Operation Conservatory Modernisation

[sh4d0w]

Hi All,

Well the time came where we had time and money to get started on the upgrade to the back of our house, it looked like this;

We was sick of the freezing cold or baking hot wind tunnel we knew as a conservatory, the noise when it rained was also just crazy! So, we wanted to turn this room into a proper room that we can use on a daily basis.

i explored several options for the roof and ended up going with a lean too design sat on a wall plate ontop of the frames but with added steel supports between each unit and the wall plate sat on brickwork at each end with a lightweight Britmet Tileform roof system and a pair of windows.

So, let the work begin.

The Windows and doors arrived:

Dad and a mate helping out - By heck the old sliding door was SOOOOOO heavy!!!

I wanted the internal doors done first to increase security whilst the conny will be out of action

So new doors in, was easier than i was expecting it to be, the opening was pretty square.

Time to get the new windows in, we wanted to move the doors over so they was not central to the room, we felt that the doors being in the middle restricted the use massively

Dad looking cold just before the snow came!

New windows in and boraded up the space, we wanted to lower the ceiling, no need for such a high room.

 

[sh4d0w]

Next it was time to get some gear ordered, i spent a good few hours pondering over what i would need, working out the materials list proved to be a headache! but i did it and was pretty accurate too!

I then emailed all of the local merchants, put all of the data onto a spreadsheet and worked out the best costs etc, i ended up getting my local Howarth timber to match all the best prices which was surprising! and they had most of my gear in stock!

here it comes!!!

As per, my dad was there to save the day, he is THE best dad, i have to add this in, my best friend, my role model and my hero!

Tower arrives too. -
Now time to work out my rafter heights, i went with a 19Deg. pitch which gave me a rafter length of 3000, i marked my height on the stud work.

And began cutting back - oh! what did we do before multitools?

Cut back some more

Time for my wall plate, fixed to place with drill in window fixings and secured with wall anchors

The team of surveyors decided it was tools down for an hour:

Off to the pond we went.


Then time to crack on - Brick work time, first time i have actually ever laid bricks (facing anyway)

What a pain in the arse this was! trying to support them 3/4 header bricks was a mare!

 

[sh4d0w]

First rafter cut to perfection then i created some templates using a bit of hardboard and some 1"x1/2" latte so the next cuts would be nice and easy, wazzed them off at 19Deg, template up, marked, cut and up we go.
I also added another wall plate, some 4x2 on end, this was to give me some additional height inside to allow the 50MM insulation and board+skim, this was glued and screwed.

Oh, shes there again, making sure daddy and granddad is doing it right!

I drilled and screwed some 200MM 8mm wood anchors through each rafter into the wall plate top and bottom.

All are now up and ready for the next day.

Time for noggins and "vaulted" ceiling - would i call this a vaulted ceiling?

and a view the other way.

Time for some insulation - i am sure the dust has finished me off! i have spent the last fortnight surrefing with a bloody awful chest infection!

My little feline dog inspecting the work.

and another shot from outside. Time for some fascia and sofit since the rain is holding off.

I wanted to get the fascia up so i can run my cable and fit my soffit lights ready for the roof going up the following day.

 

[sh4d0w]

So the point of no return! old roof OFF!!!!
The weather was looking good! so away we went, that is my brother in law, he has been a massive help all the way through the project too!

Time for some membrane and battens, window in whilst were at it.

and might aswell do window 2 for the hell of it

And from the inside:

The rest of the 100MM insulation in and part taped - time to fully tape the roof space to create my VCL.

Another fine day so lets get some tiles up

What an absolute mare we had with this! we had the windows fitted and the flashing kits all done but whilst cutting tiles round we noted a huge issue! the profile of these tiles meant that we would not have a tight seal with the flashing kit - EDW was specced for the Decra tiles i was going with initially - Supplier told me the the Tileform i went with were identical to the Decra and wouldn't need to make any changes to the flashing - never take someone elses word!!!! - Managed to get around it after a few hours head scratching, ended up dropping the windows down to rafter height and cutting battens back so the flashing kit dropped down to the rafter height, this then allowed the tiles to sit correctly onto the flashing kit - as can be seen here:

And thats all for now Folks.

i have done some more work inside last night, ran the cable for my single run of down lights in my vaulted ceiling and ran a pair of cables to my new switch to allow 2 way switching

SO, any comments, criticism or advice is welcome.

 

[roboughton]

Love it keep up the good work!!!!

 

[sh4d0w]

Thanks mate, went home at lunch and stood there for 40 minutes just thinking about cabling, its a bloody right head feck - not being a spark and not knowing what cables are needed - LOL

 

[roboughton]

Thanks mate, went home at lunch and stood there for 40 minutes just thinking about cabling, its a bloody right head feck - not being a spark and not knowing what cables are needed - LOL

What are you trying to achieve with your wiring?

 

[sh4d0w]

Thanks mate, went home at lunch and stood there for 40 minutes just thinking about cabling, its a bloody right head feck - not being a spark and not knowing what cables are needed - LOL

What are you trying to achieve with your wiring?

Hi again,

Well i was just trying to imagine the room when it will be complete and what sockets need to be where, what cables need to go in the ceiling for lights, fire alarm, data and audio etc.

Well i decided on most, i have put a series up for 8 down lights down the spine of the ceiling in the centers, ran two twin and earth for my 2 way switching (had no 3 core and earth) ans also ran a single cable to the center for my fire alarm that will be wired into the lights, i forgot all about the data and audio until i put the last board up!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRR.

so... here is this weekends update.
Cables all in and ready to be covered up! made notes of all measurements to help relocate them once skimmed!

The missus was out friday night so, me and the kids had a dinner date at nandos then once they were in bed i started! Up goes the final 50MM insulation in full sheets secured in place with 70MM screws, just enough to hol it up

8x4 sheets on your own above your head is a workout and half!!!! gave up and used some acro's to help 100mm dry wall screws are used here

next morning im at it again,

i called for some help! was too slow on my own with no plasterboard stands.

time for some outside jobs in that lovely sun!
Lead time... 1200mm lengths, beaten to shape before the go up using some clamps and a straight edge, 27mm lip to be bedded into the wall using lead sealant.

Up we go!

Well, might aswel put some rainwater goods up now the flashing is all in.

 

[roboughton]

Looking good, I have put Cat6 and audio cables all over my house as renovations have taken place. Sonos systems in most rooms plus the kids can have a hard connection to the LAN its worked very well. I just need to sort out the birds nest of cables in my eves now and patch it all off correctly instead of the bodge I have currently.

 

[sh4d0w]

I hate cables and pipes on show! thats my problem, so now its time to try and feed the cables in the ceiling, if not... its all coming down

 

[sh4d0w]

Paper has now been stripped! revealing some more work that is needed, every single board joint is cracked!

 

[sh4d0w]

anyone care for an update?

 

[ajstoneservices]

Yes.

 

[sh4d0w]

Sorted! in that case, just for you... ill update!

 

[Nige F]

Yes.

+1.