Do such things exist?

I cant afford the £5k + for a nice UPVC one installed, but would like one to keep the new dog in, giving him access to the garden all day, whilst the house is locked.

I'm happy to build up a wall, install it and stuff, but do need help with any woodwork frame as I chose metalwork in school, not wood ;)

Just had a UPVC one installed which I managed to buy at trade price.

The install was 1k which I felt was too steep so I planned to do myself.

However due to other commitments, reluctantly paid the 1k to hade installed.

Best money spent.

It took 6 man days and there was so many parts I wouldn't of known where to start.

Screwfix (http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/cat.jsp?cId=101539&ts=40048) do some, so do Wickes (http://www.wickes.co.uk/bin/venda.plex?ex=co_disp-view&bsref=wickes&invt=broleicestershire&layout=main&temp=brochureconservatory) :)

Just remember they get really hot in the summer so budget for blinds.

Carl - where did you get one at trade price ???

Nick

Thanks for the advice Carl - thought it looked too simple a project!

Just to stick my 2p in;

Built a Wickes UPVC kit myself - did everything but the brickwork dwarf wall. Very straight forward and instructions are OK to follow. Good helpline if you get stuck. If you're a reasonably good DIYer - with patience and help from a friend or family member I'd recommend having a go.

I had quotes for 2.5K just to do the groundworks (floor & footings) & dwarf wall - further 1.5-2K to construct the kit. Kit cost me 4.5K so not taking into account cost of materials I've saved around half by doing it myself. I'm a perfectionist as well but I think it's a reasonably good job - wife will back me up :-) Doesn't leak either which is always a bonus :-)

Alex

Did you chaps have to build a mini foundation and lay a concrete floor for these conservatories? I ask since mine (if I take on the challenge ;)) will go over an existing patio area (trying to avoid the dwarf's wall idea) and I'm sure I could use this as the floor - whether I tile over it later or not.

What are the seals between the bottom of the big UPVC panels and the ground? Is there room to play here in case my patio is uneven?

Cheers

You need a floor, as you'll need a dpc.. you could just lay concrete about 4 / 6" over the smashed patio I suppose... You still need foundations for the frame or wall though...

David

Yep, definately need footings otherwise your new conservatory will quickly sink into the garden! I had a patio b4 I did mine - it only helps by the fact you don't have to dig out the ground and back fill with hardcore. My footings were 500-750 deep (pretty standard for conservatories) by 300-450 wide depending on if you're going for double or single skin brickwork.

The sill is bedded onto mortar at dpc level (or dwarf wall level if you have one). Not much play in height as the tolerances for the conservatory kit are reasonably strict. You'll need to lay a couple of courses of bricks on top of the foundations/footings for the sills to sit on - the bricks should be as level as possible (and at the correct height) to save problems later.

Floor is normally made up of 150mm hardcore, 50mm blinding sand, dp membrane, 100mm concrete base. This should take you up to your dpc and be your finish level bar floor coverings.

I am now lost I'm afraid, and reality has set in! I'll stick to fixing mechanical and electrical things...

I've rewired a house, installed a combi, changed piston rings but I've never mixed cement or laid a brick!

I will now be looking for a company to install one - any reccomendations as I fall on my sword ;)

if you can do the above you can mix concrete and lay bricks.

its too cold to be doing it at the moment..

David

Tell me, is it really rough on your hands though ;)

I'm gonna have a search for a big thick DIY book now that tells you exactly how much water to add to the cement mixing in the missus' Kenwood Chef!

depends on your hands...

wear gloves if your really soft..

add enough water until it looks ok..

David

Just been helping my bro build his this afternoon, and gonna be doing it all day tomorrow too

His is an Ultraframe one, we have no instructions, as they like you to pay someone to do it, the dwarf wall has been built for about a week now, and today was a dry run of all the parts

Tomorrow is final & proper fitment, 14 tubes of Silicon Seal, some external sealant too, lots of big screws & rawlplugs

We have sort of figured out how all the bits go together, we just got to get on and do it now :)

My dad and his mate DIY'd ours. Took just over a year :D

Was done in bits though, and would go unworked on for weeks on end, due to lack of time and lack of energy, but the finished job is great, one of the best investments they've made, it's always being used, summer or winter.

PSML took over a year

Your fairly local Andi, you could come over and give us a hand :)

we are hoping to have it all complete, bar the glass by tomorrow evening

I built a Wickes one 2 years ago. It took about 14 days of part time, including 2 FULL days laying footings on my own ,and the concrete floor, ditto:eek:
The rest went together like a dream, dwarf wall and all, and I'd never laid bricks b4!!
Every stage you get to seems to make the last stage more solid feeling, the helpline was brilliant, the instructions clear and precise, and the whole thing is now my wife's dream come true:D:
It doesn't leak either, and cost me just under £5000 inc bricks, cement, ballast, wall ties, dpc, membrane, insulation, electrics, tiles for floor, lighting etc etc.

About 6 months after building it, a bloke came round to quote me for supply for a new uPVC front door, and he reckoned £11000 for my consevatory, ready built:eek:

Go for it,
Alcazar

Well I'm now an old hand at mixing concrete so I'm still thinking about it... Esp as got one quote of £11,000 for a tiny unit from Cornhill Conservatories. Then we just talked cars & about his new Rolls!