Polycarbonate roofs — also known as polycarbonate glazing or plastic conservatory roofs — are popular options for conservatories thanks to how strong, lightweight and cost-effective they are.
When installed properly, polycarbonate roofs can last well over ten years. For these reasons, polycarbonate roof conservatories are a great alternative to glass roof designs. Read on to find out more about polycarbonate conservatory roofs and their benefits.
Polycarbonate Roof Options
There are a few different factors to consider when it comes to choosing your polycarbonate conservatory roof.
Thickness
The gaps between the layered sheets of polycarbonate — also known as tunnels — trap warm air, keeping it inside your conservatory. So the more layers you have, the better insulated your space will be. Our conservatories can be supplied with a multiwall polycarbonate roofing system up to 32mm thick, for exceptional energy and sound insulation. Upgrading your plastic roof thickness to 32mm will help keep your room warmer in winter when the temperature drops.
Colour
At ConservatoryLand, we offer four polycarbonate colours to choose from:
Another option to consider is silver foil or polycarbonate solar inserts. More on these below.
Solar Control Polycarbonate Roofing
Insulating polycarbonate roofs with solar control foil inserts prevent over 80% of the sun’s solar energy and glare from entering your conservatory. This helps maintain a comfortable temperature — even on the hottest summer days. Plus, there’s no need to install pricey roof blinds.
In winter, most of the heat lost from your conservatory escapes through the roof. With foil inserts, rising heat is radiated back into the room, which helps keep things warm and reduces your heating bills.
The table below shows the typical U values, light transmission, glare reduction, UV rejection and solar heat rejection of solar control foil inserts. The lower the U value, the better the insulation properties.
Solar Control Foil Inserts Thermal Insulation
| Solar Control Foil Inserts Glazing Options | U Value W/m3K | % Light Transmission | % Glare Reduction | % UV Rejection | % Solar Heat Rejected |
| 25mm Polycarbonate | 1.5 | 14% | 80% | 99% | 80% |
| 32mm Polycarbonate | 1.1 | 13% | 80% | 99% | 80% |
These values come from testing gold/silver solar control foil inserts. They’re provided for guide purposes only and are subject to variation caused by seasonal changes and other factors.
No Maintenance, No Cleaning
Another great thing about solar foil inserts is that they’re built directly into the roof itself, so they don’t require any additional cleaning or maintenance. What’s more, they’ll provide effective protection for the lifetime of your polycarbonate roof.
How Much Does A Polycarbonate Conservatory Roof Cost?
One of the main advantages of polycarbonate roofs is that they tend to be cheaper than glass styles — perfect if you’re working with a strict budget. The two factors most likely to impact the overall polycarbonate roof conservatory price are the size and type of build you choose.
As a general rule of thumb, the larger the roof area, the more the polycarbonate will cost. And if the roof style is more ornate or complicated, this can also affect the price. A simple polycarbonate lean-to roof, for example, will likely be one of the more cost-effective options, while a larger Edwardian style could be more expensive.
Don’t forget — our expert team is here to help you each step of the way. We can provide you with a quote for your polycarbonate roof conservatory based on your exact requirements.
Polycarbonate Glazing From ConservatoryLand
With many years of experience and conservatory builds under our belts, we know a thing or two about polycarbonate roof conservatories. So if you’d like a hand in turning your conservatory dreams into reality, simply fill out our online form or give us a call.
Want some more inspiration? Order a free brochure today and explore the range of styles and customisation options available.
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