Edwardian Conservatories

FAQs

• Do I need planning permission for my conservatory?

  Adding a conservatory to your house is considered to be permitted development, not needing an application for planning permission, subject to the limits and conditions listed below.

  • No more than half the area of land around the “original house”* would be covered by additions or other buildings.
  • No extension forward of the principal elevation or side elevation fronting a highway.
  • No extension to be higher than the highest part of the roof.
  • Single-storey rear extension must not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house* by more than three metres if an attached house or by four metres if a detached house.
  • In addition, outside Article 1(5) designated land* and Sites of Special Scientific Interest the limit is increased to 6m if an attached house and 8m if a detached house until 30 May 2019.
  • These increased limits (between 3m and 6m and between 4m and 8m respectively) are subject to the neighbour consultation scheme.
  • Maximum height of a single-storey rear extension of four metres.
  • Extensions of more than one storey must not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house* by more than three metres or be within seven metres of any boundary opposite the rear wall of the house.
  • Maximum eaves height of an extension within two metres of the boundary of three metres.
  • Maximum eaves and ridge height of extension no higher than existing house.
  • Side extensions to be single storey with maximum height of four metres and width no more than half that of the original house.
  • Roof pitch of extensions higher than one storey to match existing house.
  • No verandas, balconies or raised platforms.

  • On designated land* no permitted development for rear extensions of more than one storey; no cladding of the exterior; no side extensions.

  * The term “original house” means the house as it was first built or as it stood on 1 July 1948 (if it was built before that date). Although you may not have built an extension to the house, a previous owner may have done so.

  * Designated land includes national parks and the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites.

  Please note: The permitted development allowances described here apply to houses and not to:

  Flats and maisonettes
  Converted houses or houses created through the permitted development rights to change use Other buildings
  Areas where there may be a planning condition, Article 4 Direction or other restriction that limits permitted development rights.

• What time of day do you start work?

  We aim to start work between 9.00am and 9.30am on the first day of installation. If your
  installation runs into two or more days, the team(s) will be onsite anytime from 8.00am onwards. Daily finishing times are dependent on the time of year. These range from 3.30pm in the winter to 6.00pm in the summer. We will of course, make specific arrangements should you require these.

• How long will it take to finish my conservatory?

  From the first day that the builders arrive on site until the completion of the project should take a maximum of eight weeks. You will receive a schedule of works after your basework has been completed to let you know when the carpenters, electricians, plumbers etc will be attending your property. Bear in mind though that your new concrete screed could take longer to completely dry.

• How & who do I pay?

  When your contract is drawn up , our payment terms are right next to where you sign and are clearly stated so there is no misunderstanding later on. We like to keep things as simple as possible so usually ask for a 20% deposit for windows, doors and roofline and nothing else is payable until your new products have been installed in your home and you’re completely happy. For larger projects we usually ask for a 10% deposit and a stage payment as the project progresses leaving an agreed balance due on completion. Any representative of the Company is authorised to collect payment on behalf of the Company. You can pay by cash, personal or building society cheque, credit or debit card. We have the facility to accept card payments over the phone direct to our finance department should you prefer. Please note that we can only accept credit card payments up to the value of £2,500. All our fitters can issue receipts and will issue your 10-year guarantee upon receipt of payment. You can also pay by direct transfer. Our bank details will be on your invoice.

• Will my new products be protected by a warranty?

  All our products come with an Amazon 10 year warranty. This means that if you have any issue in that period, you can be assured that a phone call or email into the office will be all that’s needed to get the issue resolved. This is backed up by an external warranty from the Consumer Protection Association so you have complete peace of mind that your products are covered for the full 10 years

• Snagging?

  Snagging is the term used to describe the finalisation of your new conservatory or solid roof in terms of completing any outstanding minor works such as trims, skirting boards , trimming and sealing. Towards the end of your installation, when all the trades have completed their work, our installation manager will make an appointment with you to come an inspect the installations and make a list with you for any outstanding items that may need attending to by our dedicated snagging engineer.

• Can I have a cat or dog flap fitted?

  All our residential doors with a flat uPVC panel in the lower section can be fitted with a cat or dog flap. They can also be fitted in certain composite doors. Also , if we are building a cavity brick wall, we can create a tunnel which can have a cat / dog flap at either end. Pet flaps can also be cut into glass meaning that there is always a solution for your four legged friend.

• What options are available for Glass?

  Double glazed sealed units is our standard glazing option. Our double glazed sealed units are manufactured in a state of the art facility in Hampshire. The standard thickness of our double glazed sealed unit is 28mm but our units are available in other thicknesses. Our “A” rated windows come with sealed units filled with argon gas which further reduce heat loss and warm edge spacer bar which has the same effect. The outer pane of glass of all our double glazed sealed units is coated with a compound which reduces heat loss

  Triple glazed sealed units. For those who would like even more thermal and sound insulation, triple glazing is always an option. A third piece of glass is placed between the two pieces of glass in double glazing whilst maintaining the same 28mm overall thickness. The benefits of triple glazing are:

  • Increased thermal efficiency
  • Increased sound insulation

  We do not recommend triple glazing in doors due to the extra weight.

• Do I need double or triple glazing?

  Triple glazing is a fairly recent advance in glazing technology whereby a third piece of glass in fitted in between the two pieces of glass in a double glazed unit to make it a triple glazed unit. By doing this, the added benefits are increased thermal insulation and acoustic insulation. If you live in a noisy area, by a busy road , railway or near an airport, the benefits of triple glazing will be astounding when you’re at home and the windows are closed.

• Do I have to have trickle vents?

  Trickle vents are required for all new and replacement windows in the UK, including those in domestic and commercial properties. They’re also mandatory for windows in extensions.

   

  Trickle vents ensure proper ventilation, even when windows are closed. This helps to:

  • Improve thermal comfort
  • Reduce the risk of health problems caused by poor indoor air quality
  • Prevent mold and condensation build up

  There are some exceptions to the trickle vent requirement, including:

  • Listed and historic buildings
  • Houses next to busy roads
  • Properties with mechanical ventilation and heat recovery
  • Properties constructed from “vapour-permeable” materials, like stone, lime render, or wattle and daub
  • Homes where only 30% or less of the windows are being replaced

• Who are the Consumer Protection Association?

  We have been a member of the Consumer Protection Association for over 30 years and by being a member, it confirms that we have been / are:

  • Fully vetted

  • Highly skilled

  • Approved

  • Insurance protected

  • Competent

  • Validated

  CPA members are some of the most top-rated tradespeople in their chosen industry. Our members all fit strict and rigorous criteria, and only top-rated professionals with the best reputations can become members of the CPA. CPA accreditation is a testament to the quality of skills and trading practice standards that come with every project.  With an insurance back guarantee (IBG), deposit protection, and advice and support, working with a CPA accredited tradesperson is the best way to stay protected throughout the build and installation process and beyond.

• Will I need building regulations for my conservatory?

  As a guide, if we are building your conservatory and leaving the existing doors between the new room and your house then, no, compliance with building regulations would not be required. If, as part of your installation, we are removing the doors to create an opening, or removing the doors and part of a wall to make the opening wider then yes, compliance with building regulations would be required. If they are we will liaise with your local authority on your behalf.

• Who will I be dealing with?

  From your original enquiry to the final installation you’ll be dealing with people who really care about what they do. We have all worked for the company for years and know what you , as a valued customer, expect from us and we try to exceed your expectations through every part of the process. We want you to be thrilled with what we have done so you can tell your friends and family about us.

• Can I speak with someone as I’d prefer to deal with a human?

  Whenever you contact us, you will be dealing with a human being, not a chatbot or ‘intelligent’ phone system. Only a human can give you piece of mind that any query you may have is answered properly.

• What is a tie bar and will I need one?

  A tie bar is a small plastic coated metal rod or a thin wire which spans the width of your roof at its widest point just above the ring beam above your windows. It is usually fixed on your roof only but sometimes, depending on the roof design, one end can be attached to a host wall of your home. It is designed to provide extra structural integrity to your roof but there are a couple of factors that determine whether one is required or not which are:

  Size of roof: The larger the roof, the more likely it is that a tie bar will be required as the forces on the ridge and side walls will be that much greater due to the extra weight.

  Geographical location: When your roof is designed and before manufacture, your postcode is used to determine where in the country your roof will be installed. If you are in an area that is historically subject to high snowfall, a tie bar may be required even on a smaller roof to bear the extra weight of the snow.

  If you have any questions about whether a tie bar is needed or not, please speak with our surveyor when he visits your home and he will be more than happy to help.

• What time of day do you start work?

  We aim to start work between 9.00am and 9.30am on the first day of installation. If your
  installation runs into two or more days, the team(s) will be onsite anytime from 8.00am onwards. Daily finishing times are dependent on the time of year. These range from 3.30pm in the winter to 6.00pm in the summer. We will of course, make specific arrangements should you require these.

• How will I know what’s happening and when?

  Shortly after your fitting team commences your roof installation, you will receive schedule of follow on trades from our building department manager. This will detail when any plumbers, electricians, carpenters and plasterers will be attending your property to perform their work. Should you have any questions the office is only a call away to assist you.

• Where will the materials go during the build?

  During the build we will need to have materials delivered, also one or more skips for waste. Our surveyor will discuss where we can place materials and the skips in the short term to cause as little inconvenience as possible. If you have no driveway space for materials, our surveyor will make the office aware so that relevant permits can be obtained to use verges and roadside kerbs temporarily.

• Where will the skip go?

  If there is space on your driveway we will put wooden boards down to protect the driveway surface and the skip will be placed on them. We will endeavour to place it in a place that causes the least disruption to your household. If there is no room on your driveway then we will obtain a skip license from your local authority to place the skip on the highway in front of your home.