Technical Considerations

Bases and Foundations

Our bases and foundations are built to the same high specifications by the same builders every time to ensure the quality is consistent and that your conservatory will stand the test of time.

We will do the following:

Base

• Remove any existing building, base, shrubs or trees (at an agreed additional cost).
• Excavate trench fill concrete foundations to a minimum of 400mm wide x 600mm deep below ground subject to site conditions.
• Prepare a base of 100mm compacted hardcore with a layer of sand blinding to protect 1200 gauge polythene damp proof membrane. Infill with 100mm deep trowel finish concrete with 50mm Jablite.
• Single skin semi-engineering bricks to external perimeter of conservatory to extend one course below ground level and two courses above.
• A 50mm sand and cement screed can be specified and finished with a trowelled smooth finish (at an agreed additional cost).
• If piling is required, we will employ an independent engineer to design and specify the construction details (at an agreed additional cost).

Walls

• Build cavity walls to an overall thickness of 260mm in brick or block construction or approximately 300mm in stone effect blocks.
• External walls in brick, stone effect or rendered concrete blocks.
• Internal walls in brick or plastered thermal concrete blocks.
• Cavity wall insulated with 50mm insulation.
• Walls constructed to a specified height from internal finished floor level.
• Full damp proof coursing is installed with a damp proof membrane.
• New bricks will be used to match existing as closely as possible. If more expensive bricks are specified they will be charged at cost.
• Reclaimed bricks can be used in the wall construction if required. Customer to provide bricks as free issue to Formula One.

October 1 2008 saw planning rules for potential conservatory owners take a positive step forward.

New Government rules state that a conservatory added to your home could be considered to be permitted development – in other words planning permission is not needed in many cases.

We can assist in working out whether you require planning when we come to measure up your conservatory and for a fee we can even submit planning applications to the Local Authority on your behalf, building this in to the price of the conservatory.

Do I need planning permission?

Do I need Building Regulation approval?

To help you understand these issues we detail below some of the \\\”conditions\\\” attached to planning permission and building regulations. (These apply to England/Wales only) Scottish, Northern Ireland, Eire and North American regulations are quite different – You should in all instances take local advice. For information on the rules for Scotland click here.

PLANNING PERMISSION

In England and Wales you will not usually require planning permission, provided you do not exceed the permitted development limit for your property (which is 50-70 cubic metres, depending on where you live). Notable exceptions to the above are listed buildings and conservation areas. Please note that if your property has been extended in the past – you will have used up some or perhaps all of your \\\”permitted development\\\” area and may need permission. Its also worth noting that occasionally \\\”permitted development\\\” rights may be withdrawn from a property and any extension however small needs planning. If in doubt check.

BUILDING REGULATIONS

Generally speaking conservatories/sunrooms on residential property are exempted under Building Regulations.

Below are some of the Exemption Criteria – under the Building Regulations 1991 (as amended). These criteria must be met for a conservatory extension to be classified as exempt:

• The extension has a completely transparent or translucent roof.
• The extension walls are substantially glazed. Must have at least half the area of the walls formed of windows. Must have at least three quarters of the area of the roof formed of glazing, polycarbonate sheets or similar translucent material.
• The extension has a floor area not exceeding 30m squared.
• The extension is sited at ground level.
• The extension is permanently separated from the remainder of the property by means of a door.
• Any radiator within the conservatory is controllable. (If fixed heating installations are proposed, they should have their own separate temperature and on/off controls).
• The glazing satisfies the requirements of part N, Schedule 1 (toughened/safety glass).
• The extension does not contain any drainage facilities. (i.e. sink, WC, or washing machine)