New Conservatory.

[Phil473]

Its time to replace our exsisiting conservatory, which was there when we bought the house. It is 3m by 3m.

We are on clay, and the footings of the current conservatory are a mere 300mm. This is inadequate for the soil, and as a result the walls have been cracking.

Costs being what they are, I'm looking to keep expenditure to a minimum.

However, I'd like to base and foundations to be permenant, so that the glass walls and roof can be replaced if necessary, without going through the additional cost of new footings. So the new footings would maybe be 1m or more. I'm considering all glass, so that cost and weight is to a minimum.

We'd be content with UPVC, but if aluminium doesn't cost that much more that could also be an option.


Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Do it right or botch it!

You need footings that reach below the topsoil, regardless of the weight, otherwise it will move and crack.

If you're going to dig footings then you might as well just build a proper brick room. It will cost more but will be infinitely more useful and much better insulation.

 

[Phil473]

The family want a 'sun room,' ie mostly glazed and not another fully habitable extra room as such.

One option seems to be a glass room, which just seems to be a glass box with frame on top of a patio. I've read they require little footings (though I'd definitely be checking)

However, it seems that due to the materials they aren't actually cheaper than a conservatory. But given that most conservatories are built as cheap, temporary add ons, a conservatory with proper footings might be more expensive than a glass room. So I'll be getting quotes based on that.

Had a company send my a pic of an all glazed, lean to upvc conservatory, didn't look great. All glazed aluminum conservatories look interesting, but that's going to be more expensive again maybe?

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Your choice. It's mostly just a crappiness vs cost compromise.

Personally I'd tend towards overdoing it than underdoing, I tend to regret the latter more.