Finding a Suitable Conservatory Fitter

Unfortunately, despite thousands of satisfied customers, the conservatory installation industry is still blighted by a tiny minority of unscrupulous, “rogue” builders, and it is the horror stories of poor, or non-existent, workmanship, overcharging, etc. that tend to make the news. You should take comfort, however, from the fact that such stories are exceptional, and that there are many reputable conservatory installers to be found online, or in the Yellow Pages. Nevertheless, a basic understanding of the steps involved in planning and installing a conservatory, and what to (and what not to) expect from your conservatory fitter can help the process to be as painless, and stress-free, as possible.

Research

The chances are that someone amongst your friends, family and colleagues has first-hand experience of a reputable, competent conservatory fitter, and word of mouth recommendation is as good as any. Failing that, make sure that you obtain no obligation quotes from two, or three, apparently reputable conservatory fitters. Conservatory fitters affiliated to a trade association, such as the FMB (“Federation of Master Builders“), are a good starting point, but don’t be afraid to ask questions, to obtain references – a reputable individual or company will be more than happy to provide these – or a full cost breakdown.

Survey

Your first contact with a conservatory fitter may well be with a surveyor. Surveying for a conservatory is significantly more complex than surveying for say, replacement windows, and there is any number of potential pitfalls. A surveyor must take account of drainage above and below ground, floor levels and any potential obstructions – mature trees for example – on the site; overall, his, or her, job is to agree the final design for your conservatory.

Materials

Knowledge of building materials – which a professional installer will be happy to share with you – can help to reduce the overall cost of your conservatory, increase its lifespan, and make it easy to keep clean. Conservatories are typically built on a base of stone, concrete, or brick – which can be matched to your existing brickwork – and framed in uPVC, aluminium, steel or timber. uPVC is the cheapest, and therefore the most widely used but may not be permissible in conservation areas. Conservatory glazing can similarly be polycarbonate, clear, or toughened glass, and your conservatory fitter can advise you on the appropriate British standards, ISO 9002 Quality Control, etc.. Overall, however, remember that the cheapest materials are not, necessarily, the best and you do tend to get what your pay for.

Legal Requirements

Building Regulations and planning permission do not normally present any problems to the fitting of a conservatory but you should remember that, ultimately, they are your responsibility not that of your conservatory fitter. Planning permission is not normally required in England and Wales, unless you live in a listed building or a conservation area or your proposed conservatory is greater than 30m2 in floor area; conservatories in Scotland, however, must comply with Part J Building Regulations. A conservatory fitter can, of course, contact your local authority on your behalf with regard to any planning issues.