Conservatory roof options, weighed up honestly
A panel roof is our trade, but it is not the answer to every conservatory. These six pages put the options side by side on cost, warmth, light, upkeep and rain, and say when the other choice is the better one. Polycarbonate measures 64.6 dB in lab heavy rain against 52.0 dB for double glazed glass.
Weighing it upInsulated panels vs polycarbonate roof: which one earns its placeInsulated panels vs polycarbonate roof, compared on cost, U-values, summer heat, daylight, cleaning and lab rain noise, with the unmeasured parts left honest.
Weighing it upPanel roof vs glass conservatory roof: a fair contestPanel roof vs glass conservatory roof: modern low-e glass is the fair rival. Heat loss, summer sun, measured rain sound, daylight and cost set side by side.
Weighing it upInsulated panels vs tiled conservatory roof: weight, warmth and costInsulated panels vs tiled conservatory roof: the tiled build is warmer and heavier, panels are lighter, cheaper and quicker. A fair look from panel fitters.
Weighing it upHybrid conservatory roof: how much glass to keep in a panel roofA hybrid conservatory roof sets glazed roof lights into a panel roof. How much light each one gives back, and the heat, sun and rain sound that come with it.
Weighing it upInsulating a conservatory roof from inside: when it is enoughInsulating a conservatory roof from inside costs less than a new roof, but the old sheets stay. When a lining is enough and when it hides a bigger problem.- Weighing it upReplace conservatory roof or whole conservatory: read the frame firstReplace conservatory roof or whole conservatory? Five checks on frames, walls, doors and base tell you whether a roof swap will do or a rebuild is wiser.
- ETFE pillow roof, lab heavy rainBRE68.7 dB
- 25 mm polycarbonate, lab heavy rainBRE64.6 dB
- Polycarbonate, natural heavy rain (estimate)BRE, Liverpool61.9 dB
- Roof window, laminated double glazing, lab heavy rainForum Acusticum52.5 dB
- Double glazed roof glass, lab heavy rainBRE52.0 dB
- Polycarbonate, natural moderate rain (estimate)BRE, Liverpool45.7 dB
- Glass, natural moderate rain (estimate)BRE, Liverpool33.1 dB
- 75 mm aluminium panel roofNo published testNo published figuren/a
- Vacuum cleanerNIDCD70 dB
- Normal conversationNIDCD50 to 65 dB
- Fridge hummingNIDCD40 dB
- WhisperNIDCD30 dB
- WHO: single noises in a bedroom at night, not aboveWHO45 dB
- WHO: bedroom average through the night, not aboveWHO30 dB
Roof figures are A-weighted sound intensity levels from laboratory rain at 40 mm an hour (BRE IP 2/06 and a 2026 Forum Acusticum study). Natural rain estimates apply the University of Liverpool offsets (natural heavy rain 2.7 dB lower, moderate 18.9 dB lower). Everyday sounds and WHO guidance are sound pressure levels, shown for scale, not as a like for like comparison. Nobody has published a rain test for 75 mm aluminium skinned conservatory panels, and we have not measured ours.
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