Find a Conservatory Installer you can trust in Innerleithen.

When you build a new wood-constructed conservatory, or any type of conservatory, you’ll need to dig a trench for the footings. You’ll need to dig to a minimum depth of 600mm and at least 300mm below your property’s damp proof course. When you dig down, you might expose obstacles such as underground pipes.

If this happens, you’ll need lintels for your wood-constructed conservatory. These are usually concrete and protect the pipes or obstructions from being crushed. You may also want to use steel mesh for additional support.

Building Regulations state that if an opening is formed in a wall, the structure above the opening needs to be supported. This will be especially relevant if you’re building a wooden lean-to conservatory. It says that there are two ways that you can use lintels to provide support.

The first way involves using a steel lintel to support both the inner and outer leaf of a cavity wall. It can then serve as a cavity tray that directs moisture from the cavity through the outer skin of the wall as well.

The second way to use lintels is to use two steel or concrete lintels. They support each leaf of a cavity wall construction. You’ll need separate thermal insulation and a cavity tray as well.

Whatever type of lintel you use, it should have a suitable bearing onto the wall at each side. If you’re not sure, speak to the manufacturer of your wood-constructed conservatory, or ask a reputable company to install it for you.

Do You Need A Building Reg For A Conservatory?

If you’re planning to build a conservatory in your home, it’s only logical to consider whether or not you require a building reg for such a structure. Generally, several conservatories, summer buildings, sheds as well as outbuildings do not require building regulation approval to erect. One of the applicable rules is the fact that if they’re ( small or less than 30m2) or constructed with non combustible material, or are differentiated from structures nearby or land and don’t feature sleeping accommodation or room, then they’re not required to submit a building regulations approval application. However, it’s strongly recommended to check with your local authority before you commence the project as only they can provide the most accurate information.

Generally, conservatories should be primarily built of translucent walls and roofs, while also possessing an external type door separating them from the main building within a property. What’s more? The foundations and floors, however, can be laid in a number of ways, but you’ll have to put into consideration the conditions of the ground, trees as well as the existing drains. It’s also a wise decision to include insulation which makes the structure a lot easier to heat especially during the cold months.

Overall, conservatories are usually exempt from building regulations if the following conditions are met:

✓ If the conservatory is erected at ground level and are not up to 30 square metres in floor area.

✓ If the structure is separated from the rest of the house with an external quality walls, windows or doors

✓ If the conservatory features an independent heating system with different temperature as well as on/off controls

✓ If the glazing and electrical installations are in total compliancewith the relevant regulatory requirements.

Is It Worth Replacing My Conservatory Roof?

Your conservatory is a very useful part of your home that can be incorporated for many different purposes. Whether you just wish to take advantage of the extra living space to sit and unwind or share memorable moments with your family and friends, the conservatory is always on hand to provide the perfect venue. Therefore, regardless of how you choose to use the structure, it’ll always be an important part of your home. It also features important rooms in your home such as kitchens and bedrooms, making it crucial to make them usable all year round. A common complaint of several homeowners is that their conservatory are usually unusable during the hot days in the summer months and the cold days in the winter months. These common problems can be solved with a single solution - a tiled roof. This type of roof can keep your conservatory insulated and super comfortable all year round. Below are some of benefits you get to derive from replacing your conservatory roof.

✓ It helps maintain temperature. Regular conservatory roofs are built with a material known as polycarbonate. This material is only able to deliver a small amount of insulation which is why your home feels super uncomfortable whenever the weather isn’t favourable. This can be replaced with tiled roofs which are known to be have super high levels of insulation that make your conservatory usable all throughout the year.

✓ It gives your conservatory the converted interior appearance. If you’re bored with the look and original design of your conservatory or perhaps you simply want it to look more like a part of your home. You can also consider replacing your conservatory roof which can give it the converted interior appearance.

✓ It makes for a quieter and more peaceful space in your home. With too much noise everywhere, installing a tiled roof can go a long way to keep the noise out.

Whilst you may think conservatories are nearly all made from glass, this doesn’t have to be the case. If you live in a built-up area you could have a tiled rooftop to enable extra privacy, use obscure glass and even invest in blinds.Be aware that solid walls are possible but if the conservatory is manufactured with less than 50% of glass, you’ll need Buildings Regulations approval.

Do You Need Planning Permission For A Conservatory?

Adding a conservatory to your home or property comes with a whole lot of benefits. It provides you with the much needed additional living space within your property, add value to your home and creates a link between your home and garden. As advantageous as it is, one of the major reasons why some homeowners decide against constructing a new conservatory is because of planning permission. If you don’t know what you’re doing the entire process can be very tedious and you definitely do not want to go through the stress of completing your remarkable new conservatory, only to be instructed to have it removed again.

Therefore, as a homeowner, you have the responsibility to seek planning permission before you undergo such construction project and that’s more than enough to make some people reconsider the whole project. In this article, we’ll let you know whether you’ll need to apply for a planning permission.

Generally, conservatories falls into the category of permitted development rights which allows you to complete home building projects without having to apply for a planning permission. However, there are some circumstances where you’ll require a planning permission. These includes:

✓ If the conservatory covers more than 50 percent of the land around the main house.

✓ If the conservatory will be placed on the side of the house that faces the road.

✓ If the conservatory will be higher than the highest point of the main building’s roof.

✓ If the main building is lower than the height of the eaves and ridge.

✓ If the conservatory will be constructed to the side of the house and more than a single storey or it goes higher than 4 metres.

✓ If the conservatory will be wider than the width of the main building, if it’s to be built beside it.

✓ If the conservatory will be constructed at the rear and higher than 4 metres.

If you’re conservatory leaks every time it rains, has degraded roof or is apparently worn, then it’s high time some repair and maintenance work is carried out. However, several home and property owners tend to overlook this type of repair work because they believe it’s going to cost them a lot of money. In reality, this need not be the case when you work with any of the accredited tradespeople or companies in your local area as they’re always able to provide quotes that’ll suit your budget. If you’re wondering what the cost of repairing your conservatory is, then you’ve come to the right place! In this post, we’re going to give you an idea of a conservatory repair cost range. Let’s take a look!

First and foremost, it must be stated that there’s no single and straightforward answer to this question as there are multiple factors that influences the repair cost of a conservatory. These factors include the type of damage(s) involved, the materials used, the experience of company hired, your location and many more.

Generally, for conservatory fixtures and fittings repair jobs, we have a lot of parts to consider. For replacement roof panels, the cost you should expect to incur is within the range of £30 to £50 per panel. For sealed glazing unit replacement, you’re likely to incur within the range of £17 to £19 per unit. For door re-hung, you should expect to incur about £19 to £22 per door leaf. For leak tracing and repairs, you’re likely to spend within the range of £18 to £22 per hour, while call out charges will possibly range from £30 to £50 per visit.

When people talk about finishes on a wooden conservatory, there are a few different things that they may be referring to. Some may be referring to the colour and type of wood used to build the conservatory, but they may also be talking about the type of treatment used to protect the wood from the weather. We’ll cover both bases for what finish is best on a wooden conservatory here.

When you’re thinking about the best wood type and finish for the conservatory, it’s best to go with a hardwood. There are both hardwoods and softwoods, and hardwoods are the most durable. Oak is the most expensive choice but is also the most durable, so lots of people decide to go for this option. Other good choices that are slightly cheaper are Brazilian cedar and idigbo. Softwoods like European redwood or Siberian larch are cheaper still, but they won’t last as long, so it may work out more cost-effective to spend more on a hardwood.

Wood is a natural material, so it’s important to look after your wooden conservatory to prevent it from rotting or getting attacked by bugs and pests. Your conservatory will be exposed to all weathers, so you’ll need to use a good finish to ensure that it stays in tip-top condition for years to come. Your installer should be able to tell you what’s best, but some of the best finishes for a wooden conservatory include breathable varnishes and decking oil. However, if you do use an oil, it’s best to use a preservative treatment too; oil will only repel water. Joints are particularly susceptible to water penetration, so make sure you use a good wood treatment and focus on areas where water would pool during rain. Then you can apply a decking oil afterwards.

Are you considering extending your living space into a visually appealing orangery? However, before you go ahead with the project, you may want to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. It is rather important to let you know calling on a seasoned professional for help when it comes to building an orangery is the best bet especially if you lack proper training or experience. This way, you get to avoid costly errors while also saving yourself some time and money. Here, we’ll give you the needed information on how to go about building an orangery.

• Orangery Planning

This is, perhaps, the most important step when it comes to orangery building. There is a need to conduct a proper planning to ensure everything goes right and exactly the way you want it. The first thing to do is to perform the required planning permission checks to determine whether or not your orangery covered under the “permitted development. In some areas, there may be some strict restrictions as the structure’s size. So you just might want to consult your local planning development before taking any step forward.

You can contact any architect for help with the acquisition of the right planning permission. While doing this, also have it in mind that your plans will need to be approved before you can proceed. Once done, it can be very challenge to alter the plans without extra delays or additional costs.

• Construction of Orangery

Do you have any builder in mind? If yes, make sure you inform your architect to be sure he’s happy to work with them. The selected builder will take your plan and build the orangery to your taste as given in the plan. The fitter will put the doors and windows in place as well as the roof lantern.