Buying a used conservatory?

andre_xs

Dear All,
We are thinking about buying a used conservatory. Usually they are only £100-£500, or even free. Given how much they cost new and that they seem pretty flexible/modular, this seems a bit too cheap to be true. Thus, I was wondering whether there are any pitfalls in buying a used conservatory? We're thinking about these very standard ones with a very low brick wall, then full PVC glass window front with patio doors, roof usually plastic sheets.

Some questions I could think of:
1. Is it easy (for a DIYer) to disassemble one? Are they all just screwed together or are they also (partially) glued and would break when trying to take apart?
2. Is it 'easy' (for a DIYer) to then re-assemble them? (Including getting them waterproof again)
3. If something breaks or needs replacement (e.g. seals, joints, beams, etc), are these elements standardised and could easily be replaced? Or does one need to know the exact company / manufacturer and model type to get replacement parts (if the latter, how to find that out?)? They all look so much alike...
4. Are they typically fully modular? The individual elements (windows/doors) seem to have a standard size. For instance, would it be possible to change a door from one wall to another?
Anything else I haven't thought of?
Thanks a lot!

Mutton_Geoff

They are cheap for a reason. Too hot in summer, too cold in winter. Pretty well unusable for more than half the year. They were fashionable until people realised even expensive blinds don't solve the problem.

fenwick458

based on the questions you are asking, don't do it.

EssexExile

If the conservatory was designed for its current position then it would have been custom made, no standard sizes. I suppose there are a few very cheap standard ones, from Wickes, etc. There are any number of manufacturers of profiles who have probably changed their design since your second hand conservatory was made, so you won't get replacement parts. They are not designed to be taken apart & relocated.

I suppose a very proficient DIYer could make it work with a bit of ingenuity but rather you than me.

Grumpy_chap

There are low cost modular conservatories advertised in the weekend papers from time to time.  That might be worth considering.

andre_xs

Thanks for the tips so far. Is there anyone who has actually tried such a thing?
We know how they are, we used to have a bit one in the old (rented) house. We're looking for a small one now with a very dedicated purpose...

Davesnave

Mutton_Geoff said:

They are cheap for a reason. Too hot in summer, too cold in winter. Pretty well unusable for more than half the year. They were fashionable until people realised even expensive blinds don't solve the problem.

Sometimes they are the only practical option. We use ours all year round, but there are random times when it's too hot. Never too cold if we need to use it, but no point heating it if we don't.

We'd do it again. Of course, there would be other solutions at twice the price. There always are.

Edit:  I'd agree with those who are sceptical that parts like profiles would be easily available should you need them, especially if there was no clue as to the manufacturer. Dismantling and rebuilding could easily become a nightmare.

Silvertabby

Davesnave said:

Mutton_Geoff said:

They are cheap for a reason. Too hot in summer, too cold in winter. Pretty well unusable for more than half the year. They were fashionable until people realised even expensive blinds don't solve the problem.

Sometimes they are the only practical option. We use ours all year round, but there are random times when it's too hot. Never too cold if we need to use it, but no point heating it if we don't.

We'd do it again. Of course, there would be other solutions at twice the price. There always are.

Edit:  I'd agree with those who are sceptical that parts like profiles would be easily available should you need them, especially if there was no clue as to the manufacturer. Dismantling and rebuilding could easily become a nightmare.

We use ours all year round as well.  Built with good, damproof, foundations, more brick walls than your typical 'dwarf wall all round' conservatory, tinted glass roof and east facing.  

We also had an additional house radiator retro fitted - but let's not dwell on that ! 

Davesnave

We have a radiator too, another retro job, but we don't really use it because the wood burner is cheaper and can cope with two rooms if we open up the doors. We live in the country, surrounded by our gardens and birds and other animals, so we want to feel close to those.

Mutton_Geoff

I guess an option would be to use all the windows and doors but build your own roof. A cavity dwarf wall, 4x4 uprights, vaulted ceiling using 6x2 rafters with 4" celotex, airgap to roof and use cedar shingles or something lightweight and cheap. You'd get all the benefits of a double glazed view out onto your garden without the crippling heat loss through the roof or the thunderous noise of light drizzle on a polycarb roof.

knightstyle

We did it and changed an octagonal conservatory to a flat sided one, very easy DIY, hardest part was removing the double glazing to get at the screws.  We threw the roof away and put a solid one on.