservatory Roof Be Better?
For homeowners who want a more substantial transformation, Elmhurst Windows can replace an existing conservatory roof with a SupaLite insulated tiled roof system.
A solid insulated roof dramatically reduces the amount of direct sunlight entering through the roof and provides significantly improved insulation compared with many older conservatory roof systems.
Instead of feeling like a glass room attached to the house, the conservatory can begin to feel much more like a conventional extension.
This can be particularly attractive if you want to use the room as a:
- Home office
- Dining room
- Second sitting room
- Playroom
- Hobby room
- Reading room
- Additional family space
And choosing a solid roof doesn’t necessarily mean losing all your natural light.
Can I Have Skylights in a Solid Conservatory Roof?
Yes.
One of the biggest concerns homeowners have about replacing a glass conservatory roof with a solid roof is that the room will become too dark.
It doesn’t have to.
Roof windows can be incorporated into an appropriate solid conservatory roof design, giving you the benefits of a highly insulated roof while retaining natural light from above.
This can provide a very attractive compromise: less direct solar gain across the entire roof, but carefully positioned glazing where you actually want the light.
Combined with the conservatory’s existing windows and doors, this can create a room that remains bright without feeling as exposed to the sun as a fully glazed older roof.
Solid Roof or Solar-Control Glass: Which Should I Choose?
There isn’t one answer that is right for every conservatory.
| Solar-Control Glass Roof | SupaLite Solid Roof | |
|---|---|---|
| Natural light | Excellent | Reduced, with roof windows available |
| Helps reduce solar heat gain | Yes | Yes |
| Improved winter performance | Yes | Excellent insulation potential |
| Traditional conservatory appearance | Yes | Less traditional |
| Creates an extension-like feel | Somewhat | Yes |
| Good for all-year-round living space | Yes | Excellent |
| Roof windows available | Not normally required | Yes, subject to design |
If keeping the traditional bright appearance of your conservatory is your priority, solar-control glass may be the better choice.
If your priority is creating a room that feels more like part of the main house, an insulated SupaLite solid roof may be more suitable.
Elmhurst Windows can look at your existing conservatory and discuss which approach would work best for the property and how you want to use the room.
Will a New Conservatory Roof Keep It Warmer in Winter?
This is one of the biggest advantages of looking beyond blinds and temporary shading.
The problem with many older conservatories isn’t only overheating in summer. It is their inability to retain warmth effectively during winter.
Modern thermally efficient glazing can reduce heat loss, while an insulated solid roof can substantially change the thermal characteristics of the conservatory.
So instead of addressing just one problem – too much sun in summer – a replacement roof can tackle the wider issue of making the room more comfortable throughout the year.
Do I Need to Replace the Whole Conservatory?
Not necessarily.
If your existing conservatory frames and structure are suitable, it may be possible to replace the roof without rebuilding the entire conservatory.
Alternatively, a roof replacement is an ideal opportunity to consider a more complete upgrade.
Elmhurst Windows can also replace older frames with A-rated energy-efficient uPVC windows and doors, helping to improve the overall thermal performance of the conservatory.
You could also consider alterations such as creating a solid wall, changing the doors or opening the conservatory more fully into your home, subject to the appropriate structural and Building Regulations requirements.
Stop Fighting the Sun – Upgrade Your Conservatory
If every summer involves closing blinds, avoiding the conservatory during the hottest part of the day and waiting for the temperature to drop before you can use it, it may be time to look at the roof itself.
A modern replacement conservatory roof can provide a longer-term solution to excessive solar heat gain while also helping address the other major weakness of older conservatories – heat escaping during winter.
Choose a solar-control glass roof to retain maximum natural light, or explore a SupaLite solid insulated roof with optional roof windows for a more substantial transformation.
Either way, the aim is the same: to turn your conservatory back into a room you actually want to use.
Get a FREE Conservatory Roof Quote in Leeds
Elmhurst Windows supplies and installs replacement conservatory roofs throughout Leeds and West Yorkshire.
Whether your conservatory is too hot in summer, too cold in winter or simply no longer performing as you would like, we can assess your existing conservatory and explain the options available.
Upgrade your conservatory today. Contact Elmhurst Windows for a FREE, no-obligation conservatory roof quotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I stop my conservatory getting so hot in summer?
Replacing an older roof with modern solar-control glass or an insulated solid conservatory roof can help reduce excessive solar heat gain. Ventilation and appropriate shading can also contribute to keeping the room comfortable.
Does solar-control glass block UV rays?
Specialist solar-control glazing can help reduce harmful UV reaching the interior as well as reducing solar heat gain. The exact UV performance depends on the particular glazing specification selected.
Are conservatory roof blinds worth it?
Blinds can be useful for controlling glare and providing shade, but they don’t improve the underlying insulation of an older conservatory roof. If your conservatory is too hot in summer and too cold in winter, replacing the roof may provide a more comprehensive long-term solution.
Can I replace a glass conservatory roof with a solid roof?
In many cases, yes. The existing conservatory needs to be assessed to ensure it is suitable for the replacement roof system and the installation should comply with applicable Building Regulations.
Will a solid conservatory roof make the room dark?
A solid roof will naturally admit less overhead light than a fully glazed roof, but roof windows can be incorporated into suitable designs to introduce daylight exactly where you want it.
Can a new conservatory roof make the room warmer in winter?
Yes. Modern thermally efficient glass and insulated solid roof systems are designed to reduce heat loss compared with many older conservatory roof materials, helping the room retain warmth for longer.