Secondhand conservatories - anyone?

[lechatnoir]

We're desperate for more living space but can't afford an extension and a friend suggested getting a conservatory from ebay. I've had a look and there are some reasonable (as conservatories go!) looking ones going for a few hundred pounds!! I realise there are pitfalls with conservatories & it wouldn't be my first choice, but as it's our only chance of extra space right now I'm VERY tempted. Has anyone ever done this? Presumably I'd employ a builder to do foundations, dismantle the old one and erect it back up at our house then finish it off (heaters, electrics etc) so any ideas what sort of additional cost I'd be looking at? Or is this a totally ridiculous idea....

Its an interesting idea...and quite a good one.

I think the majority of the cost will still be the building work, so I would advise you get a couple of firms out to price a new conservatory for you. Ask about any seconds or ex displays they have, you might get a bargain.

Then a builder to price what you are thinking of. I have no idea what that would cost.

If there is not a lot of difference then it would probably be wise to get a new one so that you have some comeback if/when problems develop. You often hear of them leaking etc even when new.

If it would be vastly cheaper then go for it. Yes you would then have to pay for any repairs but thats the way of second hand things.

My cousin did this - only know because they ended up staying at my house after the day trip to collect it turned into a weekend! They found one on ebay with similar dmensions but it was in-situ - so they had to dismantle it (which was the tricky part and took much longer than expected - turns out they couldn't do it in a day as planned and had to go back the next day to finish dismantling it - nuts/bolts etc difficult to undo as it had been constructed for some time). Reasonably DIY competent boyfriend and uncle put it up at cousin's house and it looked great.

We have done this, we hired a builder to dismantle on DH worked with him so knew how to put back together (was £150ish). Hired a van and now on back of my house
We needed a base, a wall and dwarf walls (not all have them) some lead flashings and thats it, has cost us about £1200 altogether - would have been £7-15k job with a new one as quite large.