The Short Answer
On our estimates, replacing a conservatory roof costs about £7,800 to £12,000 for a solid, insulated tiled roof on a 12m² conservatory, including VAT. New glass is £9,000 to £13,200 and polycarbonate £5,400 to £10,200. It takes two to five days.
LABC, the body for council building control, says an insulated solid roof can make a conservatory more comfortable. It's heavier, though, so it needs a building regulations application and a check that the frame and base can carry it. I'd budget for that, and for new plaster and lighting inside.
Conservatory roof replacement calculator
Priced by the roof's area, which is a little more than the floor because of the slope and overhang.
Estimated total
£8,280 to £13,280
| Solid or tiled (insulated) roof, about 12m² | £7,800 to £12,000 |
| Building control (a solid roof needs approval) | £480 to £1,280 |
Conservatory roof prices
| Roof | Per m² | 12m² | 16m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polycarbonate | £450 to £850 | £5,400 to £10,200 | £7,200 to £13,600 |
| Glass | £750 to £1,100 | £9,000 to £13,200 | £12,000 to £17,600 |
| Solid or tiled (insulated) | £650 to £1,000 | £7,800 to £12,000 | £10,400 to £16,000 |
Building regulations for a solid roof
LABC's guidance: replacing a glass or polycarbonate roof with a solid one needs a building regulations application. Building control inspect the existing conservatory before work to check it can take the extra load, and the new roof and its supporting structure must comply, with the rest of the conservatory no worse than before.
It says most conservatories can carry the heavier roof. The pitfalls are foundations that aren't up to it (the conservatory can settle away from the house, causing cracks and leaks) and door and window frames that can't take the load: door supports should have steel inserts carrying the roof down to the floor slab. The roofing company's surveyor or an engineer should have checked all this before quoting; signs of distress can mean significant extra work. I'd ask who applies to building control and whether the fee is in the price.
If you'll also take out the doors to the house or add heating from the house's system, it stops being an exempt conservatory and must meet extension standards: walls and floor too, not just the roof (0.15 W/m²K for a new roof). At that point compare with an orangery or a single-storey extension.
Planning
A new roof changes how a conservatory looks. In a conservation area, on a listed building, or if the original conservatory had planning conditions, I'd ask the council before ordering. If the conservatory itself was built without permission it needed, see the four-year rule in the questions below.
Grants
We found no government grant aimed at conservatory roofs. The schemes that pay for energy improvements, the Warm Homes: Local Grant and the Energy Company Obligation, fund things like wall and loft insulation, heating and solar for eligible households, decided after a survey of the home. I wouldn't count on either covering a conservatory, and I'd be wary of a firm whose pitch leads with a grant.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a solid conservatory roof cost?
On our estimates, about £650 to £1,000 per m², so £7,800 to £12,000 for a 12m² roof, including VAT.
Do I need building regulations for a solid conservatory roof?
Yes. LABC says replacing a translucent roof with a solid one needs a building regulations application, and building control will check the conservatory can carry the extra weight.
Can my conservatory take a solid roof?
LABC says most can. The risks are weak foundations and door or window frames that can't take the load; door supports should have steel inserts. A surveyor or engineer should check before you order.
Can I get a grant to replace a conservatory roof?
We found no government grant for conservatory roofs. The Warm Homes: Local Grant and the Energy Company Obligation pay for improvements like wall and loft insulation for eligible households after a survey; neither lists conservatory roofs.
What is the four-year rule for conservatories?
It was the old time limit for councils to take planning enforcement action against building work done without permission. For work finished on or after 25 April 2024, it's a single 10-year limit in England; work finished before then keeps the 4-year limit.
Is a solid conservatory roof worth it?
If the room is unusable in summer or winter, I think usually yes: LABC says it can make the room more comfortable, and it costs less than an extension. It will make the room darker, so I'd consider rooflights.
How we priced thisView sources (6, 6 official)
Rules come from the legislation and official guidance, read at source. Prices are our estimates: we check them against trade price data, retailer shelf prices and specialists' price lists, then build them up from their parts so the totals add up. Below are the sources behind the page; the trade price guides we only compare against aren’t listed. Where sources disagreed, we've said so. More on our method.
- OfficialI want to replace my conservatory roof: what should I know?, LABC (Local Authority Building Control). Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialApproved Document L: Conservation of fuel and power, Volume 1 Dwellings (2021 edition incorporating 2023 amendments), GOV.UK. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- OfficialThe Building Regulations 2010, Schedule 2: exempt buildings and work (Classes 6 and 7), legislation.gov.uk. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialApply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant to improve a home (England), GOV.UK. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialHelp from your energy supplier: the Energy Company Obligation, GOV.UK. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- OfficialEnforcement appeals: key changes under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act (19 April 2024), GOV.UK. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
