Replacing polycarbonate conservatory roof with glass

nightsky224

Our conservatory is approx 3m by 4m we have a polycarbonate roof and are looking to replace with glass to keep the heat in in winter and out in summer.
So far we have had 2 quotes but price is hugely different
£1700 from a small firm, reccomend
£6000 from a larger bit local firm also reccomended.

Anyone know why there could be such a difference or what I should be looking for?

Thanks

road2manchester

Big companies like Anglian, Everest have advertising budgets running into £millons per year. Sales staff are on commission only, fitters the same, managers the same.... the £ per unit are 1000% over actual manufacturing costs. Add showrooms, vans, insurances, TV ads, glossy magazines. You local guy probably buys the units from a local manufacturer, has 1 van, 1 helper, no overheads, no self employed commission only staff.... that's where the difference lies. BUT insist on solar / heat reflective safety glass .... your cheap quote sound to cheap given your conservatory may have 4 rectangles and 3 or 4 triangles.

Shop around.

nightsky224

Thanks road2manchester.

We have 4 rectangles (no triangles though) with the glass it's Toughened active blue tinted glass does that sound right?

The expensive firm is still local, not the likes of Anglican etc they are def bigger than the cheaper firm but I'm just thrown but the huge difference.

Silvertabby

Is the cheap contract based on just replacing the poly for glass - ie, keeping the original framework - and is the dearer contract based on replacing the roof framework as well?

Glass is much heavier than poly, so the roof frame may need to be more substantial.

cajef

Silvertabby wrote: »

Is the cheap contract based on just replacing the poly for glass - ie, keeping the original framework -

You have to have a complete new roof frame as the glass sealed units are a different thickness than the polycarbonate are considerably heavier and have different fittings to hold them in place.

Had ours changed last year by the local firm that we know and trust that originally fitted the conservatory, similar size to the OP's and cost just under £2000.

docmatt

The 1700 firm will just be glazing new glass in the existing bars, not recommended. A foot of snow on top of the glass weight can bow the roof right in, ive seen it.

The 6000 firm will be a complete new lid.