Conservatories, Sun-rooms, Gardenrooms - Conservatory Buyers Tips
Here are some of our favourite tips. These tips are not in any particular order - we hope you find them useful.
We have put an (***) beside any particularly important
tips.
TIP 1 *** Click
here for our most important tip
TIP 2 *** Always
calculate your internal floor area when ordering a
conservatory. Most suppliers will quote sizes based on
external sizes. Typically your internal depth
(projection) is 10.5 inches (275 mm) less than external
depth while internal width is 21 inches (550 mm) less
than external width if you use a cavity wall
construction. A BIG DIFFERENCE! It's the internal floor
area that most people are really interested in.
TIP 3 *** A follow
on from the above. Always manually mark out the area of
your new conservatory when designing and obtaining
quotations. Do this as accurately as possible. A few
stakes and string will do the job. You could even get a
potential supplier to mark out the area. Don't however
let them remove it when they leave - you will need the
lay-out as a reference when other suppliers quote.
TIP 4 Unless you
feel especially confident - do not go for the cheapest
quotation. A bit of a generalisation we know - but
rarely in our experience does the cheapest supplier also
supply the best product or the best service.
TIP 5 When obtaining
quotations do not try and "beat every supplier into
the ground". Most of the better companies will not
wish to trade in this way - only the less professional
will usually have the flexibility. These less
professional companies will often "agree" to
your request but end up short changing you later. We are
not suggesting that you don't negotiate. What we are
suggesting is that you negotiate fairly. Make a detailed
list of the features "you must have" and ask
each company to give their best price. Don't expect to
get a conservatory with a glass roof, Pilkington
"K" glass and Argon filled units for the price
of a standard double glazed conservatory with 16 mm
polycarbonate in the roof.
Looking for local suppliers of Conservatories? PVCu Conservatories, Hardwood Conservatories, All styles, all sizes. To request your free brochure
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TIP 6 - It is always
good practice to allow a small contingency (say 10%) for
"extras" or additions you may make to the
order after you place your initial order. Builders can
have unforeseen work or you may decide to make some
changes as work proceeds. There may be some landscaping
or similar.
TIP 7 - This is one of our favourites -
especially if you have children. It's the TIME CAPSULE
tip. Simply put some current newspaper clippings plus a
brief description of yourself and family in a
waterproof/rot-proof container. A 2 litre plastic carton
with screw cap is perfect. Children love to include some
"original artwork" and written descriptions of
themselves. The fun and sense of occasion is amazing.
Perhaps someday somebody else will share in this. You
can "hide" the time capsule almost anywhere -
but the favourite is within the cavity walls or under
the floor if you have a suspended floor.
TIP 8 *** - When designing a conservatory with top fanlite openers be aware that the transom (cross member below opener) will often be in the way of your eye view when you stand up in the conservatory. This will "spoil" your view of the garden. If you don't have much of a problem with the height of your conservatory you may overcome this by raising the overall height of your eaves (conservatory frame height) by say 150 - 200 mm. Then when opener is fitted it is less likely that the transom will be in your eye view. (Unless you are 6ft 6" that is!)
A follow on from the above is to consider the effect of your dwarf wall height on your view of the garden from within the conservatory. If you have a garden which "slopes away" then a dwarf wall will take away a large part of your view. A good suggestion is to actually create a "dummy wall" (some timber or boxes will do) and sit in a chair at proposed conservatory floor level to see the effect. Discuss both of these important points with your conservatory supplier.
Our grateful thanks to Cavan Sullivan of
Welsh Window Systems (Contact Cavan on Free Phone 0800-9805175) for
the above tip.
TIP 9 *** - Buy the best possible conservatory you
can afford. For a relatively small additional sum spent
now you can have a conservatory which will give you many
years of satisfaction. Of course you want value for
money - but don't try doing it too cheaply. Consider
glass roofs, Pilkington "K" glass (Low E) etc.
TIP 10 - When you go on holiday - please make sure
you have adequate shading and ventilation for your
conservatory. You don't want to come home to a
conservatory full of dead plants!
TIP 11 - Candles and such like are wonderful in a
conservatory - especially in the evening. However do
remember that these candles will melt/bend in the
daytime heat!
TIP 12 *** - Do remember to inform your insurers of
your new conservatory / sunroom addition. Adequate cover
for complete rebuilding should be arranged as soon as
the conservatory is erected.
TIP 13 - Unless there is no alternative do not
place doors in the front of the conservatory. This
creates a "corridor" effect and limits your
usable space for furniture etc. Better to position the
doors on the side - ideally as close to the main house
wall as possible so as to minimise the interruption to
your "flow" and usable space.
Looking for local suppliers of Conservatories? PVCu Conservatories, Hardwood Conservatories, All styles, all sizes. To request your free brochure
click
here |
TIP 14 *** - If you "employ" one company
to do all the work - try to meet their builders before
placing a firm order. You may feel the company is the
builders - but in almost all cases the company
sub-contracts out this element of the work to a separate
building contractor. You will most likely spend more
time with this person on your conservatory project than
any other. Ask them if they can foresee any problems.
What do they do with rubbish? Will they reinstate around
the new conservatory base after construction or will
that be an extra? If you are having electrics or
plumbing installed it is most likely the builder will in
turn be sub-contracting out this element of the work.
YOU CAN SEE HOW PROBLEMS CAN OCCUR - ESPECIALLY IF
INFORMATION IS NOT PASSED ON FULLY OR "TRADES"
DO NOT FOLLOW ON AS QUICKLY AS YOU HOPED. You must feel
comfortable with this person - so do take your time on
this element. Obviously if you are employing the builder
direct you will have more control over this element.
TIP 15 - If you think planning permission may be
required you should check personally with you local
planners. Do not rely on the conservatory supplier to do
this for you. Most conservatory supplier's conditions of
sale specifically put responsibility for obtaining any
approvals on you the customer. You are the one who is
responsible.
TIP 16 - A conservatory should not be a "bolt
on" to your property. Always endeavour to match
your new addition into your home. Match brick work and
render details. Make it feel and look as though it's
always been there.
TIP 17 *** - If you have a particularly large or
difficult project in mind it is often a good idea to
have your own plans/drawings produced for you by an
architect/draftsperson. Of course this will be an
additional cost - but it is our experience that you will
save time and perhaps even money with this method. You
will receive impartial advice on what is practical and
possible and will therefore be better equipped to
"handle" the sales representatives. You will
be able to ask each representative to quote on a
"like for like" basis rather than having each
representative coming up with their own design based on
their own or company's agenda. You will discover - if
you have not already done so, that when it comes to
conservatories there are lots of different and
conflicting opinions. Your architect may even be able to
recommend some companies for your project.
TIP 18 *** - Our final tip in this section and
perhaps one of the most important. Do not be the
Customer from HELL. To get the best out of any
Conservatory Supplier or Builder maintain a friendly but
professional rapport. Do not assume that they will
always be trying to get "one over" on you.
Their advice may be in your best interests. If you
appear defensive and untrusting - always assuming the
worst of your supplier - the whole experience will be
unpleasant for both you and the supplier. Be vigilant -
but always prepared to listen to their advice -
especially if problems occur.
Whilst most trades will come prepared with their own
food and drinks - do take the time to offer them
hospitality. A cold drink on a warm summer day or hot
soup in the winter will build on your relationship -
resulting in a better job for you.
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