Conservatory Roof Blinds or a New Roof?

What roof blinds actually do

A roof blind is a fabric or slatted shade fitted under the glazing, on tracks that follow the slope of the roof. Pulled across, it blocks direct sun, cuts glare, and stops the contents of the room fading. A good blind can take the edge off summer heat, especially if the fabric is reflective or has a light-coloured upper face. Some owners also like the privacy and the softer look inside.

The limit is that a blind sits inside the room. The sun has already passed through the roof by the time it meets the fabric, so the heat is in the room, trapped between the glass and the blind. A blind reduces this but does not stop it. Blinds that sit outside the roof work better for heat, but they are exposed to wind and weather and need careful fixing.

What blinds cannot fix

It helps to list the complaints blinds will not touch.

• Winter cold. A blind adds a thin layer of fabric, which does very little against heat loss through a glass or polycarbonate roof.
• Rain noise. The drumming starts in the sheet above, and a blind only softens echo inside the room. See why a conservatory roof is so noisy in the rain.
• Leaks. Water gets in through failed seals and bars, and a blind will not stop it, and may get stained.
• Ageing sheets. A yellowed or algae-filled polycarbonate roof stays that way under a blind.
• Condensation. Blinds can trap damp air against the roof and make condensation worse.

How the costs compare

Blinds cost a fraction of a new roof. A solid tiled conservatory roof has a typical UK range of £6,100 to £15,000, which is about £650 to £1,200 per square metre. Blinds, by comparison, are a modest outlay, and the price depends on the size and style of the roof and whether they are manual or motorised. The two are not like-for-like, though. A blind answers one complaint, and a new roof answers several, so judge the cost against how many problems you want solved. Your fixed quote follows the survey.

Types of roof blind

Most conservatory roof blinds are either pleated or roller fabrics on side-mounted wires or tracks, or slatted venetian-style blinds. Pleated and fabric blinds are the cheapest and give soft light. Venetian-style blinds let you tilt the slats to control glare. Motorised versions run from a remote and suit large or awkward roofs, but they cost more and need power to the roof. Whichever you choose, the tracks must be fixed to the glazing bars properly, because a blind that sags or catches in the wind is a nuisance and may damage the bars. Ask for a made-to-measure fit rather than a stock size, and check that the fabric is rated for the heat that builds up under a glass roof, since cheap fabric fades and warps in a season or two.

When blinds are enough

Choose blinds when the roof is sound and fairly new, the frame is straight, and the conservatory is a summer room that you use mostly in the warm months. They also suit a rented property, or one where a roof replacement is not on the cards for several years. In that case you can fit blinds now and revisit the roof later.

Solar-control film or glass is another stage up if you want to keep your current roof. It reduces heat and glare, but it does not add insulation.

When to replace the roof instead

If the room is unusable for half the year, the roof leaks, the sheets are yellow and brittle, or the noise is driving you out, then blinds are a patch on a bigger problem. A solid insulated roof fixes the temperature and the noise together, while a new glass roof improves light and appearance. Our guide to fixing a conservatory that is too hot or too cold goes through the options in order, and our conservatory roof replacement page covers the replacement routes.

How we help you decide

When we survey a conservatory we look at the roof, the frame and how you use the room, and then say what we would do. If blinds will solve it, we say so, and we do not push a new roof. If the roof is the problem, we show you the photos and write up a fixed price for whichever options suit it.