Question 1

Are lintels required for a wood-constructed conservatory?

Accepted Answer

When you build a new wood-constructed conservatory, or any type of conservatory, you’ll need to dig a trench for the footings. You’ll need to dig to a minimum depth of 600mm and at least 300mm below your property’s damp proof course. When you dig down, you might expose obstacles such as underground pipes.

If this happens, you’ll need lintels for your wood-constructed conservatory. These are usually concrete and protect the pipes or obstructions from being crushed. You may also want to use steel mesh for additional support.

Building Regulations state that if an opening is formed in a wall, the structure above the opening needs to be supported. This will be especially relevant if you’re building a wooden lean-to conservatory. It says that there are two ways that you can use lintels to provide support.

The first way involves using a steel lintel to support both the inner and outer leaf of a cavity wall. It can then serve as a cavity tray that directs moisture from the cavity through the outer skin of the wall as well.

The second way to use lintels is to use two steel or concrete lintels. They support each leaf of a cavity wall construction. You’ll need separate thermal insulation and a cavity tray as well.

Whatever type of lintel you use, it should have a suitable bearing onto the wall at each side. If you’re not sure, speak to the manufacturer of your wood-constructed conservatory, or ask a reputable company to install it for you.

Question 2

How much do wooden conservatories cost?

Accepted Answer

The cost of a wooden conservatory depends on a number of factors, including the size of the conservatory, the finish and your property’s requirements. While wooden conservatories will cost more than a uPVC one, you might be surprised about the difference in quality and look for the extra cost. Generally, there are two types of wood that installers use for conservatories: softwood and hardwood. Softwood usually refers to European redwood or Siberian larch, and is the cheapest to buy because it grows much faster than hardwoods. However, softwood conservatories may only last between 7-15 years, so might not work out to be as cost effective. Therefore, it’s best to choose a conservatory company that can install a hardwood conservatory for you as they are much better quality. Depending on the type of wood your wooden conservatory is made from, how big it is and what style you want to go for, you should expect to spend anywhere between £25,000 - £60,000. The most expensive type of wood for a conservatory is likely to be oak, which is very strong and can be manufactured to make it bug and pest-resistant and still have a polished look. Although it’s the most expensive, it also looks the best, will probably last longest and will need very little maintenance.

Question 3

What’s the cost of a hardwood conservatory?

Accepted Answer

If you want a wooden conservatory, a hardwood conservatory is the best option. Softwood conservatories are cheaper because the wood grows faster, but they aren’t as weather resistant so won’t last as long. Choose a hardwood conservatory and it should last you over 15 years. Hardwood conservatories will set you back anywhere between £35,000 and £60,000, depending on your requirements. Of course, the larger your conservatory, the more it will cost, but other factors such as the type of wood, the finish and any dwarf walls will make a difference too. Oak is the hardiest type of wood, making it the most expensive – but it can be finished with a bug and pest resistant coating and still retain its polished look, so many people think it’s worth spending their money on. Other hardwoods used for conservatories are idigbo, Brazilian cedar and luan and are cheaper than oak but are still a great option. If you’d prefer to keep the cost of your hardwood conservatory towards the lower end of the range, choose one of these. You can still get them in a variety of finishes and they are still natural heat retainers, so you’ll get a conservatory that is as warm as it can be. If you want to use your conservatory all year round, it might be worth thinking about having dwarf walls installed with your hardwood conservatory so you can plumb in radiators.

Question 4

How to build a wooden lean-to conservatory?

Accepted Answer

Lean-to conservatories are often known as Mediterranean conservatories or sunrooms and are a great way to add more living space when you’ve only got a small amount of room to work with. They usually have clean lines, a rectangular shape and attach to the side or rear of your home, which makes them one of the easiest conservatory types to build yourself.

So how do you build a wooden lean-to conservatory? The first step is to decide what you want it to look like. Most lean-to conservatories are constructed of glass and the wood frame, but you can choose to have dwarf walls too. Dwarf walls are low brick walls that are useful if you’re planning to plumb in radiators, have air conditioning installed or put plug sockets in the conservatory.

When you’ve decided what your wooden lean-to conservatory is going to look like, you’ll need to get the materials. You’ll need to choose a hardy wood – oak is the most expensive but also the most durable – and source glass for the windows. You’ll also need to decide on a roof material and work out the correct pitch.

The first step to building your wooden lean-to conservatory is to dig the foundations. You’ll then need to level the earth, then add concrete to the correct height, which should be lower than your property’s existing damp course. Then, you’ll build up to the damp course, which will be your conservatory’s floor level. Don’t forget to make sure it’s even.

If you’re building a dwarf wall, start it from the base and build up to no more than 1 metre high. Once the cement is dry, place external sills on top of the dwarf wall. You’ll then need to secure the frames; start with the one that secures to your property, then do the same for the rest, connecting outwards until they meet from the two sides. Then put up your doors.

Now it’s time to build the roof. This should be simple if you’ve bought your own custom-made kit. Place the roof ridge on top of the frames, then add the roof rafters between the roof ridge and hip bars. Fit your glazing sheets and guttering – it’s important that your wooden conservatory roof has guttering just like your house, otherwise your conservatory roof won’t last very long and could even cause rainwater to rot your wooden frames.

Once you’ve built your wooden lean-to conservatory, all that’s left is to decide on how you want to decorate it. But if this all sounds like too much, get in touch with specialist wooden conservatory installers who will be able to give you a quote for building you a lean-to conservatory.

Avg. price low	Avg. price low £45,000
Avg. price	Avg. price £60,000
Avg. price high	Avg. price high £69,000

	Labour cost	£42,000
	Material cost	£15,000
	Waste removal	£3,000

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