If you own a conservatory with a polycarbonate or glass roof, you'll know the story all too well. In July it's a greenhouse you can't sit in past 10am. In January it's the coldest room in the house, and the heating bill proves it. Add in the drumming of rain, the glare of the sun, and the constant battle with condensation, and it's no surprise so many conservatories end up as expensive storage rooms.
The good news? You don't need to knock it down and start again. Replacing your old conservatory roof with a solid, insulated, lightweight tiled roof transforms it into a genuine year-round living space — and at Artisanic Roofing, our system of choice is the Britmet lightweight slate.
Why replace a conservatory roof at all? Traditional polycarbonate and glass roofs were never designed with comfort in mind. They offer very little insulation, causing extreme temperature swings, high energy costs, loud rain noise, condensation and leaks from ageing seals — and ultimately a room you paid good money for that you can only use a few months of the year. A solid conservatory roof conversion solves all of these problems in one project, usually completed in just a few days.
Why we use Britmet lightweight slates: Britmet Tileform is a British manufacturer with over 45 years of experience in lightweight metal roofing, and their slate-effect tiles are, in our view, the ideal product for conservatory conversions. They're genuinely lightweight — around 7kg per square metre versus 40–75kg for concrete or natural slate — so your existing frames and footings can safely support the new roof following a proper structural assessment, which we always carry out.
The look of natural slate: Britmet slates are pressed steel with a textured granulated finish, giving the authentic appearance of natural slate from the ground. Available in a range of colours to complement your existing roofline, the finished result looks like a proper extension rather than a converted conservatory — which does no harm at all to your property's kerb appeal or value.
Superb insulation: the tiles are only part of the system. A solid conservatory roof conversion includes rigid insulation boards between and beneath the new rafters, a breathable membrane, and an internal plasterboard ceiling. The result meets modern thermal standards, keeping heat in during winter and out during summer. Many of our customers tell us the conservatory goes from being the worst room in the house to the best.
Weatherproof and long-lasting: Britmet slates are wind-tested to extreme speeds, secured with concealed fixings, and come with a manufacturer's guarantee of up to 40 years. Unlike polycarbonate they won't discolour, crack or blow out in a storm — and rain? You'll barely hear it. Because the tiles are lightweight and cover a large area per sheet, a typical conversion takes us 3–5 days from strip-off to finished ceiling with minimal disruption.
What the conversion involves: survey and structural check of your existing frames, ring beam and footings; strip off and responsible disposal of the old polycarbonate or glass panels and glazing bars; new timber or engineered rafter system fitted to the existing frames; rigid insulation boards and breathable membrane; Britmet slates fitted with matching ridge, hip and verge details; and an internal plasterboard ceiling ready for skimming and decorating — with optional downlights or a roof lantern to keep the space bright.
Won't a solid roof make the room dark? It's the most common question we're asked, and the honest answer is: not if it's designed properly. Most conservatories have large glazed walls that let in plenty of light, and where more is needed we can incorporate glazed roof panels, Velux-style roof windows or a roof lantern into the new solid roof. You keep the light — you just lose the greenhouse effect.
Do you need planning permission? In most cases, replacing a conservatory roof falls under permitted development, so planning permission isn't usually required. Building Regulations do apply to solid roof conversions, and we'll guide you through that process as part of the project so everything is properly signed off.
How much does a Britmet conservatory roof cost? Every conservatory is different — size, shape, access and internal finish all play a part — so we always quote from a proper survey rather than guesswork. As a general guide, a solid conservatory roof conversion typically costs significantly less than a single-storey extension, while delivering a comparable improvement in usable living space. We provide a clear, itemised, fixed-price quotation with no hidden extras.
Ready to get your conservatory back? Artisanic Roofing is a specialist roofing contractor based in Berkshire, working across the South East of England. We handle everything from the initial survey to the finished ceiling, all carried out by our own experienced roofers. Get in touch today for a free, no-obligation survey and quotation — and start using your conservatory all year round.
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