Conservatory Roof Leaking? Causes and Fixes
A leaking conservatory roof is usually caused by a failed seal along a glazing bar, a slipped or cracked panel, a blocked or misaligned gutter, or the junction with the house wall. Small faults like these can sometimes be repaired. But if the roof also makes the room too hot in summer and too cold in winter, fixing the leak will not change that, and replacing it with an insulated solid roof is often the better use of money.
- Glazing bar seals and gaskets
- Slipped, cracked or discoloured panels
- Box gutters and conservatory gutters
- Wall junctions and lead flashing
- Honest repair or replace advice
- Insulated solid roof replacement
Where conservatory roofs leak
Glazing bars. Each panel sits between bars sealed with rubber gaskets or caps. As those age they shrink and harden, and rain runs in along the bar. The drip often appears some distance from the fault.
Panels. Polycarbonate sheets can slip down if the end stops fail, opening a gap at the ridge. Cracked or crazed sheets let water in directly.
Gutters. A blocked or sagging gutter overflows back into the frame. On box gutters between a conservatory and the house, a failed lining sends water straight inside.
The house wall. Where the conservatory meets the house there should be a proper lead flashing. Silicone or tape at that junction fails within a few years. See leadwork for how that joint should be sealed.
Repair or replace?
If the roof is otherwise in reasonable condition and the leak is one seal or one gutter, a repair is sensible and we will say so. If several bars are leaking, panels are discoloured and the room is unusable for half the year, replacing the roof with a lightweight insulated solid roof deals with the leaks and the temperature together.
Before any solid roof goes on we check the frame, beam and base, because a solid roof is heavier. Guide prices are on our conservatory roof replacement cost page.
Condensation or a leak?
Not every drip is a leak. Glass and polycarbonate roofs get very cold on winter nights, and moisture from the room condenses on the underside and runs down the bars. If the drips appear on cold mornings rather than during rain, condensation is the likely cause. Better ventilation helps, but the permanent cure is an insulated roof, because the inner surface no longer gets cold enough for condensation to form.
What to do while it is leaking
Move furniture and electrics away from the drip, put a container under it, and clear any leaves from the gutters if you can reach safely from the ground. Do not climb onto a conservatory roof: panels are not designed to take weight.
Take a photo of where the water appears and roughly when, as it helps narrow down the cause. Call 07840 996627, Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. For active leaks we aim to attend the same or next working day, weather permitting, and make the roof safe first.
Conservatory Roof Leaking? Causes and Fixes FAQs
Why is my conservatory roof leaking?+
Most often failed glazing bar seals, slipped or cracked panels, blocked gutters or a poor seal where the roof meets the house wall.
Can a leaking conservatory roof be repaired?+
Often, if the fault is local. Seals, end stops and gutters can be put right. Widespread leaks on an old roof are usually better solved by replacement.
Will a solid roof stop the leaks?+
A properly fitted solid roof replaces the bars, panels and seals that were leaking, and is flashed into the house wall with lead.
Is it safe to stand on my conservatory roof?+
No. Glass and polycarbonate panels are not designed to take a person's weight. Any work at roof level should be done from proper access.
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Contact Stoker Property Solutions for new roofs, flat roofing, repairs and maintenance across Newcastle, Sunderland and the wider North East.