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Feb 2024
3:42pm, 3 Feb 2024
21,499 posts
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rf_fozzy
There is a 74cm high wall around the bottom of the conservatory at present.
It's a proper conservatory roof.
Yes, potentially if it's a full knock down job, I could do it myself. But that won't save much cash I'd have thought. I'd just have to work out how to make the electric safe.
It shouldn't take long for them to demolish though. I could probably do most of it in a weekend quite easily on my own. And I'd be more careful than them.
Hann - if you built that for £65k, there's no way what I want should cost £30k. I don't need services adding or any of that.
I'll see when I get the full quote, but I think this is overinflated.
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Feb 2024
4:32pm, 3 Feb 2024
25,787 posts
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richmac
So, alternative options for you.
Companies, such as coral windows will take the conservatory roof off and replace it with a 'proper' roof with insulation and wiring etc.
You can also have the glass taken out and swapped for insulated panels..
Then you get a joiner to fit an internal timber frame, again with insulation fitted, then you screw plaster board to that and internally, no one knows.
It's probably out of the box thinking, but I think you could get that all done for about 15k. And a lot less environmental impact.
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Feb 2024
6:31pm, 3 Feb 2024
944 posts
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Jenelopy
I would ask them what would make it cheaper. Labour is always going to be expensive (and people should be fairly compensated for skilled work), but perhaps there are some things that could be tweaked.
With our house build, doing some of the demoltion and all of the internal painting saved us a fortune. Also, switching to a slightly diffrent cladding profile (that we liked more, but isn't as 'on trend') saved a suprising amount.
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Feb 2024
6:32pm, 3 Feb 2024
945 posts
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Jenelopy
Also, we took care of a lot of the materials from the demo (repurposed, reused, sold, gave away), which was better fo rht environment and saved a suprising amount of skip and landfill fees.
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Feb 2024
6:35pm, 3 Feb 2024
25,802 posts
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richmac
It's true, post Brexit trades hourly rates have rocketed to piss taking.
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Feb 2024
6:42pm, 3 Feb 2024
21,500 posts
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rf_fozzy
Thanks Rich.
Yes, that was my original plan - just replace the roof with a "proper" roof.
Unfortuantely I've moved away from that for several reasons:
1. There's no insulation in the walls, meaning that needs doing, so the windows have to come off anyway.
2. The wall that faces my neighbours (adjoining) patio results in a lot of noise, so I want to turn that into a proper wall to stop the noise.
3. The conservatory is old. 1990s vintage. All the windows are crappy double glazing and so probably need replacing anyway. In the end, I'll only have to replace 1 side of windows that could be saved anyway (see point 4).
4. The French doors from the conservatory on the patio have to be replaced - they're not brilliantly secure, they are leaky (heat, not water) and most importantly when open, they take up half the patio space.
Once all that's taken into account, you're basically back to a rebuild anyway.
In theory, I shouldn't need to demolish anything, except the actual conservatory roof, windows and doors, but the issue is I don't know what foundations were put in, so that means the wall has to come down. I'd rather it didn't.
But it also means I can move the side wall (again adjoining neighbours' side) back about 20-30cm to make it a bit bigger - it's currently not on the boundary and so if I'm demolishing I can get an extra bit of space.
I've got another builder coming next week. Will see what they say.
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Feb 2024
6:46pm, 3 Feb 2024
21,501 posts
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rf_fozzy
Thanks Jenelopy - I did discuss some things that would make it cheaper with the builder - but he didn't think there was much I could do as £30k was his "floor" (although I'm waiting to see the full quote).
I agree doing the demolition myself is an obvious thing (and I'd already thought about saying I'll do this. And yes, I'd save all the materials (bricks) that could be reused. There is a minor issue about timing it to start dates for the build, but it should be manageable if the builder can give me a sensible start date.
But there's no "finishing work" on the quote- it's basically just do the shell and make waterproof and plaster. I don't think it even includes electrical work....
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Feb 2024
7:47pm, 3 Feb 2024
25,804 posts
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richmac
I think they're taking the piss TBH. The i can see what the footings are like but simply digging a hole next to the wall.
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Feb 2024
7:32pm, 4 Feb 2024
21,506 posts
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rf_fozzy
Had the full quote.
£32668.
That's for demolition, footings, structure, roof, doors and windows. Internally plastered only.
No electrics, no heating or anything else.
Will see what the other builder says on wed....
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Feb 2024
7:34pm, 4 Feb 2024
25,814 posts
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richmac
Think I need to set up building company!
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DIY question
Nov 2024