Replacement Conservatory Roofs: The 2026 Upgrade Guide

I am not one to put the boot into my own industry, but we have to be honest: historically, conservatories were never truly designed to be used 365 days a year. They were built to provide a pleasant connection to the garden—a place to sit with a cup of tea in spring or autumn.

The 10mm polycarbonate sheeting used commonly in older installations is, by modern standards, a Stone Age technology. It guarantees your conservatory will be too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter, and far too loud to hear yourself think when it rains. Even older glass roofs fall massively short of today’s solar control technologies.

This has left tens of thousands of homeowners nationwide ruing the day they ever bought a conservatory. The good news? You do not need to tear the whole structure down. You just need a new roof.

1. Can I Replace My Conservatory Roof? (Structural Integrity)

Replacing your conservatory roof is an excellent solution, but it requires careful consideration and a healthy dose of common sense. You cannot simply pull down lightweight plastic and replace it with heavy building materials.

You must consider the structural integrity of the existing eaves and window frames. Are they strong enough to do the job? This is particularly problematic if an amateur attempts to replace a lightweight polycarbonate roof with heavy traditional double-glazing or concrete tiles, as the latter will put the old joists under dangerous levels of stress.

This is precisely why KJM Group only installs pre-approved, ultra-lightweight replacement systems designed specifically to sit safely on existing frames.

2. The 3 Approved Replacement Options

When upgrading, you have three distinct architectural paths to choose from. Each solves the thermal problem in a different way.

1. Solar Control Glass Roof

Best for: Maximum natural sunlight.

Replacing old glass with new solar-reflective units controls how much heat is gained from the sun. It remains a “like-for-like” replacement, making it highly cost-effective while significantly reducing summer glare.

2. Hybrid Livinroof

Best for: Balancing insulation and light.

The Livinroof is a solid, insulated grey structure that allows you to insert custom-shaped glass panels anywhere you choose, giving you complete control over where the sun hits.

3. Solid Tiled Ultraroof

Best for: A permanent “real room” feel.

The Ultraroof emulates the appearance of traditional batten and tile but is immensely lighter. Inside, the addition of plasterboard forms a warm, airy vaulted ceiling with downlights.

3. Warning: Avoid “Cowboy” Clad-Overs

Because there are tens of thousands of homeowners desperate to fix their freezing conservatories, it has created a lucrative market for unscrupulous operators.

4. Do I Need Building Regulations?

The very simple answer is yes.

If you change a translucent polycarbonate or glass roof into a solid roof (like the Ultraroof or Livinroof), you are materially changing its construction. In the eyes of the law, you are re-designating the room as an “extension”. Therefore, Building Regulations approval is legally mandatory to ensure structural safety and thermal compliance.

If you haven’t gone through the proper legal process, your conservatory and replacement roof may actually be of *less* value than had you simply left the old polycarbonate roof in place, as it will be flagged by solicitors when you try to sell the home.

5. Interactive Roof Assessor

Unsure which replacement method is right for your existing frames? Use our quick assessment tool below.

6. Frequently Asked Questions