Wall-abutting lean-to roof lantern on a conservatory: glass against the wall

Why does a wall-abutting lean-to suit a conservatory?

A conservatory stands against the house and usually has a roof that slopes from the wall towards the garden. That is exactly the shape of a wall-abutting lean-to roof lantern. On a conservatory it often replaces an old polycarbonate roof that has discoloured or started leaking. Glass stays clear and generally insulates better; the difference is explained in glass or polycarbonate.

If your garden room stands on its own in the garden, with no wall to connect to, a gable lantern fits better. More on both is on roof lanterns for conservatories and garden rooms. If the base structure of an old conservatory is lightweight, have it checked first to see whether it can carry the weight of glass.

Which size suits a conservatory?

A wall-abutting lean-to has a standard pitch of 8°. That is enough for rain and leaves to run off well, on a conservatory too. The further the glass reaches, the higher it meets the wall, so measure the available height.

The width follows the conservatory, the depth follows the roof from wall to front. On a wide conservatory an intermediate bar may be needed; the quote will then show it. Water runs to the low side and into the gutter along the front of the conservatory.

• Standard pitch of 8°
• Supplied with upstand and flashing profiles
• Gutter at the front for drainage
• Have the base checked on an old conservatory

How do you stop the conservatory getting too hot?

A conservatory already has glass on its sides. Add glass on the roof and it can warm up quickly on a sunny afternoon. If the conservatory faces south, the advice is solar control glass or shading. How to limit heat is covered in overheating under a roof lantern and solar control glass. A pleated blind under the lantern also gives shade whenever you want it.

If you also use the conservatory as living space in winter, insulation counts. HR++ double glazing is standard, and triple glazing reduces heat loss further. The trade-off is explained in triple glazing or HR++ double glazing. For a conservatory used mainly in spring, summer and autumn, HR++ is usually enough.

Delivery, fitting and your request

The wall-abutting lean-to comes made to measure, with an upstand and the flashing profile for your wall. Allow from 2 weeks after approval; a specific glass choice can take up to 8 weeks. After collection or delivery, your builder puts it on. If the old conservatory roof has to come off, plan that shortly before delivery so the conservatory is not open for long.

• Photo of the conservatory and the wall behind it
• Dimensions of the current conservatory roof
• Wall type and height to the roof edge or windows
• Orientation to the sun and winter use

Frequently asked questions