One of the most commonly asked questions when speaking to anyone about the DIY Conservatories business is, quite simply, “are they easy to install?”

Well there is a simple answer. Yes…………. And no.

Whilst Conservatree4u specialise in supplying DIY Conservatories, we would always advise to ask yourself the following three questions:

1. Have you thought about the entire construction process?
2. What do you know about different conservatory designs?
3. How much time have you given to complete the project?

In this post, we’ll discuss the first question.

* Have you thought about the entire construction process?

When considering any DIY project it is important to be aware of all factors determining the outcome of the project. From fixing a shelf to creating your self build conservatory, there are outside issues dictating the simplicity (or lets be honest) complexity in realising your dream.

Let’s start by raising the issue of conservatory planning permission. Again, a question that rears it’s head over and over is, “Do I need planning permission for my conservatory?”. Well, here alone is a major question and whilst the most common answer is “usually not”, it is always worth checking with your local authority with regards to the (and here is the key term) ‘permitted development’ for your property. Check out the planning portal for an overview. This one single part of your project plan can be invaluable for arming you with all the information you need when it actually comes to the point of selecting your conservatory (size, design, etc.).

Next, comes the issue of the foundations, base and/or dwarf wall construction. It’s never just a case of throwing down a bit of concrete for the conservatory base and the conservatory will sit straight on top (actually with pre-fabricated steel base systems, it can be just that, but there are still issues to think about there as well, we’ll discuss these revolutionary systems in a future post). There’s a lot of weight in a fully installed conservatory and if the foundation isn’t right to start off with, this can lead to any number of different problems later on. You need to remember that your conservatory is intended to last at least as long as the guarantee (which for most companies is at least 10 years nowadays). So consider carefully how you will prevent your extra room collapsing/sinking/sliding away before your very eyes. I know that sounds a little harsh, but your consevatory is a serious investment. Get the foundations right from the start.

It’s not only the ‘bricks and mortar’ of building a conservatory base that has to be considered. You’ll notice the word ‘entire’ highlighted in the question. Well, there’s also another tiny consideration……Your property.

Where is the conservatory going to fix to the property and what layout or arrangement is currently there? All too often when measuring up for a conservatory, things can be forgotten about. Such things as;

* height of upstairs windows
* pipework or boiler flues
* cabling (satellite dishes are a common offender)

On many properties there are what are known as ‘soffit’ overhangs with a fascia board to consider. Are you going to have to modify these to accomodate your conservatory design (more on conservatory designs in Part 2).

Sometimes you may have existing parts of your property (or indeed a neighbour’s) to think about whether to alter them or include them in the scheme of the conservatory layout. Be careful when it comes to neighbours’ walls or boundaries, if you don’t have permission to fix to a neighbour’s wall for example, it can cause a whole host of problems if you ever want to sell your property. Boundaries again, cause many issues. Don’t just think about your conservatory base size. Consider any items that may overhang further such as sills or guttering.

It could be as simple as allowing for the distance between the downstairs doors and windows. There are, again, many factors which you will need to consider when planning the entire construction process.

These points just touch the tip of the iceberg. Are you aware of how the drainage system runs around the area you want to install? Do you need a retaining wall, a soakaway, a suspended or concrete floor? The list can go on and on. Again, preparation and knowledge is key.

However, you needn’t despair. There are many reputable (and some not so reputable) tradespeople out there who will be more than happy to help you with all or part of the construction process. It may be (as tends to be the most common case with DIY Conservatories) that you feel confident in installing the DIY Conservatory kit, but not so keen to deal with the groundworks. Whichever you decide, if you make the right choice, your DIY project will ultimately be an enjoyable and satisfying process. Not to mention, you’ll have that nice extra room at the end of it.

Please contact us, leave a comment or call 0800 917 2230 if you would like to know more, and please check back soon for the next part in this series of posts.

In Part 2, I’ll be discussing question 2; “What do you know about different conservatory designs?”

To be continued…….

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