Conservatory Advice (norwich area)

kittykat23uk

Hi all,

I'm starting to think seriously about getting a small conservatory built. But after the disasters we had fitting a kitchen and fencing I'm really wary about embarking on such a big project and would like any and all advice as far as getting one built is concerned. So:

Any recommendations as to good companies to go with?

Is ex-display a good option? What sort of gurantees can one expect?

What are the risks?

Does anyone know any norfolk independents who can source a second hand conservatory and build it but still provide guarantees on the workmanship? Or is this an option not to touch with a bargepole?

What extras do I need to factor in to getting one built? I was assuming heating, electrics, flooring, blinds etc will not be included in the price?

Thanks for all your help.

Jo

kittykat23uk

I'm surprised noone has any pearls of wisdom regarding conservatories. Anyone?

tmorriss

Hello Kittykat,
If it's a second hand conservatory, I don't think you will get any guarantee on it, and you might have to find someone to fit it.Some companies will include electric/ heating, and build it in the price and some other will just charge you to demolish the old conservatory and erect the new one. So, it's a case of comparing all the quotes you received

k3v1n123

I wouldnt touch a second hand one that has been fitted maybe an ex showrom would be fine because once the weather gets a the spar cappings they become brittle and they just crack and if its old you cannot get replacements.

Guarantess i wouldnt think you would get any with a second hand one if i do anything for anyone second hand i never offer warranties all my new installations i give a 10 year insurance backed guarantee.

as for your options you would need sockets i usually fit 3 double sockets wiring for your fan light/wall lights, Underfloor heating as its the best way to distribute the heat throughout your conservatory and there not really that expensive a full kit for a 3metre x 3 metre is only around £400 but well worth it. Tiles are the best to go with if your using underfloor heating if your going to use wooden floor make sure you get a good quality one as the heat in them in the summer is so hot and a cheap floor wouldnt last 2 minutes.

I think thats your questions answered.

I would of done it for you but your to far away

kittykat23uk

Thank you so much for the responses. We've had Anglian round so far. The sales guy gave us a pitch saying that because our garden is on a slope the work on the foundations would need to involve buliding up the base, with a step down into the conservatory and putting in a floating timber floor. It was an off the shelf garden room he quoted for so nothing fancy (I think he said it was 2.5 m by 3m), but the lowest he could get it was nearly £10,000. (nearly twice what I was hoping to pay). :eek:

Still it gave us something to work on. If anyone doeshave any recommendations of reputable companies in Norwich/norfolk please do let me know!

Thanks again

Jo

k3v1n123

If your garden slopes they should build the footing and then pack it out with hardcore and whack it down the just the normal 4" concrete on top.

I would expect you to be paying around the £6500 mark for it including electrics and plastering.

kittykat23uk wrote: »

Thank you so much for the responses. We've had Anglian round so far. The sales guy gave us a pitch saying that because our garden is on a slope the work on the foundations would need to involve buliding up the base, with a step down into the conservatory and putting in a floating timber floor. It was an off the shelf garden room he quoted for so nothing fancy (I think he said it was 2.5 m by 3m), but the lowest he could get it was nearly £10,000. (nearly twice what I was hoping to pay). :eek:

Still it gave us something to work on. If anyone doeshave any recommendations of reputable companies in Norwich/norfolk please do let me know!

Thanks again

Jo

SuzieSue

If you search this forum for conservatories, you will find lots of threads about the pros and cons of conservatories, garden rooms and extensions.

I had one built around 3 years ago, and the main thing I would say is that if you want a space you can use all year round because you need the extra room, then go for an extension (unless you don't mind burning money in the winter). If you don't need the extra room then a conservatory is great for around 9 months of the year depending on the direction your garden faces (east is best).

I'd steer away from the nationwide chains like Anglia unless you can't find any one else. I found my supplier by asking a neighbour whose conservatory I liked. Perhaps you could do the same.

kittykat23uk

Thanks Suzie and k3v1n123. The plan is to use it during the summer for entertaining and just enjoying the back garden more (Our house has the kitchen/bathroom to the back, with the lounge facing out onto the front with a busy road) and also to keep our bunnies in in the winter time. I don't know if we'd get an extension for the same sort of price TBH an we only have room for a small conservatory really. Our garden is east facing. Actualy as a thought, does anyone know whether a sinlge storey extension could be got for the same sort of price? We've got a mid terrace with 6ft fences and a conservatory next door so we're unlikely to get much light from the sides and it might be useful to have one side as a brick wall, I'm not sure. I had thought about this, but assumed that would take it out of the non-permanent structure category into needing planning permisson etc. Am I correct, even if it is just one side brick and the rest glass?


Does anyone know if this site is reliable in checking the suppliers they recommend? http://www.conservatoryquotes.org/?gclid=COSW_KOu86cCFdFX4QodjkYWaw

kittykat23uk

bump! Any further thoughts? Anyone know the pros and cons of steel base conservatories?

Thanks,

Jo

gwb364

Don't touch a steel base with a very long barge pole! Stick with standard concrete. A conservatory is covered by the same planning rules as an extension. On a terrace you are normally allowed 3m projection without planning and you can go to the width of the original house. Anglian are not cheap, but you cannot compare them with a local company, they are very good quality and they have been around for over 40 years. I've surveyed loads of replacement conservatories lately that collapsed under the weight of the snow!! Good luck gb (conservatory surveyor):wave:

kittykat23uk

Hi gb thanks for taking the time to respond. Were the conservatories that collapsed under snow steel based ones generally then?:eek: That doesn't sound good to me! I am also suspicious of these self build steel based jobbies. I live in Norwich so we don't get massive amounts of snow like in some areas. best prie I've ben quoted for supply and fit of a self build easy base conservatory is £6500.

Traditional build ones are all coming in around the £8500 to £9000 mark for a 3m by 3.75m structure, that's not including plastering, electrics etc. Main issues seem to be access round the back of the property (we're a mid terrace), and the fact that the garden is on a bit of a slope. It's much more than I was hoping to pay and would effectively wipe out most of my savings.

We're still waiting for more quotes to come in though.

Any other thoughts out there?

Thanks again

Jo