The short answer
On site, a conservatory roof replacement typically takes a matter of days, with larger or more complex roofs taking longer. The whole project takes longer than that, because it begins with a survey, a structural check of the frame and foundations, a Building Regulations application where the roof becomes solid, and ordering the roof system. Weather, access and any strengthening work on the frame can add time. We agree a programme with you in writing.
Before anyone is on your roof
The first stage is the survey. We look at the frame, the base, the wall junction, the gutters and the size and shape of the roof, and take measurements. If you are swapping glass or polycarbonate for a solid roof, the frame and foundations must be able to carry the extra weight, and that check can lead to changes in the plan. Our page on frame and foundation checks for a solid roof explains what is looked at.
Next comes approval. A solid roof replacing a translucent one needs a Building Regulations application. Drawings and the roof system details go to your building control body, and its response and inspection dates set part of the programme. A system that has been through LABC registration can speed approval, but it does not remove it. Lead times for the roof system itself are another factor: a bespoke lantern or made-to-measure tiles take time to arrive. This pre-work is often longer than the work on site, so it helps to start early if you want the roof done before a particular date.
The days on site
On site the work follows an order. The old roof is stripped, and the glass, polycarbonate and glazing bars are lifted off and taken away. The frame is checked and any repairs or strengthening are made, and the wall plate is fixed and the junction with the house prepared. The new roof structure goes up, followed by insulation, the vapour layer, membrane, battens, tiles and the flashings and trims. Internally, the plasterboard ceiling, lighting and finishing follow. The steps in more detail are laid out in our page on what happens when a conservatory roof is replaced.
A simple lean-to can be stripped and weathertight quickly. A large Victorian or P-shaped conservatory with a lantern and several valleys takes longer. Internal finishing, such as plastering and decorating, is a separate stage and can add days, depending on whether you want a plastered ceiling or a ready-finished panel.
What speeds it up or slows it down
Weather matters most. We do not strip a roof if rain is due, because the open frame must be covered at the end of each day, and high wind makes lifting tiles and sheets unsafe. A wet week can push the dates back. Access matters too: a narrow side passage, a steep garden or no room for a skip and a delivery lorry all add handling time. Hidden problems, such as a rotten wall plate or a frame that needs strengthening, can add work once the old roof comes off. We tell you about these during the survey where we can see them, and agree extras in writing if any appear.
Your own decisions play a part. Choosing tile colour, roof window positions and the ceiling finish before the order is placed avoids delay. If you plan to be away or want the work done around an event, say so at the start.
A sample order of events
As a rough guide to the sequence, not a promise: a survey visit comes first, then the quote and your decision. The roof is ordered and the application goes in at about the same time. When approval and delivery are in place, a start date is fixed with you. The crew strips and makes the structure weathertight, the insulation and covering follow, and the finishing trades complete the inside. The building control inspector visits at agreed stages, and the completion certificate arrives after the final inspection. Each step has a person responsible, and we keep you posted as dates firm up.
Keep a spare week in your own diary. Programmes that look tight on paper are the ones that slip when the weather turns or a delivery is late, and a little slack makes the whole experience calmer.
Keeping the house comfortable
While the roof is off, the conservatory cannot be used, and furniture should be moved out or covered. Doors between the house and the conservatory are kept closed, and the weathertight stage is reached each day so rain does not get into the house. Noise is highest during stripping and tiling. When the job ends the site is left tidy and the old roof is carted off. For a feel for what the finished room costs, see conservatory roof replacement cost.
We will not promise a date before we have seen the conservatory. After the survey you get a fixed written quote and a programme that lists the approval, delivery and site stages, so you can plan around them. The full range is covered on conservatory roof replacement in Basingstoke.
Every roof is different. A free survey with photos settles it for yours.
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