Converting conservatory into proper room - foundations

xyz123

Hi, as per title am thinking about converting conservatory into proper room using permitted development right with building regulations to be followed.

It was built by previous owners. They left me some paperwork from conservatory builder in n which there is a box for "deep foundations". This box is not ticked so I am pretty sure I have shallow foundations. My question is for me to build a proper room do I need to completely remove existing foundations and start again or is there a way to strengthen existing foundations?

Ta

Doozergirl

Conservatories are not made to be converted into buildings that meet regs. There is a reason why they are so much cheaper.

You have too much glass to wall ratio, insufficient insulation in walls and floors, insufficient foundations or structure to support a roof. The foundations are only the start of the non-compliance problems.

Davesnave

It sounds as if trial digging suggested the ground was sufficiently solid for standard conservatory foundations, which off the top of my head, are about 450mm deep. This is not deep or substantial enough for walls that will be carrying much more weight with a conventional building.

It's unlikely the floor is insulated up to residential standards, if at all.

Your best bet is demolition. Tying new foundations to old ones is difficult, and there would be no advantage in attempting to do so.

xyz123

[QUOTE=Doozergirl;72490797
] .

You have too much glass to wall ratio, insufficient insulation in walls and floors, insufficient foundations or structure to support a roof.[/QUOTE]

Yes I know that. If we do this conservatory structure will be removed for replacement0 and building regulations will be followed as per my post

. I wasn't sure about foundations strengthening (am not trying to avoid that but just to find options on how to do it)...

WobblyDog

Davesnave wrote: »

It sounds as if trial digging suggested the ground was sufficiently solid for standard conservatory foundations, which off the top of my head, are about 450mm deep. This is not deep or substantial enough for walls that will be carrying much more weight with a conventional building.

It's unlikely the floor is insulated up to residential standards, if at all.

Your best bet is demolition. Tying new foundations to old ones is difficult, and there would be no advantage in attempting to do so.

How difficult is it to dig out sub-standard shallow-ish conservatory foundations and replace them with proper ones? I ask because the previous owners of my house added a rubbish conservatory with inadequate foundations. I'd like to have the whole thing replaced with a properly constructed conservatory, but I'm wondering whether digging out the old foundations will be a problem?

Doozergirl

xyz123 wrote: »

Yes I know that. If we do this conservatory structure will be removed for replacement0 and building regulations will be followed as per my post

. I wasn't sure about foundations strengthening (am not trying to avoid that but just to find options on how to do it)...

You used the word convert twice. Replacing is a very different thing that would prompt a different answer!

Underpinning would be more lengthy a process labour wise and probably more expensive than breaking up what is there. You can dig a trial hole to see what is there first, but the floor slab will also need breaking up, so it will be likely that it would be broken up with a digger and new footings dug. Either way, there is additional cost unless the building inspector is happy with what is there.

Davesnave

WobblyDog wrote: »

How difficult is it to dig out sub-standard shallow-ish conservatory foundations and replace them with proper ones?

The answer to that depends on whether you can get a mini-digger on site. Otherwise, it will certainly pay you to hire or buy an electric demolition hammer. Screwfix do cheap Chinese made ones, and if they break, they replace them without fuss.

The floor is just as important as the walls. My walls and foundations were OK, but the floor slab was non existent; just rubble topped with sand and then slabs, so I had to excavate it all. The problem is then what to do with the spoil. In my case I needed to bring the ground up to build a patio and construct soak-aways, so that was not a huge issue.

Each job like this is different, so it's hard to advise.

EDIT: On the subject of a 'proper room.' Although I've had problems with the company who built the superstructure of my conservatory, it's usable for the vast majority of the time, doubling my living space and giving me the feeling of being closer to my garden and views. I have masses of ventilation and the sunscreen roof glass really works well. I wouldn't be out there on a winter's evening when it's -5c outside, because I wouldn't need to be. Heating it in those circumstances was never my intention; I'd rather be in the living room beside the wood burner.....or actually 10' away, as that's pretty efficient.

FreeBear

WobblyDog wrote: »

How difficult is it to dig out sub-standard shallow-ish conservatory foundations and replace them with proper ones?

If you use enough dynamite, very little effort involved :eek:

Seriously though, the effort of digging out the existing foundations would be much quicker and cheaper than trying to reinforce what is already there. If you can get a mini-digger in, it shouldn't take more than a day or two - You can get demolition peckers to go on the end of the arm, and some mini-diggers are small enough to get through a standard doorway.

Clive_Woody

We replaced an old conservatory with a proper extension, due to there being some big trees pretty close to the house we had to have 2m deep foundations.

My (amateur) advice would be to do this properly and remove the conservatory and have a proper extension built. Trying to "fudge" the job or adapt what is there strikes me as a receipe for disaster and may end up costing pretty much the same without as good a result.

I love our extension and it has given us a proper room that can be used all year round. Good luck

Davesnave

Clive_Woody wrote: »

We replaced an old conservatory with a proper extension...

I love our extension and it has given us a proper room that can be used all year round. Good luck

Good for you, but remember not everyone has a house suitable for adding an extension without compromising light levels in other areas. Also, some of us really enjoy the open, bright nature of conservatories, which give a feeling of being closer to the outdoors.

Our friends built a garden room, which has magnificent views, but unfortunately, it faces north. They've added an attractive space, excellent for watching wildlife, but at the expense of their living room, which is now dark and uninviting.

Every house has its limitations, and each owner different tastes. I like light and big skies, which I have here in abundance. However, if I lived in town with views of other peoples roofs, I might feel that sitting in a conservatory was like being a goldfish in a bowl.

Furts

FreeBear wrote: »

If you use enough dynamite, very little effort involved :eek:

Seriously though, the effort of digging out the existing foundations would be much quicker and cheaper than trying to reinforce what is already there. If you can get a mini-digger in, it shouldn't take more than a day or two - You can get demolition peckers to go on the end of the arm, and some mini-diggers are small enough to get through a standard doorway.

You do not want a pecker hammering away adjacent to your home. You may also find the pecker lacks power on a mini digger. The correct way would be to cut and then dig out. Leave the pecking to be done off site.