Conservatories Today | Home Ideas
Rights and wrongs, Do’s and don’ts
right: This
beautiful
conservatory was
location: Make sure that your Insurance Company) and they arrange for
supplied and installed Conservatory is sited in the best possible the work to be carried out.
by Brightwood
area (this is not always off the lounge or
Conservatories.
Contracts: This is one of the single
dining room) to promote the best use of the
biggest investments you will make for your
left: This beautiful
space and access to your garden and home.
home. Do not be forced into a decision
bespoke conservatory
Cost: Do not expect a quality ‘on the night’ don’t be tempted by ‘special
is available from
David Salisbury.
conservatory at a budget price. The old offers’ or phone calls to the ‘Area manager’
adage that you ‘get what you pay for’ to get you a special price. If the salesman
applies to Conservatories too. won’t allow you time to think, politely
roof: Be clear if you want glass and be
show him the door. Don’t be pressurised.
prepared to pay for an additional cost for
Ask for a contract to be left so that
specialist glass to ensure year round use of
you can read the small print at your
your conservatory.
convenience, and then arrange a time that
you will contact them with a decision. Also
doors: Make sure the doors are sited
ensure that you get his ‘final price’ some
the shortest distance from the house
companies use a sales technique of starting
and the garden – you don’t want it to be
off incredibly high and then discounting and
cumbersome to go out into your garden,
discounting so you appear to be getting
especially if this is now your only exit point
a bargain when in fact the price that they
to your garden.
finally get to is the actual cost you should be
Planning: Don’t take risks or assume
paying in the first place – and you think you
anything, check first. Your local planning
just got a 50% reduction!
department have a helpline, or use
Some companies will also use a
the resources available on the Internet
technique of allowing you to obtain
for most Council’s. These indicate the
other tenders from rival firms and then
regulations and rules in your area for the
‘matching’ the quotes. Ask yourself though,
requirements of planning permission and in
if they can come down by an extra £2,000
most cases you are able to download the
or £3,000 had you have agreed on the
forms/information from the website.
night to their original quote who would be
building regulations: If you have no pocketing that extra money?
doors between the conservatory and your
Payments: Always insist on stage
home you will have to comply with building
payments – never pay 95% of the costs
regulations. There are ways to comply with
when a company drops off a Conservatory at
these regulations without the need for
your home. How do you know they will fit it
‘permanent’ doors. Check with your local
or indeed if it will fit? Agree a stage payment
Building regulations department.
schedule up front and what you need to
guarantee: Always ask for a separate see before the next payment is made and
Insurance Backed Guarantee to cover your refer back to it in case of any query. Do
investment. Remember if the company not make payments on one stage until you
goes out of business then your warranty or are happy. Hold back money at the end of
guarantee is worthless without an insurance the contract to ensure that any ‘snags’ have
guarantee to protect you against liquidation. been completed. Do not leave yourself in a
These work like any insurance policy in that position of an unfinished Conservatory and
if you need to make a claim for a leak in the no money outstanding to the company as
roof for example you obtain 3 tenders from this will give them no incentive to return to
local firms (or those recommended by the carry out remedial works.
www.thimagazine.com
April 2009 | Traditional Homes & Interiors 67
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132