Second Hand Conservatories

Leodogger

We are just moving house for the last time into a bungalow and I would dearly love to have a conservatory put in but we will not be able to afford a new one. Would we be safe buying a second hand one and if so, what do we need to watch out for ?

Also anyone have any idea what you have to pay to get it assembled by a professional ?

TIA

cootuk

Broken panels, broken panes, bits that won't go back in right as the geometry has changed slightly.
You would need the base to be exactly the same dimensions then hope evrything has been taken apart right and reassembled right.
Nightmare.

Leodogger

cootuk wrote: »

Broken panels, broken panes, bits that won't go back in right as the geometry has changed slightly.
You would need the base to be exactly the same dimensions then hope evrything has been taken apart right and reassembled right.
Nightmare.

Never thought of that - being a woman Have you tried it then ?

cootuk

Just previous threads on here.

Cottage_Economy

We have one. It was an ex-display from a show site.

It was a hard slog. As coot said, you have to recreate it exactly, and be as methodical as possible when reconstructing it to ensure straight lines, correct angles and no water can leak in. We photographed everything before it came down in minute detail. We even counted the number of bricks in each section!

The firm who sold it to us gave us the plans for doing the base and for constructing the half brick wall that went with it.

Even being meticulous, there were places that filler was our friend, but they cannot be seen!

All told we saved about 60% off what a new one would have cost.

Things that we wish we had done differently?

1. Been strict with the project management at the start - we started by leaving a friend to do our footings without checking as he was a builder and we trusted him. He got the dimensions wrong - made the two sides 13 feet and the width 12 when in fact the sides were 12 and the width 13. That cost us hundreds in extra concrete to redo it.

2. Chose one with a glass roof not a polycarbonate roof. We can hear next door talking in the garden and they can hear us when we're in the conservatory

3. Fitted underfloor heating. We have a long radiator in there with a thermostatic valve, but in the depths of winter it is still a bit too chilly. Probably also due to the polycarbonate roof.

4. Fitted a fan in the ceiling rather than thinking we could make do with standalone fans in height of summer.

Leodogger

Cottage_Economy wrote: »

We have one. It was an ex-display from a show site.

It was a hard slog. As coot said, you have to recreate it exactly, and be as methodical as possible when reconstructing it to ensure straight lines, correct angles and no water can leak in. We photographed everything before it came down in minute detail. We even counted the number of bricks in each section!

The firm who sold it to us gave us the plans for doing the base and for constructing the half brick wall that went with it.

Even being meticulous, there were places that filler was our friend, but they cannot be seen!

All told we saved about 60% off what a new one would have cost.

Things that we wish we had done differently?

1. Been strict with the project management at the start - we started by leaving a friend to do our footings without checking as he was a builder and we trusted him. He got the dimensions wrong - made the two sides 13 feet and the width 12 when in fact the sides were 12 and the width 13. That cost us hundreds in extra concrete to redo it.

2. Chose one with a glass roof not a polycarbonate roof. We can hear next door talking in the garden and they can hear us when we're in the conservatory

3. Fitted underfloor heating. We have a long radiator in there with a thermostatic valve, but in the depths of winter it is still a bit too chilly. Probably also due to the polycarbonate roof.

4. Fitted a fan in the ceiling rather than thinking we could make do with standalone fans in height of summer.

That advice is really helpful. I did think about consulting a conservatory building professional anyway about what to buy and whether it was worthwhile buying second hand. We did have a conservatory before with a polycarbonate roof but we never had a problem as the neighbours were a bit too far away to hear us. We don't want to cut important corners but have a tight budget when we move and want to concentrate the money on the things that can't be scimped on, that is why this site is so important for people with limited incomes.

Any window professional out there with helpful advice on this subject for a poor old pensioner couple who don't want to be ripped off or waste money, as first time efforts are going to have to be permanent, would be so helpful - TIA

cyclonebri1

Check out Centurian Conservatories for a DIY kit, you may be surprised at the cost;);)

The assembly time will be less and full base and erection plans are given. Used them 2 years ago so can vouch for them.

The other point is that glass gets brittle with age, I've broken old dg units when re-installing in the past.

Leodogger

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Check out Centurian Conservatories for a DIY kit, you may be surprised at the cost;);)

The assembly time will be less and full base and erection plans are given. Used them 2 years ago so can vouch for them.

The other point is that glass gets brittle with age, I've broken old dg units when re-installing in the past.

Thanks will do that, noticed there were DIY conservatories on the net and wondered if this might be the best route to go. Will give them a look.