The short version
A small conservatory in Rayleigh, Essex, with a polycarbonate roof, toughened glass and two freezers. We put Opalux polycarbonate film on the roof, which rejects 78% of the sun’s heat, and Dual Reflective 25 on the lower panes. Estimate from the customer’s own measurements, survey to check the glass, final price within £1 of the estimate, on site at 8, done by 3. Five stars on Trustpilot.
We are an Essex-based window film installation company, fitting solar, privacy, safety and decorative film to homes and commercial buildings across Essex and London.
What was the problem with this conservatory?
Heat, and a freezer. The customer has a smallish conservatory with a freezer in it and wants to add a second fridge-freezer. Appliances throw out heat of their own, so on a summer afternoon a polycarbonate roof plus two compressors is a room nobody wants to stand in, and it makes the appliances work harder than they should.
He found us through the website and sent his measurements over.
How did we price it without visiting first?
We gave him an estimate from his measurements, promptly, and he was happy with it. That step matters more than people think. If the estimate is within budget, we book a survey. If it isn’t, nobody has wasted an evening. It saves the customer time and it saves me time, which is why we do it this way on every job.
What did the survey find?
I went round, took exact measurements and tested every pane. All the glass was toughened, which is what you want to see on a conservatory, because it takes a darker film without any thermal stress worry. Then I went through the film options with him.
The final price came back within one pound of the estimate. That’s the aim every time. We try to make our quoting process as frictionless as possible for the customer, whilst still mitigating risks during the survey.
The hardest part about surveys I’ve conducted in the past is when you try to people-please during the estimate. It ends up being tricky when the price is significantly greater on site. Because of this, I’m very upfront about where the estimate is going to be, and I often give the customer a price range. That way, when we pick a film on site, it usually stays within or below that range, which means they’re almost expecting it.
Which films did we use, and why?
Two films, two jobs.
Roof: Opalux polycarbonate film. Polycarbonate roofs are the worst offender for heat because there is nothing in a twinwall or multiwall sheet to slow the sun down. This film is made for polycarbonate specifically and rejects 78% of the solar heat. We fitted the same film for Maldon District Council recently, and they’re pleased with it, particularly because it’s taking the load off their air conditioning. It’s a bit of a pain to install because it can grab on the sheet, but once it’s down it looks clean.
Lower panes: Dual Reflective 25 from Opalux. My favourite film and one of our best sellers. Reflective on the outside so it bounces the heat, neutral on the inside so you can still see out at night. It knocks the heat and the glare down without turning the room into a cave, which is exactly what a conservatory needs.
What did the customer say?
Gary left this on Trustpilot the same day:
“We have a smallish conservatory that has a freezer in and we want to add another fridge/freezer. We contacted awtuk about fitting solar film to reduce the summertime heat. I sent my measurements to them and I got a quote promptly. Based on the quote George arranged a time to come round and check the measurements and go through the various types of film that would satisfy our needs. We agreed a date and the lads did a great job. Our fairly basic conservatory now looks so much better. I’ll have to wait for a hot day to see how effective the film is but based on a fair bit of research I’m confident it’ll be money well spent. I’m very pleased with the service I’ve received from awtuk, they’ve provided a professional service from start to finish. I would definitely recommend them, very pleased.”
Gary, five stars, Trustpilot, 14 September 2026
He’s right that the proof is the first hot day. I’ll update this page when he tells me. But I’ve been in enough conservatories after this film has gone on to know what’s coming.
Things people ask me about conservatory film
“Will film actually stick to a polycarbonate roof?”
Yes, if it’s the right film. Normal glass film lifts and hazes on polycarbonate. Opalux make one specifically for it. It’s malleable, with a matt finish similar to frosted, and a strong adhesive that lets it stick and conform to the polycarbonate channels.
“Won’t it make the room dark?”
No. Dual Reflective 25 lets about a quarter of the light through and looks neutral from inside. Less glare, slightly dimmer, but once your eyes adjust the difference isn’t as drastic as you’d think. If you want the maximum heat rejection and don’t mind darker, there are stronger films, and I’ll tell you on the survey.
“Is the installation going to cost more on a conservatory roof?”
The short answer is yes. The film grabs, the cuts are awkward, and there’s sometimes a longer cleaning process because of trapped dirt. All of it means more time needs to be allocated, so we charge a higher per-pane surcharge on roofs. To learn more about our pricing, read our most recent blog post.
Got a conservatory you can’t use in the summer?
Send us your rough measurements and a couple of photos. You’ll get an estimate quickly, and if it’s in budget I’ll come and test the glass and give you an exact price.
