conservatories, help it is a jungle

[pj0909]

We are looking to have a conservatory 3x4 m approx. How much should it cost for a edwardian design. We have had quotes ranging from 15-23k !! for very similar work to be carried out. Anyone had one build and is happy with their work and price please advise as we are sick to the teeth with salesman tying to sell you stuff which is not relevant and extortionate!! i.e Part P which only is a requirement for England and Wales but the Anglian Window Sales man decided we need it and would have cost �550 and as we are living in Scotland is absolutely not a requirement here. But they would have gladly taken the money,so beware!!

We will gladly pay for work and product without being ripped off. Thank you for reading this

[sleepyj]

we have got a wicks one ...its very nice ...have you looked at them ?

[buildersmate]

There is no such thing as a defined price for a project like this. You are doing the right thing by getting competitive quotes from at least three organisations. Tell them you are doing that - it often helps to sharpen the salesmen's pencil whenit comes to pricing. Then check out the quality of your proposed supplier by looking at the way it constructed , then asking to talk to a couple of satisfied customers. These may be tame customers, but always worth visting to see what the product weathers like.
Have you considered Planning Permission, which you may need? Don't just take the suppliers word you don't need it - check with the local authority.
Conservatories do not need Building Regs approval (which I think you call a Building Warrant in Scotland) because they are not considered habitable space. For that reason, you must not remove the original outside doors which end up being the access way to the new conservatory (this is certainly true in England & Wales I can't think that it would be different in Scotland). Part P is part of Building Regs (its the electrical installation requirement), so I'm not sure why Anglian thought that was needed.
A lot of the cost is in putting a decent foundation below and finishing the surfaces inside. Make sure suppliers are quoting for similar things.

[sense4all]

Having had a bit of an 'experience' with a 'frightfully posh' company I would be getting another one supplied from Wickes, hardwood ... glass roof ... put up by a local chippie ... and the foundations dug and filled by a local small builder or ourselves ... then get the chippie to add a bit of character with gothic cut outs or whatever takes you fancy - then paint it with Rubbol Satura paint sourced from our local Brewers paint merchants ( it was �20 a tin cheaper ) it is expensive but as labour is the most costly element of the process it's longevity is well worth the extra dosh per tin.

http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/Coatings/Ext erior_Paint/?utm_id=G31&gclid=CODIgOLNxJICFRIB 1Qod6hzqbg

Well it's even cheaper on this website I found to show you the tin ... one five litre tin was enough to do a large conservatory inside and out.

[pj0909]

Thank you so much for your comments,have been to Wickes and am pleasantly surprised as of how easy it is with the costings and such. Now I have to find a good reliable builder!!

[burbie]

I had a Edwardian conservatory 2.5 meters x 3.5 meters build 2 years ago.
First I had a quote from a big company St Helens Glass
(which went out of business) about l year later.
The salesman spent about 2 hours just trying to sell me finance.
I went to two local conservatory small businesses for quotes. They were both excellent at designing what I wanted, and sorting out problems, such as moving my outside drain and having to move my boiler.
I chose one, and have been very pleased and satisfied with the standard of work. I paid �9,400. plus �400 to have my boiler moved, and an extra �300 because I wanted a radiator installed running off my central heating system.
He also included quality wooden flooring.
I dont know what part P is, but I contacted the Council myself to ask if I needed planning permission, I did need it.
This cost me �160.
I wouldnt go to the big companies. Go local. They should be FENSA registered.