DIY Conservatories Blog

Should service levels affect my choice of DIY Conservatory supplier?

2010-02-23T14:52:00.000Z

When deciding to make any major purchase, surely you would want to get the best possible service you can. So, when choosing your supplier, how can you be sure of the level of service you can expect?

It's easy! Use the experiences you have had whilst you are still in the decision process. There are a few major signals that can help you on your way to making the right choice.

If you made an enquiry to the company, how long did it take them to make contact with you. A phone call, email, anything simply to acknowledge your enquiry.
When discussing your DIY Conservatory requirements with the company, how simple did it feel (to you) to describe what you needed. Any representative with knowledge will make it feel easy to you even if you're not sure how to explain things.
How long did it take the company to come back to you with your conservatory quote. If you have waited for more than a couple of days, have they made contact to explain the delay?
Has your quotation been provided in writing, or did the company simply want to only give a verbal price.
Is the potential supplier quick to enter into a 'discount' discussion. Often, companies with a greater integrity will offer a fair and reasonable price first time and not just be interested in massive discounts just to win a sale.

The five points above will give you a reasonable indicator of the level of service you can expect from a conservatory supplier if they are succesful in winning your business. OK, it obvioulsy isn't a guarantee, as some companies will pull out the stops at pre-sale and then fall woefully once they have secured the order. But, at least if you spot the signs above, you can decide ealier rather than later who to shortlist as your possible supplier.

It never fails to amaze me the amount of potential customers who I speak to who claim to have been waiting, in my opinion, too long for a supplier to come back to them with quotes, information, etc. I have spoken with a gentleman this morning who has been waiting for two weeks for a company to do a quotation for a small lean to conservatory with one side omitted. Another is alledgedly waiting for the company who supplied his first conservatory (which apparently has almost fallen down) to re-quote on another. I accept that some of this is simply the customer 'putting off' the rest of us, as people generally find it hard just to tell you how it is.

I do also believe that there is this obsession with having to get as many quotes as possible to barter with. Beware, when applying this tactic to your purchase, you may also find you unwittingly rule out the better companies as they will walk away if you're only buying factor is price.

Ten Top Tips when considering DIY Conservatories

2010-01-04T21:11:00.001Z

When first thinking about putting this post together, it was almost titled, Ten Top Mistakes when considering DIY Conservatories, as all too often there are pitfalls that can be avoided if a little preparation is made beforehand. But not wishing to insult people, I've titled it Tips. If these tips are followed then planning your DIY Conservatory project will go more smoothly than you'd ever expect.

Speak with your local planning department before doing anything. Most Conservatories will be classed as permitted development, but usually a quick phone call will clear up any issues that may cause problems later on.
Keep an open mind with regards to specification. DIY Conservatories suppliers are mostly very experienced, often they can suggest ideas that you wouldn't have thought of.
Ensure you understand particular Conservatory Designs which each supplier is referring to. Check their website for a styles guide or ask for a visual layout. There are often different names for the same style of Conservatory.
Take photographs of the proposed site and save them to your computer. It can be invaluable when trying to explain the arrangement of your property to a supplier. An email attachment takes no time to send in the grand scheme of things.
Measure the size by staking it out on your site or even by using some lining out spray paint. You may be surprised how much smaller (or larger) it is when you see it laid out in front of you and not just written down sizes.
Think about the internal floor space. Not only from the point of view of fitting furniture in, but also to ensure (particularly on Dwarf Wall models) that the conservatory will sufficiently span any exisitng doors or windows. There is normally at least 254mm of cavity wall to deduct from each face of your overall base sizes.
When setting out, consider items such as rainwater guttering. Don't position your base exactly on a boundary as this could lead to disputes in the future.
Consider any height restrictions or limits. Your finished conservatory should be measured from finished floor level (usually DPC) NOT ground level.
Try and wait until you receive your chosen supplier's plans before you commence construction of your base layout. A supplier will design your conservatory to fit their base layout perfectly, you will find that the final conservatory design will be aesthetically much better.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. If a proposed supplier doesn't want to help you before a purchase, is it likely they will want to help after?

Buckeye Tree Growing Tips article from DoItYourself.com

2009-12-06T16:33:00.006Z

Below is an interesting article I came across looking into conservatory plants. Although it doesn't necessarily relate to plants which you can keep in the conservatory it talks about how you can use it as a way to start it growing in a container or even bonsai. It just caught my eye as it is related to both tree planting and conservatories

Read the full article from the link below.

Buckeye Tree Container Growing Tips | DoItYourself.com

Posted using ShareThis

Oil Reserves: Seriously, UPVC products can help!

2009-11-10T13:19:00.004Z

Having just read on The Guardian blog regarding the level of oil which is reported to be left in the world’s reserves, I felt an underlying urge to air my thoughts again. Whilst it is reasonable to accept (as is reflected in some of the comments left) the amount left in the reserves and the amount left which is available for supply could be greatly different, it still doesn’t alter the fact that we are running out.

Obviously, as you’d expect, this causes me to highlight our industry. UPVC is an Ethylene based product. UPVC is currently using these oil reserves to contribute to it's manufacture, but let me quote Fighting Back with Facts;

"Ethylene is the most widely produced organic compound in the world. Most ethylene is produced (like petrol) by refining oil. However, ethylene can also be produced from renewable vegetable oil crops so it isn’t dependent on diminishing oil reserves."

Let me just give some quick further points about UPVC;

100% recyclable
A thermally efficient material
A Low maintenance option
Often a more cost effective option than alternative materials

On the final bullet point listed though. Cost isn’t everything. As consumers, particularly in these uncertain financial times, we are all too quick to buy cheap. How effective is this really in the long term from both a cost and environmental aspect. Even with DIY Conservatories, Windows and Doors there are many energy efficiency options available that will reap benefits for both your pocket and the planet. Lets face it, if you can save on your bills time and time again, surely that's better than saving just a few quid right now.

Bringing it back to the point of oil usage, if more is done now to tackle issues such as reducing energy output, recycling materials and using alternative sources for manufacture of the base product, this in turn will result in a reduction in oil usage, thus extending it's term (whether it truly be 42 years or 100 years).

Contrary to popular belief, the Double Glazing Industry isn’t all bad and more and more of us want to make a difference for the right reasons. Hopefully as people become more aware of the facts it will help to combat the misinformation which exists. We are doing our bit to help (see recent Blog post) and you can read more about our environmental and ethical business ethos on our website.

As always please feel free to comment or get in touch if you'd like to help in any way you think you can.

A Conservatory for You? We'll Conserve a Tree for You!

2009-11-08T22:45:00.006Z

Conservatree4u are very pleased to publicly announce our ‘Conserv-a-Tree’ message.

What’s it all about then?

For quite some time now we have been debating the effect of our industry on the environment along with the general issue of climate change and as a socially responsible company we have been developing our way of ‘Giving Something Back For Putting Something Up’. Sorry, we tried to think of something a little less cheesy.

Our Business is based not only on supplying DIY conservatories to you in a fresh no pressure policy way, but also with an ethical stance. Whilst it is great that UPVC is in itself recyclable (more on that to come in the future), the manufacture of it is in part fossil fuel reliant. It is a part oil based product and that means we are having an effect on our environment and our planet. It's not as bad as others would have you believe, but nonetheless we're not going to shy away from any implication.
Afterall, someone who champions the use of timber, surely has to take the point that deforestation is taking place to utilise the wood and carbon emissions are also a product of their industry.
As time progresses we will continue to post further articles to champion the cause of UPVC, but for a great head start check out the Fighting back with facts website. We'll be extracting some of the information published on there as time goes on to help to spread the wider message.

So what are we doing?

Well a clue has always been in our name right from the start!

Within our Business Model we are commited to donating a percentage of our annual turnover to programmes that help to conserve our trees, woods and forests. So, for every sale, 1% of that price will go towards ‘conserving a tree’ somewhere out there in the UK!. That means if you buy one of our products you will be directly donating to this campaign and ultimately playing your part in helping the environment. The Woodland Trust say it costs around £15 to plant, nurture and mature one tree, so an average conservatory purchase will lead to the donation towards the 12 year maturity life cycle of 2 trees.

But it’s more than that… it’s about spreading the word.

As people become more environmentally aware as they buy products - from where their vegetables come from - to how and where they are grown, we too understand that it will become an increasingly significant factor in purchasing trends in the years to come. As such we want to help this industry to change the way it operates by being at the forefront of such a campaign and spread the message to the industry as a whole It would give us great satisfaction to see this view being adopted by others to join us in ‘giving something back’.

So what next?

Well, this is just the start. There is much more to do and much more to understand about how we can make a real difference out there in our world. As time passes we will post more on here about what we have found out and what we have been up to. In the meantime lets get the message out there! So as we say, ‘from little acorns …’

For further info on our company policies and ethics visit our About Us page and we'd love to hear your comments, so please post and let's get the message out there.

Are DIY Conservatories easy to install? Part 3

2009-10-20T14:26:00.169+01:00

In our final part of these series of posts we're going to discuss question 3.

How much time have you given to complete the project?

As DIYers we are all guilty of under estimating, or rather not giving enough consideration to the timescales involved in any project. How often have we started out with an estimated timescale in mind, only to find that it ends up taking twice, three times or even longer than our original timing.

As with all DIY projects, it shouldn't be rushed into. In Part 1 we discussed the need to ensure you have planned correctly and in part 2 we discussed the importance of understanding exactly your requirements. So hopefully you can see that before you have even taken your drill out of the case, there is a lot of preparation, so why undo all your good work with over optimistic timings.

Most DIYers tend to have day jobs, so we're already saying that most of the work will probably be taking part at evenings and weekends. It's true that some will take time out from work to complete the installation in a set block of time, but again, think about where we live. This is the UK after all and that great old phenomenon 'British Weather' will inevitably play it's part (and of course this will also be magnified by the time of year you intend to install).

Whilst I'm being honest, let's also not forget (although nobody wants to suffer it), damages, breakages, etc. Without going into the extremely sensitive subject of who gets what wrong from time to time, everybody involved in supplying and buying, is human. Whether the supplier is at fault or the customer, sometimes the situation dictates that replacment items need to be supplied. All too often things will go wrong just at the wrong time and the unfortunate 'down tools' situation rears it's ugly head.

The last important point to note when planning your timescale is, you and your time. Some will have families to think about, some an active social life, maybe a combination of both. Again, the last thing you want is to put unecessary stress levels on yourself and loved ones if what starts out as an exciting venture turns into a long drawn out process, just because it wasn't planned correctly.

As with all the posts in this series, our main objective is to help you, the customer, to make the right decision. Throughout all of the posts we have tried to stress the importance of your investment both in monetary and time value. If you know that you have planned everything to the best of your control, then choosing, purchasing & installing DIY Conservatories can be an extremely enjoyable project to undertake. There is no shame in accepting that maybe you wish to employ the services of others for some or all of the project.

For some, the satisfaction will in fact come from simply managing your own installation, knowing that you have avoided paying a premium price often associated with full install packages, whilst enjoying the luxury of seeing your dream realised without having to worry about tackling the hard labour side of the project.
For others, the opportunity to look back at your finished product knowing that it was all down to you is often the perfect tonic.

Whatever your motivation a DIY Conservatory project can take many forms, just remember what you have set out to acheive, set yourself realistic goals and most importantly enjoy the investment you are making for you and your home.

So to conclude with our opening statement in Part 1: Are DIY Conservatories easy to install?

Yes, if you have planned and prepared adequately, and no..........

.........if you haven't.

If you wish to know more or need help in discussing your requirements, please comment, contact us or call our freephone number 0800 917 2230 and we willl be happy to help.

Cut the UK's Carbon Emissions by 10% in just one year, 2010.

2009-10-15T01:31:00.000+01:00

Having just watched a really engaging debate on newsnight tonight regarding climate change. I have felt impelled to go and sign our company up for the 10:10 campaign. For anyone who hasn't heard of the campaign, to quote the website itself;

"What is 10:10?

10:10 is an ambitious project to unite every sector of British society behind one simple idea: that by working together we can achieve a 10% cut in the UK’s carbon emissions in 2010."

Having listened to the debate on the TV and subsequently read the detail on the 10:10 website, it doesn't seem that hard to do, and without going in to all the detail (you can read that on their site), it would appear that we could only have around 6 years to actually start to have an effect before we hit the dreaded 2° increase in global temperature . Politicians are dithering and we can all show them (and the rest of the world) that a little from everyone can count alot.

As you'll probably tell, it's something we're very passionate about, but we're not the only ones, there are already some major companies, public figures, celebrities, and many others already on board. I think the main reason for this is that it really is an acheivable target to hit.

If you want to read more then you can get to the 10:10 website here and also hopefully you'll sign up too.

Any comments, as always, are welcome. but I urge you all to go and sign up and do your bit along with the rest of us.

Are DIY Conservatories easy to install? Part 2

2009-10-12T14:30:00.001+01:00

Following on from Part 1 of these series of posts we're going to discuss question 2.

What do you know about different conservatory designs?

This may sound like an insulting question at first, but it is most definitely not intended to be. I think in this day and age, most of us looking into the prospect of investing in a conservatory, have heard the usual names associated with different designs; Edwardian, Victorian, Lean To, etc. But how many of us actually understand the slight differences with all the different styles. If you really don't understand the concept of a Box Gutter, for example, then obviously it makes sense to find out about it before making the decision of installing one.

Any supplier worth their salt should guide you through a selection process, ensuring you understand the principles of their designs and helping to select what is right for you. After all it's your purchase, your investment, your future addition to your home. When considering building your own conservatory, what would be worse than resenting the particular conservatory design you purchased just because you weren't fully aware of what was involved in piecing together that style.

As we considered in Part 1 of these posts, think about what you expect to acheive from your Conservatory project. If you are not fully aware of the level of complexity from one style of conservaotry to the next then it's all too easy to imagine that a Double Hipped Victorian DIY Conservatory is as simple to construct than say, a standard Edwardian DIY Conservatory.
It's really not rocket science, just look at the basic shape. If one looks more complex than another, then there's your answer, simple.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you shouldn't go for the design or style that you really want. Quite the opposite. I'm saying don't compromise. If you want a grand looking P Shape but feel you are only happy to tackle a Lean To, you will be better to ask for help on the style you really know is right. Again, as discussed in Part 1, if you need to call on someone to undertake the work, then do just that. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Remember, if it's an investment (which a conservatory should most definitely be), treat it as such.
The links posted above will take you to explanations of those specific designs, whereas the following link will take you to our main conservatory designs page where you can select from many others. These pages will allow you to decide on which style is best for your needs and desires. This in turn should help you to decide whether you're happy to put this style together yourself or whether you may need some additional help.

As always, please contact us, leave a comment or call 0800 917 2230 if you would like to know more.

In Part 3, I'll be discussing question 3; "How much time have you given to complete the project?"

Check back very soon for the final part in this series of posts.

Are DIY Conservatories easy to install? Part 1

2009-09-29T14:11:00.001+01:00

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:

Have you thought about the entire construction process?
What do you know about different conservatory designs?
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.......

The DIY Conservatories Blog from Conservatree4u

2009-09-22T16:12:00.003+01:00

Well it's been a while in the making, but here's the blog. Over the coming weeks, months and (hopefully) years, we'll be posting a whole host of articles, from industry related issues and news, through to helpful Hints, Tips and Advice for anyone who may be considering the DIY Conservatories option.

In addition, we'll be throwing in some other posts that fit with our message, because yes I'm sure you've noticed, our business name suggests something more than just a company who are purely interested in selling conservatories. In a nutshell, we're committed to addressing the environmental issue surrounding the plastics industry (primarily uPVC) and we'll be uncovering some of the myths surrounding recyclability and environmental impact as well as keeping you up to date on our own attempts to help the environment through our company's unique campaign (more to come on that in the near future).

So for now, welcome to our blog and feel free to post your comments. Any thoughts/suggestions/etc., will be greatly received (within reason) and we'll look to build a blog that can show that the old days of "foot in the door" double glazing salesmen needn't be the image for the future of our industry. Tell us what you're thinking, however trivial, and you never know we could be posting an article based on that thought.

And as Chaucer first wrote "as an ook cometh of a litel spyr" or as we like to say "mighty oaks from little acorns grow".