The Client Brief
The owners used their lean-to conservatory as an informal dining room, but the original roof made the space difficult to control. Summer lunches could become too hot, winter evenings required constant supplementary heating and heavy rain made conversation difficult. They wanted better insulation and acoustics but were concerned that replacing the glazed roof with a completely solid structure might remove too much daylight from the centre of the home.
The Design Challenge
The solution had to balance improved insulation with retained natural light. Because the conservatory ran along the rear of the house, losing too much daylight could also affect the adjacent kitchen. The roof design therefore needed carefully positioned glazed sections rather than a uniformly solid surface.
The Fitrite Solution
The representative scheme uses an Icotherm solid roof with selected roof glazing, an option Fitrite notes can be incorporated into bespoke roof designs. The insulated C24 timber structure and 0.15 U-value build-up improve thermal performance, while roof glazing is positioned to maintain useful daylight into both the conservatory and adjoining kitchen. Lightweight external tiles give the conversion a more permanent appearance, and the internal ceiling incorporates recessed lighting for evenings. The result balances room-like comfort with the daylight characteristics that made the original conservatory appealing.
Project Specification
The Project Journey
- Comfort review – Assess overheating, winter heat loss, glare and rain noise.
- Structural survey – Check existing frames and supports.
- Daylight planning – Identify where roof glazing should be retained to protect light levels.
- Specification – Confirm tiles, glazing, insulation and internal ceiling finish.
- Roof removal – Remove the old roof and prepare the existing frame.
- New roof build – Install the prefabricated Icotherm structure and insulation.
- Glazing and interior – Fit roof glazing, weatherproofing, ceiling and lighting.
- Completion – Check finish, ventilation and handover information.
Project Cost
Illustrative project investment: £11,800. This is a representative project value, not a formal quotation. Final pricing would vary according to size, access, ground conditions, specification, finish and any additional works required.
The Finished Result
The dining room keeps the bright character that the homeowners valued but no longer behaves like a greenhouse in summer or a cold buffer space in winter. The roof glazing directs daylight into the key part of the room, while the insulated sections provide the thermal and acoustic improvement the family wanted. The conversion makes the space much easier to use for everyday meals and evening entertaining throughout the year.
Key Outcomes
✓ Retained natural light while improving insulation
✓ Reduced the seasonal extremes of the original conservatory
✓ Created a more comfortable dining environment
✓ Used bespoke roof glazing within a solid-roof conversion
✓ Kept the existing conservatory rather than rebuilding from scratch