Is Glass the best choice for your conservatory roof?

At Express Toughening we believe the roof of your conservatory is the most important part in it’s construction and finished look. It maintains the entire structure and prevents adverse weather conditions. Many conservatories that were built in the 1990s have polycarbonate roofs as they were the cheaper resource at the time. The implementation of polycarbonate roofs has caused problems for homeowners with them, so let’s see how Glass compares.

Do I need to change my conservatory roof?

There are a number of reasons why you may need to replace your conservatory roof. Anything from suffering condensation or leaks, to damage being caused by mould is a viable reason. You may also want to replace your roof if it is slightly out-dated and struggles with energy and thermal efficiency. An old conservatory could be having serious implications on your energy bills. If you struggle with insulation it’s less likely to be enjoyed during winter and in turn, make it a poor investment.

Options for Conservatory Roofing

A conservatory glass roof is the most popular option for homeowners across the UK. Their popularity largely stems from their ability to allow natural sunlight into the room.

One of the biggest advantages to incorporating a glass roof is the number of options available to you. An increasingly popular choice is thermally efficient Glass as it reduces the amount of heat that can escape. Thermally efficient Glass can be coated with a thin coating to minimise glare and is commonly formed with two panes of Glass.

If you currently own a conservatory, you will be fully aware of how difficult it can be to clean your glass panels. Self-cleaning Glass reduces the hassle of attempting to clean your glass as a special coating reacts with sunlight to breakdown dirt.

Although the amount of sunlight let in by glass is one of its major advantages, they can get very bright. For that reason, tinted Glass is increasingly popular among consumers to reduce the glare of sun coming into your home extension.

Tiled Conservatory Roofs

Solid or tiled roofing is your second option when conservatories are concerned. Tiled or solid roofs are primarily implemented to make a conservatory a more permanent extension, essentially adding a further room to the home. The issue that lies with tiled or solid conservatory roofing is the restricted light it will let in. If deciding to go with this option, you will likely need to implement artificial lighting.

Polycarbonate Conservatory Roof

The biggest competitor to a glass conservatory roof is polycarbonate roofs. Polycarbonate is the cheaper alternative to Glass yet possess many different qualities to the alternative. So, you can make an informed decision regarding which is the best material for your project. This blog will break down the major differences between polycarbonate and Glass as your conservatory roofing solution.

Efficiency

The stand out benefit that glass conservatory roofing has over polycarbonate is the thermal insulation it provides. Most polycarbonate roofs that were built in the 1990s are now past their best and had limited insulation qualities in the first place. Polycarbonate roofing can often have a greenhouse effect, causing unbearable heat in the summer months and astoundingly cold temperatures in the winter. With glass roof panels, heat will be kept enclosed in the winter – saving money on heating bills! Also, the reflective technology that comes with Glass will prevent your conservatory form overheating on the hottest of summer days. An added advantage to a glass is the UV protection that it provides. As a result, your furniture will be protected from the rays of the sun.

Sound Insulation

The purpose of a conservatory is to provide a relaxing room for you and your family to retreat to all year round. If you have ever experienced a conservatory with a polycarbonate room, when it is raining, you will be fully aware of its poor sound insulation. Glass significantly reduces the problem as it carries much improved acoustic insulation.

Aesthetics

With Glass, you have a variety of options when it comes to how you would like your conservatory to look. Clear Glass allows natural light to encapsulate your home, allowing perfect views of the outside world. Glass is a versatile material, and the availability of tinted Glass provides reduced glare. On the other hand, polycarbonate is translucent and does not have the same clean finish that Glass does.

Durability

In the past, polycarbonate has been recognised as an excellent protective material – ideal for your conservatory. However, after some time polycarbonate roofs can be susceptible to damage and leaks. Glass Conservatory roof panels are much more durable and resistant to weather.

Maintenance

At Express Toughening, our glass conservatory roofs are accompanied by a coating that repels dirt. Due to this, glass conservatories require very little maintenance to be kept in pristine condition. With polycarbonate roofs, regular cleaning is required to prevent the build of moss and other dirt.

If you’re looking to replace your current conservatory roof or build a new conservatory form scratch, get in touch with Express Toughening to discover the material suited to your home. Contact us today on 020 8500 1188 to find out more.

Certificates & Partners

What Our Customers Say

Andrew Cooke

Superb customer service from the Express Toughening team – when I made a mistake on my order online, they dealt with the issue quickly organising partial refund immediately. My order arrived quickly and their courier messaged me before delivery to check I was in. Quality product at the best price I found online.

Rated 5 out of 5
Kiron Kular

A massive Thankyou to Helen from Express Toughening for being so patient, co-operative and helpful with my orders. She resolved a re-make without any fuss and in an extremely timely manner. If you want glass – go to Express Toughening and ask for Helen!

Rated 5 out of 5
Andy Beviere

Extremely easy company to deal with, glass ordered weeks ago and asked for a specific delivery date due to glass testing and no one being onsite. Delivered on time and when asked for other types glass stated they couldn’t help but recommended an equally helpful company!!

Wouldn’t hesitate to use again.

Rated 5 out of 5
Brian White

I’ve used Express Toughening twice now and have been very impressed with the glass they have supplied and also the helpfulness of the staff. The first job was a couple of years ago when they supplied me with a 6mm satin frosted toughened glass door for our shower room. From my measurements they supplied a fabulous door which had the hinge and lock holes cut out and also took into account the out of square measurement of the door frame. It fitted a treat and is stunning to look at.

More recently (late last year) they supplied me with painted toughened glass splash backs (7 items altogether in 6mm glass with the biggest being 2.1 metres long), all cut to my sizes and with numerous switch and socket cut-outs. My local glass supplier said they could not cut out the close together sockets and switches, but Express did and got it spot on!

As with the glass door, the splash backs were delivered to me by Expresses’ own transport and without any problems and quality issues.

After the scary bit of fitting them all the result is faultless and stunning. Thanks go to Alex who helped me with the ordering process and technical aspects of glass splash backs.

Rated 5 out of 5
David Convery

4mm toughened glass for greenhouse. Although slightly dubious about ordering from a company I’ve never heard of and not local (300mile away) I’m so glad I took the plunge. A great customer service from Helen and the team from start to finish, clearly there was nothing for me to worry about.

Their website is easy to use and made ordering online a doddle and for those shapes, they don’t have on their website a quick email and rough diagram sorted any issues there. All glass arrived on time well packed and with no breakages.

It’s a company I wouldn’t hesitate to use again and I’d definitely recommend it to others who need quality glass cut to size.

Rated 5 out of 5
Tony Fields

Excellent product.
Exactly what it says on the tin.
Brilliant, friendly service from Helen.
Definitely recommended.
(And we’re on the Scottish border)

Rated 5 out of 5
Tony Owen

Fantastic service, fantastic prices and fantastic products – I could not recommend Express Toughening highly enough – I got an immediate response to my request for a quotation, and Helen was so helpful in answering my questions. Order placement was easy and everything arrived exactly on time and as promised. I won’t look anywhere else for my next order – great prices (way cheaper than other quotes) and great service!

Thank you!

Rated 5 out of 5
Sam Richardson

We have been using Express toughening for a number of years, mainly for glass screens and Toughened Glass for balustrade. The company are always reliable, deliveries always on time and friendly helpful service.

Rated 5 out of 5