How much does conservatory roof insulation cost? Professional vs DIY

In this article we will be looking at Conservatory roof insulation cost. This will usually involve hiring a contractor to do the work. But we will be comparing this with the price of doing the job DIY.

We will also be looking at the main benefits of Conservatory roof insulation. Including how insulating your Conservatory can make it a more usable room all year round.

If you are hiring a professional to install roof insulation in your Conservatory, prices usually range from £1200 – £4000. This will depend on the size and style.

Most Companies will be able to give you a quote over the phone when you provide some basic measurements. Alternatively, a quick on site visit can be carried out to take measurements and provide a quote.

The price quoted will include all materials and labour. This will include plastering your ceiling and in some cases painting will also be included.

The only thing that may add slightly to the price, is if you require any electrical work, such as lights adding into your finished ceiling. most companies will either have their own electrician, or they will use a subcontractor to complete this part of the job.

In general, an electrician will need to come out twice. The first time will be to first fix and the second will be to second fix. Due to this, you can usually factor in an additional 300 to 500 pounds for electrical work of this nature.  

Benefits of conservatory roof insulation

The main benefit of insulating your conservatory, is its ability to regulate the temperature. This means, not only will it make the room warmer in winter months. but it will also keep the room cool during hot summer months.

Essentially the insulation forms a barrier that stops heat being lost through the ceiling. By fitting an insulated ceiling, 80% or more of the heat usually lost through the glass or polycarbonate roof is retained in the winter.

It will also stop your conservatory getting too hot. The way this works is very similar. The insulation forms a reflective barrier, which reduces the movement of warm air.

This means that warm air is kept in the conservatory, meaning heat is not lost. It also reflects additional heat that is trying to penetrate in from outside.

If your insulation is installed correctly, this should mean a consistent temperature all year round.

Another benefit of Conservatory roof insulation is it will stop condensation. Condensation can often form on the glass in your Conservatory. This is particularly common in winter; it is due to the glass being cold which forms a dew point. When this happens, warm moist air inside the Conservatory rises and settles on the cold glass.

Using a dehumidifer or opening windows can help with conservatory condensation, but it is not always the best solution. Esspecially when the weather is cold outside. Plus a dehumidifier will be using additional energy.

Once insulation is added and the ceiling is plastered, this will raise the temperature of the internal surface, stopping water from settling.

Also, a ventilation gap will be left behind the insulation. The insulation will be sealed, this will act as a vapour barrier, preventing condensation in the cavity gap.

The final major benefit is reduced energy consumption. Due to the ability to regulate and maintain temperature, you will not need to use additional heating in your newly insulated conservatory. In the long term this could save a significant amount of money

Can I insulate my conservatory roof myself?

If you are a competent DIY’er it is possible to insulate your Conservatory yourself. The process has a few steps which can be seen below:

1. Fix timber batons to the existing conservatory frame. You will need to use self-drilling UPVC screws to get a good fixing.
   
   
2. Attach foil insulation to the timber frame. This can be achieved with a good staple gun and is very easy to install. The foil insulation blankets used are very lightweight.
   
   
3. Overlap and tape all the joints to completely seal your insulation blanket.
   
   
4. Next fit more batons on top of your insulation. If you are fixing plasterboards, you should position your timber batons to fit the boards. This will mean intervals that allow you to attach boards without needing to cut. Usually this will be 400mm intervals. Unless you are using 900mm boards where you will need 450mm intervals.
   
   
5. Fix plasterboards to the timber batons and apply plaster to finish.
   
   
6. Once the plaster on your conservatory ceiling is completely dry you can decorate.

Cost of insulating your conservatory roof DIY

DIY conservatory roof insulation will be considerably cheaper than hiring a company to do the work. However, you should factor in the time it will take to complete the work by yourself.

For professional fitters, the process usually takes 2-3 days. This is for people who do this job day in day out. Bearing this in mind, you should allow yourself at least a few days to complete this kind of DIY project.

Additionally, you will likely need to hire a professional plasterer to skim your ceiling, to achieve a high quality finish.

Below are all the products you will need including links to learn more about each product.

• Insulation – For this we recommend Superquilt insulation blanket. This product is very lightweight and extremely easy to install. It offers insulation that is equivalent to a 50mm Kingspan.
  
  To learn more about Superquilt insulation and read customer reviews click here
  
  
• Aluminium tape – This will be used to seal all the joints in your insulation blanket. This is quite inexpensive and will usually cost roughly £10 per roll. Click here to see our recommended tape
  
  
• 50mm self-drilling UPVC screws. Again, these are very affordable, and you can see some good quality screws here.
  
  
• Timber batons. You can get these from any builder’s merchants or even somewhere like B&Q or Wickes.
  
  
• Drywall screws for fitting plaster. These can also be bought from any builder’s merchants. Alternatively, you can pick them up cheap on Amazon by clicking here.
  
  
• Plasterboards and plaster can be purchased from builders’ merchants, B&Q, Wickes etc. Most companies will offer free home delivery.
  
  
• Finally, for paint we recommend Leyland Trade Contract Matt. We find this gives excellent coverage. Just as good as more expensive brands such as Dulux. You can learn more about this paint and read lots of reviews by Clicking Here

The DIY cost of insulating a conservatory roof, will be roughly £250 – £300 for materials, depending on the size. You also will need to factor in the extra cost of labour, for any tradesmen you use for finishing work, such as plastering or decorating.

Conclusion

Insulating the roof can be a great way to transform your existing conservatory. Not only can it regulate temperature and make the room more comfortable all year round. But it also gives a nice aesthetic finish, this makes the conservatory feel much more like a real room in your house.

The cost does vary quite a bit between a professional vs DIY job. But both are quite affordable. Especially if you compare them with the alternative of installing a conservatory roof. This is far more expensive and definitely not a DIY job.