How to Fix a Leaking Conservatory Roof

If you’ve got a leak in your conservatory roof, it needs to be repaired quickly. Even a small drip can soon lead to much more serious and expensive issues after long periods of rain, wind and other stormy weather.

This constant assault by mother nature can particularly affect conservatory roofs, as they are constructed from multiple glass panels sealed together, each presenting a potential vulnerability. This guide is going to talk about ways to diagnose and repair a leak in your conservatory roof.

Contents

• Why Is My Conservatory Roof Leaking?
• Will I Need to Replace My Conservatory Roof?
• How Much Will It Cost to Fix My Conservatory Roof Leak?
• Can I Fix a Conservatory Roof Leak Myself?
• What is the Best Sealant for a Leaking Conservatory Roof?

Why Is My Conservatory Roof Leaking?

The first step in fixing a conservatory roof leak is to find out exactly where and why the roof is leaking. There are many common places where water may be getting in such as in the corners, or between the roof panels. Your conservatory roof could even be leaking where it joins the house if there’s an issue with your flashing. 

Wear & Tear

The most common cause of a conservatory roof leak in older conservatories is simple wear and tear. As with all things, your roof can deteriorate as time goes on, particularly if exposed to serious weather. Beyond a simple leak, if left alone, this can also result in dampness or mould spreading into your home.

Whilst choosing more durable conservatory roof materials such as lightweight metal tiles can extend its lifespan, but nothing lasts forever. No matter what roofing material you choose, you’ll need to perform regular care and maintenance to keep your conservatory roof in the best possible condition.

Roof Vents

Whilst effective ventilation will greatly improve air quality and make your conservatory more comfortable, roof vents can often be the cause of leaks, particularly as they age.

You should check their condition annually, ensuring that the seals are still solid and that the vents are properly insulated. If they’ve become worn or faulty, rainwater can quickly find its way into your conservatory roof and cause leaks, among other issues.

Roof Panels

Whilst checking over your conservatory roof for the source of the leak, be especially thorough when inspecting your roof panels. There are many ways for water to leak through these, particularly if the panels have slipped or been damaged by falling debris.

The good news, however, is that it can be simple to fix your leaking glass or polycarbonate roof panels. Either by repositioning, resealing or fully replacing any faulty panels.

Guttering

Faulty guttering is another frequent cause of conservatory roof leaks. This could be due to cracks, splits and other damage which will lead to leaking and water damage to the face of your conservatory.

Additionally, if your gutters are blocked and rainwater is left with nowhere else to go it can start to deteriorate any seals that it may come into contact with. This excess moisture in the air can quickly lead to issues such as damp, mould, and condensation.

Flashing

The final area that is a common source of conservatory roof leaks is where your conservatory joins your house. In general, leaks coming from this area are caused by an issue with your roof flashing. This is designed to act as a bridge and watertight seal between your property and your conservatory roof.

Inspect your flashing to ensure that it is undamaged and still securely fitted across all joins. If you find that your conservatory roof flashing is faulty, it will need to be replaced.

Will I Need to Replace My Conservatory Roof?

Whether or not you’ll need to perform a full conservatory roof replacement depends on how badly damaged it has become. More often than not, if you’ve addressed the problem early, you may only need to replace one or two components.

Thanks to advances in roofing materials, elements such as flashing, guttering, vents, or polycarbonate sheets can be replaced by a competent DIYer without much issue.

However, if your conservatory roof has been leaking for a long time, you may find that deeper structural issues have set in. Whether this involves your conservatories frame, glazing, roof space or anything else, you may need to consider contacting a professional to inspect it and makes repairs as necessary.

Issues such as roof leaks, damp or mould tend to worsen very quickly, so it’s vital to address the problem as soon as you can to prevent further expense down the line.

How Much Will It Cost to Fix My Conservatory Roof Leak?

Your conservatory leak repair cost will depend on how much work is necessary. Fully replacing a conservatory roof can cost from a few hundred pounds to well over £6000, depending on the size of the roof. This will also be dictated by where you live and what materials you’ve used to cover your conservatory roof.

Despite this cost, it’s vital to fix these issues as soon as possible or risk the problem becoming worse and more expensive to resolve. A conservatory roof leak can even present significant health risks once it leads to mould infestations.

This can negatively affect air quality, proving dangerous both to people and pets. You may also find that furniture or other possessions become damaged by water, as well as opening your property up to further structural damage due to excess moisture.

You may not have to fork out this cash yourself – as the vast majority of conservatories are joined to the main property, they will be covered by building insurance. Provided you’ve informed your insurer of its existence beforehand, most will consider a conservatory part of the house, and be willing to offer a helping hand.

It’s worth noting, however, that building insurance tends to cover sudden damage rather than gradual wear and tear, or issues that have become worse due to your own neglect. What this means is that if your conservatory roof is leaking due to a sudden storm you may be in luck, but if it’s simply down to years of erosion the cost is more likely yours to bear.

Finally, it may be worth checking if your conservatory is still under warranty if it was constructed by a company or supplier. There is, however, a lot of fine print when it comes to most warranties, so be sure to investigate yours thoroughly before you get in touch with the builder.

Can I Fix a Conservatory Roof Leak Myself?

While we certainly would not advise a DIY beginner or homeowner to undertake a full conservatory roof replacement, many of the issues that lead to roof leaks can be fixed quickly and easily by almost anyone.

Quick Fix for a Leaking Conservatory Roof

If your conservatory roof has been glazed with polycarbonate, fixing a leak is often a simple matter of popping out the panels, wiping them down and re-applying a bead of sealant across their edges. Of course, this is only if the source of the leak is the seals and not the flashing, gutters or vents.

The same can be done for glass panels, though we would suggest having one or two helpers on hand as they are much, much heavier and will require specialist tools.

Remember! Wait for dry weather before climbing up onto your roof and take all suitable precautions.

Is this Quick Fix for Me? Well, it may be depending on how extensive the leak is. Minor damage can usually be repaired in this way without many issues; however, it is only ever a stop. To get your roof back to 100% we would always suggest bringing in a professional (contacting your insurance company if you can) who can inspect and replace the damaged elements.

What is the Best Sealant for a Leaking Conservatory Roof?

A classic all-weather sealant will be your go-to when looking to seal a conservatory roof. You will want to make sure it is resistant not only to water but also UV, extreme temperatures and mould to maximise the lifespan of your fix.

You should hopefully now have a much better idea of how to tackle a leaking conservatory roof. Fortunately, most leaks can be fixed rather quickly and shouldn’t cost too much, especially if you’ve gotten on top of the issue early. Just remember to perform a thorough investigation, be safe and don’t perform any work you’re not comfortable doing. Professionals are always on-hand if needs be.

If you have any more questions about your conservatory or would like some advice picking out replacement panels, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our award-winning customer service team at 01295 565 565. We’ll be more than happy to help.