Equinox vs LivinRoof: which conservatory roof is better?

These two roofs come from two of the biggest names in UK conservatory products, and they suit different people. Equinox, from Eurocell, is a tiled warm roof with a choice of four tile styles and fascias that match Eurocell’s PVC-U windows. LivinRoof, from Ultraframe, is built on Ultraframe’s glass roof chassis and clad in grey insulated panels, any of which can be swapped for glass, which puts it closer to a hybrid roof than a tiled one.

The biggest differences are looks, weight and how much glass you want. On ExpertSure’s figures Equinox is also a little cheaper. We have not tested either roof; figures are the makers’ own unless we say otherwise.

Equinox vs LivinRoof at a glance

	Eurocell Equinox	LivinRoof
Maker	Eurocell plc, South Normanton, Derbyshire (listed company)	Ultraframe (UK) Ltd, Clitheroe, trading since 1983
Construction	Aluminium rafters with a ventilated air gap below an OSB timber deck, styrene insulation, multi-layer design to limit condensation, box gutters	Glass roof chassis with thermally broken rafters, 25mm external insulated panels, 90mm plus 25mm insulation inside, plasterboard and skim
U-value (W/m²K)	As low as 0.15 (Eurocell); 0.16 to 0.18 quoted elsewhere	0.15 standard, 0.12 option
Weight	No maker figure; 67 kg/m² (third-party comparison, 2022)	31 kg/m² including plasterboard (Ultraframe)
Roof finish	Envirotile recycled polymer tiles, composite slate, steel shingle, SlateSkin GRP sheet	Grey (RAL7016) aluminium-faced panels, not tiles
Glazed options	Manual or electric centre-pivot roof windows; Vega fully glazed panel	Glass can replace any panel, in almost any shape
Pitch	5 to 35 degrees (5 only with SlateSkin)	5 to 40.9 degrees
Certification	LABC certificate EW606 (England and Wales), LABSS EWS606 (Scotland), composite slate BBA certified	BBA-certified glass roof chassis, MFA and Stroma pre-approved, LABC Registered Detail EWS529, fire tested by Warringtonfire
Guarantee	10-year roof guarantee; tiles 25 to 40 years; dealer-administered (ExpertSure)	10-year parts guarantee; installer warranties vary
Installer network	About 40 approved dealers (ExpertSure estimate)	About 35 dealers (ExpertSure estimate)
Typical fitted price	£8,500 to £13,500 incl VAT; 15 to 20 m² Victorian £10,500 to £12,500 (ExpertSure, May 2026)	£9,500 to £15,500 incl VAT; 15 to 20 m² Victorian £11,500 to £14,000 (ExpertSure, May 2026)

Which is warmer, Equinox or LivinRoof?

On the makers’ headline figures they are level at 0.15 W/m²K, the limit for a new roof in England. Ultraframe also offers a 0.12 LivinRoof, which meets the Scottish target. Equinox figures vary more between sources: Eurocell’s brochures say “as low as 0.15”, an LABC certificate summary says the system is designed to achieve 0.18, ExpertSure quotes 0.18 and ConservatoryCost.com 0.16. Older LivinRoof documents also show 0.18. Ask for the U-value of your build in writing.

Glass changes the sums. ExpertSure notes that adding glazed panels to LivinRoof reduces its thermal advantage, and roof windows in an Equinox roof do the same: a roof window in England only has to reach 1.4 W/m²K. Eurocell says Equinox uses a ventilated air gap and a multi-layer design to limit condensation. Our guide to tiled conservatory roofs covers how much the roof changes comfort.

Weight and structure

This is the clearest difference. Ultraframe says LivinRoof weighs 31 kg/m² including plasterboard, the lowest figure for any solid roof in our research. Eurocell publishes no figure for Equinox. A 2022 third-party comparison put it at 67 kg/m², the heaviest roof it compared, and ExpertSure quotes 18 kg/m² for the tiles alone.

A heavier roof puts more load on your frames. LABC says frames built for polycarbonate may not have enough steel reinforcement, and inspectors test with pilot holes or a magnet. Eurocell offers structural support mullions where frames are not reinforced, and ExpertSure says structural calculations are needed for Equinox roofs over 18 m². LivinRoof’s LABC certificate requires frames with metal reinforcement or improvements to them, and says bi-folding doors under it must be bottom supported, not top hung. See our guide to whether a conservatory can take a solid roof.

Both suit shallow roofs, which helps on a low lean-to. LivinRoof works from 5 degrees. Equinox’s variable-pitch version runs from 5 to 35 degrees, with 5 degrees possible only with SlateSkin, and fixed 15 and 25 degree versions are also made.

Looks and finishes

Equinox looks like a tiled roof and gives you the most finish choice of the two:

• Envirotile: a recycled polymer tile, 75% recycled according to Eurocell, in four colours.
• Composite slate: Brick Red, Chestnut, Pewter Grey, Plum, Stone Black, Red Rock or Slate Grey.
• Steel shingle tiles.
• SlateSkin: a GRP sheet with a slate effect, the only finish that allows a 5 degree pitch.

Eurocell also colour-matches fascias and gutters to its PVC-U range, including White, Cream, Golden Oak, Irish Oak, Grey, Black Ash and Anthracite Grey. Inside, you can have a plastered ceiling or tongue and groove timber.

LivinRoof has no tiles. Its grey aluminium-faced panels in RAL7016 Urban Grey give what Ultraframe calls a rolled lead look, with a black gutter or powder-coated cornice. Inside is a vaulted plastered ceiling with an insulated pelmet, 300mm deep as standard, for downlights or speakers. Ultraframe itself says the grey look may not match the main house roof.

Light: roof windows or glass panels?

LivinRoof is built for glass. Ultraframe says glass panels can replace any of the grey panels, in almost any shape, without additional cost.

Equinox offers manual or electric centre-pivot roof windows and Vega, a fully glazed panel option. One review site has said Equinox has no mixed glass and tile option; Eurocell’s own material lists both, so we have gone with the maker. If you want only a couple of openings for light and air, Equinox’s roof windows do that; if you want large areas of glass, LivinRoof is the better match.

Guarantees, and what happens if your installer stops trading

The guarantees are similar in length. Eurocell guarantees the Equinox roof for 10 years, with tiles covered for longer: 40 years for steel and composite slate, 25 years for SlateSkin and Envirotile. ExpertSure says the system guarantee is dealer-administered, not insurance-backed. Ultraframe gives LivinRoof a 10-year parts guarantee, says installer warranties vary, and ExpertSure reports it is not insurance-backed either.

Both makers are long established: Eurocell is a listed company with 215 branches, and Ultraframe has traded since 1983. The risk is more often the installer. The workmanship guarantee comes from the firm that fits your roof, and if that firm stops trading only an insurance-backed guarantee from an FCA-regulated provider such as HomePro keeps that cover alive. With either roof, ask the installer whether they provide one, keep your deposit to 25% or less and pay by credit card where you can.

Price and value for money

On ExpertSure’s May 2026 figures, both including VAT, Equinox costs £8,500 to £13,500 fitted and LivinRoof £9,500 to £15,500. For a 15 to 20 m² Victorian roof that is £10,500 to £12,500 for Equinox against £11,500 to £14,000 for LivinRoof. ConservatoryCost.com gives £950 to £1,500 per m² installed for Equinox.

Our 2026 range for a fitted tiled roof on a medium conservatory (about 4m x 3.5m) is £7,400 to £12,100, typically about £9,600, and our general hybrid range is £6,600 to £12,600, with branded LivinRoof running higher. See tiled roof costs. LivinRoof’s premium buys glass anywhere without a surcharge, according to Ultraframe; if you want a mostly solid roof, Equinox is the better value on these figures.

Reported problems

These are reviewers’ and review sites’ reports, attributed. We have not verified individual cases.

• Equinox: Eurocell scores 4.6 from 9,039 Trustpilot reviews (checked 27 September 2026), but most concern branch and delivery service rather than roof installs, so they say little about Equinox. The points raised about the roof itself are ExpertSure’s dealer-administered guarantee and structural calculations over 18 m², and a third-party comparison rating it the heaviest roof it looked at.
• LivinRoof: Ultraframe’s Trustpilot page, covering all its products, shows 4.4 from 115 reviews. Some reviewers describe intermittent leaks on LivinRoof installations resolved only after several service visits, and others report water getting in at box gutters and flashing on older installations. Ultraframe replies to negative reviews.

Equinox or LivinRoof: which should you choose?

• You want the roof to look tiled and match the house: Equinox.
• Your windows are Eurocell PVC-U and you want matching fascias: Equinox.
• You want large areas of glass: LivinRoof.
• Your frames are borderline for weight: LivinRoof is much lighter on the figures available.
• You want the lower price for a mostly solid roof: Equinox, on ExpertSure’s figures.
• You want recycled content: Equinox with Envirotile.

Our Equinox review and LivinRoof review go into each in more depth. When you get quotes, ask each installer for the U-value of your build in writing, whether frame reinforcement or structural calculations are included, and who backs the workmanship guarantee. Our guide to comparing quotes has a full checklist.