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Original poster

Conservatories - advice needed

36 replies

TuttiFrutti · 24/08/2006 20:46

We're thinking of having a conservatory built, and I've been blinded by science by the men who've come to give us quotes. What are all the different types of glass, and do we really need the special sun-resistant kind if it's going to be north facing?

Does anyone have any tips about glass types, window types, etc? Also, how do you clean the roof (only just thought about this)? And what sort of flooring do you think is best?

OP posts:
Blossomhill · 24/08/2006 20:53

Can help you with some of your questions.

Have just had a 5 x 3 metre Edwardian built.

Thing is builder is a friend so we trusted him to sort out right windows etc.

I would say first of all don't put doors in middle of conservatory (to access garden). We were going to and then put them to left hand side. Has left so much more room to manouvere furniture etc.
If you can go for air con as ours got so hot in heatwave we couldn't use it.

Haven't even thought about cleaning the roof yet

Blossomhill · 24/08/2006 20:53

Oh and get as many windows to open up as you can.

morningpaper · 24/08/2006 20:55

My bathroom window is above the conservatory

I aim the shower hose on the roof and reach out with a mop

It does an ok job despite the conservatory being 25ft x 10ft

Blossomhill · 24/08/2006 20:57

mp ~ i have bathroom above mine too. Really good idea!

morningpaper · 24/08/2006 20:59

The cold tap can be best because the pressure is greater so it reaches further (top tip)

petunia · 24/08/2006 22:02

We've had one for 4 years, it's about 12x8. It's east facing and does get really hot in the mornings. We haven't got any special glass or blinds, just normal UPVC double glazing. We have the type of windows that open at the top (4 of those). We got 3 quotes that ranged from about £7,500 to £18,000 (top one was from Anglian windows and was for expensive windows and Pilkington K (think it was that make) roof. We went for the £7,500 one made by a local firm. It's up against the fence on the left hand side, so we got patterned windows that side so we didn't have to stare at it! I wanted double doors straight ahead (like a corridor) but the salesmen said not to because it would create a "wind tunnel" effect, so the doors go off to the right. We went for laminate flooring (easy to clean). Despite having one of those extendable window cleaning things (think it was about £6.00 from Tesco), I've never cleaned the roof and it's beginning to look grotty!

petunia · 24/08/2006 22:04

Should add that's 12x8 feet, not 12x8 metres!

Whizzz · 24/08/2006 22:06

I wouldn't bother with special glass if its north facing. Ours is just normal glass but its position is such that it doesn't get full sun for long so never over heats. Before you plan your design, have a good think about what you are going to use it for. Have a long think where you want plug sockets for instance.
We have laminate flooring - but make sure its suitable for conservatories (needs to be able to expand for hot / cold)

crunchie · 24/08/2006 22:19

Do go for a glass roof if you can as they look better, however it will get hot in teh morning. We spent a lot on ours, it has some sort of 'anti-sun' glass which reduces glare. We have a natural slate floor, £10 a sq m from wickes (fitting costs more!!) and like others have been advised the doors are on the side. We love it!!

Cleaning teh roof, dh bought a special kit from B&Q with a squugy thing and a moppy thing and we can reach all the roof. He does it every so often as we do have a tree abouve!!

MrsBadger · 24/08/2006 22:35

we have a large north-facing conservatory and it is freezing from September to May, and the quarry-tiled floor makes it even colder. Make sure yours is well insulated.
We hang out the bathroom window with a broom to get the moss lumps off, and occasionally power wash it when PIL lend us theirs.

Joolstoo · 24/08/2006 22:36

we've just inherited a large conservatory - the previous owner spent 4 grand on roof blinds but the glass is ordinary - we are having air-con fitted tomorrow as the slightest sunshine makes the room almost unusable and as its connected to the kitchen is not good.

We're going to see how one unit of air con works before installing window film if necessary.

Joolstoo · 24/08/2006 22:36

forgot to say the unit we're getting cools and heats in winter

Blossomhill · 24/08/2006 22:39

Jools hope you don't mind me asking but was unit expensive? Also what is window film?

Original poster
TuttiFrutti · 25/08/2006 08:52

The conservatory will be under our bathroom, as it happens, but hadn't thought of using shower hose to clean it! Thanks Morningpaper, that's a really good tip.

One of our quotes (the most expensive) is also from Anglian. I've heard you can negotiate the price down quite a bit, but it annoys me that they start so high. They quoted for K glass, whatever that is.

We were thinking of a door right in the middle, but will have a rethink on that.

Also, was thinking of tile flooring, but I can see that would be really cold in winter, so laminate sounds a good idea. Anglian fit something called Coseyflooor which is a sort of underlay, which they say insulates the floor, and you can fit carpet or laminate on top of it. Another company suggested underfloor heating - does anyone have that?

OP posts:
petunia · 25/08/2006 09:52

Not sure whether this will help, but I've just put "choosing a conservatory" in to Google, and it's come back with a few sites with tips on what to think about before you build one.

Original poster
TuttiFrutti · 25/08/2006 13:22

Aha! Why didn't I think of this???! Thanks Petunia!

OP posts:
Twinkie1 · 25/08/2006 13:33

Do Not I repeat Do Not go with Anglian!!

A really good friend is having a conservatory built by them at the moment and they are making a complete hash of it - they are 3 weeks behind and are still only just digging the footings again after having to rip out the first lot they did because they have covered a gas and water pipe - they knew they were there because they had to get permission from the utility companies to put the conservatory up - the only reason they did not get away with it was because the next door neighbour is sooo nosey and he spotted it!!

They are only there for half the day and she is convinced that they are working on 2 jobs at once and she is paying over 25k for this conservatory!!

If you have double glazing of any kind done do not pay any money until it is done to your satisfaction - never hand over a big deposit, if a firm is good enough it will have the capital or credit to get the stuff it needs from its suppliers and take payment from you at the end when you are satisfied with the job - if they are unwilling to do this do not do business with them at all - so many companies go bust and you lose your money and then they start again under a different trading name and you are stuffed basically because they have limited liability.

So get a company that is not limited (as they stand to lose the shirt on their back if they go bust) or do not pay anything up front.

Oh K glass is good but is almost standard these days and you should have a poly roof which you can stand on to clean (looks like a sort of corrogated plastic).

I know these things only because my arse of a father has made his millions being an honest businessman in this field (although he is a complete C**T (sorry) in all other areas of his life!!)

chocolatemummy · 25/08/2006 13:39

put 'Baltic Pine' into the search and they do beautiful conservatories all shapes, sizes and colours but I think you have to then find someone to fit it? not sure, my mums had one from them and its gorgeous.

petunia · 25/08/2006 14:15

Ah Google! The God of internet search engines! Glad I could help!

Joolstoo · 25/08/2006 18:52

Bloss - quite expensive - circa £2.5 k and circa £1.5 for window film.

We're going to see how the air con works first before we get the film. The film is a film that's laid on the panes of glass and reduces the kilowattage of heat that gets through - or something like that!

Out conservatory is quite large though - off the top of my head 20 odd feet one way and about 10 feet the other plus its 'L' shaped at one end with the kitchen in the 'L'

The thing is, if we didn't have it done the conservatory can't be used and the kitchen is like an oven - it's been done today - brill so far but it's not been that hot yet!

HTH

Original poster
TuttiFrutti · 28/08/2006 14:58

I've just been told be 2 other people not to go with Anglian. Interesting...

OP posts:
WishICouldGiveUpLotsOfThingsAc · 28/08/2006 22:02

Oooh scary-guess who are installing our conservatory right now !

Footings in alna all ok so far-but very short working days-plastic and glass start tomorrow.

Quote started at £25k adn we are paying £13k-a fair price I reckon providing workmanship is ok.

ocd · 28/08/2006 22:04

god oursi south facing and we never neede aircon
if its that hot are you not outside anyway

ocd · 28/08/2006 22:05

ours is heat reducing tho

Joolstoo · 28/08/2006 22:14

the glass in the roof is rubbish (although there are blinds up there it doesn't make much difference) - ours is south east - sun ALL day. During the hot weather it was unbearable - air con was the only answer, if an expensive one!