Traditional conservatories have a fundamental design flaw –the roofs have no insulation. 
Homeowners with a polycarbonate or glass roof conservatory face a major issue anytime they try to use their extra space – it’s too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.
This can lead some people down the path of considering whether to invest in conservatory roof blinds to help regulate temperatures.
As experts in conservatories, we’ll explore in this article whether conservatory roof blinds are worth it, what alternatives there are, and settle the debate about which is better: installing conservatory roof blinds or getting a warm roof replacement.
Since poorly insulated conservatories can affect resale value and make homeowners feel as if they can never comfortably use their space, we often get asked about the solution to the ‘too hot, too cold’ problem.
Ultimately, there are four things many homeowners consider trying:
Options 3 and 4 are not ideal and rarely worth the money.
So, in this article, we’ll explain the benefits and the setbacks between roof blinds and a warm roof replacement to help you decide which one is better for you.
There are many different types of blinds you can get for your conservatory roof.
Some of the most popular designs are motorised and controlled either via a remote control or smartphone. This is necessary as you cannot have cords hanging from the ceiling.
Generally, these glass roof blinds come in designs like:
While glass roof blinds have their benefits for conservatories, they also have one major flaw. But let’s start with discussing the benefits.
Conservatory roof blinds can:
However, if you want to make your conservatory a more useable space and fix the issue of it being too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, conservatory roof blinds are not the ideal solution.
They can certainly do the things stated above, but they can’t fix the insulation problem that exists with traditional polycarbonate or glass conservatory roofs.
This assessment is backed up by research and reviews found on the independent WhatPrice? website. While it clearly states that conservatory roof blinds can have benefits, it also says:
“I would say from experience that the one thing conservatory blinds are poor at is reducing the heat build-up in the room.”
Since conservatory roof blinds are not cheap, if you’re hoping they will make the room more usable in terms of temperature, it’s not the best solution and won’t achieve the desired results.
As an alternative to getting new blinds, you can also opt for stick-on conservatory roof blinds or a warm roof replacement.
With stick-on conservatory roof blinds (which is when you place a transparent film on your glass panels), you can minimise glare in your conservatory and sometimes prevent the space from getting too hot.
However, it’s not the most energy-efficient solution and won’t regulate temperatures during cold weather.
One of the best alternatives to conservatory roof blinds is getting a warm roof replacement. By replacing your roof with a fully insulated structure, you can fix the ‘too hot, too cold’ problem for good.
As we’ve explored, blinds can provide shade and privacy, but they won’t insulate a conservatory or make the space more comfortable to relax in.
However, with a warm roof conservatory instead of blinds, you can enjoy:
The Guardian Warm Roof is the only conservatory roof replacement product that proved its insulation abilities (which ultimately led to legislation being changed).
Until 2010, conservatory roofs had to be either glass or polycarbonate. They could only be tiled if they proved two things; they could fit onto existing conservatory structures safely and it was worthwhile doing so.
Because Guardian Warm Roofs proved both elements successfully, they remain the only product in the UK to have full Local Area Building Control (LABC) approval.
As shown in independent research by AECOM (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Operations and Management), replacement roofs can also provide greater thermal efficiency and therefore lower your energy bills.
For a typical property, this research proved that a warm roof conservatory replacement can lead to around £200 savings per year.
If regulating temperatures in your conservatory is important to you, blinds cannot offer the same benefits that a warm roof replacement can.
Blinds can look nice and give you more privacy in your conservatory. But, ultimately, they are more of a finishing touch rather than something that will transform your space.
Alternatively, a new conservatory roof can fundamentally change your home. It can offer a completely different aesthetic appeal and make it feel more like a home extension, rather than just a ‘bolt-on’ room.
To get a better feel for the type of aesthetic a warm roof replacement can offer, you can explore our online gallery.
Because of their poor insulation (leading to high energy bills) and their additional maintenance costs, an old polycarbonate or glass roof conservatory can actually devalue your property, rather than increase it.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom when you have a conservatory.
We’ve talked before about how a conservatory can add value to a property, and the fundamental way to achieve this is by making it part of the home with a warm roof replacement.
While you may expect glass roof blinds to be much cheaper than a warm roof replacement, this isn’t always true. Surprisingly, quotes for new conservatory blinds can run into the thousands.
According to WhatPrice in 2007, some homeowners were paying between £700-£3,500 for conservatory roof blinds, while others were quoted between £7,000-£8,000. In 2022 and beyond, we’d expect prices could be even higher.
Compared with conservatory blinds, a warm roof replacement can provide much better value for money – and actually fix the fundamental flaw with conservatories for good. Plus, solid conservatory roofs often pay for themselves in terms of added resale value (and attractiveness to buyers) when selling in the future.
Compared with roof blinds, a replacement roof creates a more year-round usable space. It can also add value to your property instead of bringing it down (which some old conservatory roofs can do, despite them having motorised blinds).
While blinds may have their benefits (including providing more privacy), it’s debatable whether those things are worth thousands of pounds.
On the other hand, a Guardian Warm Roof has proved time and time again (through rigorous testing) that it’s a valuable investment. With over 100,000 installations nationwide, it’s no secret that homeowners are in favour of the Guardian Warm Roof.
Ultimately, the decision is yours as to whether you purchase conservatory roof blinds or a warm roof replacement.
However, if you want our opinion, we think investing in a warm roof is the best cost-effective long-term solution that you should consider to improve your conservatory.
Blinds can be expensive and won’t fix the fundamental issues with your space. That’s why we think investing in them to help regulate temperatures isn’t worthwhile.
Plus, it could end up being a temporary (yet costly) measure that still leads to you investing in a warm roof replacement in the future.
If you’d like to know how much it costs to have your conservatory roof replaced, contact us today to get a quote.
Alternatively, if you want to know more about conservatory warm roofs and how to get the most out of your space, we have a wealth of information on our blog.
If you have any queries about what’s best for your conservatory, our friendly team are happy to help. Simply fill out our online enquiry form or give us a call on 0800 066 5832.
