2021 renovations

[Jupiter]

That's lovely Duo!

Sounds positive, Nine!

[nineseven]

I really really hope he can do it within budget. I really don’t want want to borrow more than I already have. It’s just not worth it on this house.

[Estrella]

I really, really love your floor, Duo. It looks so good.

[Livilla]

That’s brilliant news about the builder, nine!

As we are now enmeshed in a dispute trying to get our fee back from the rubbish architect we have decided to take some action rather than just waiting for months more in stasis. So we’ve moved ahead with one of the good ideas of the new architect - putting a proper roof on our almost-never-used conservatory to turn it from wasted space into a proper room. Here’s a picture from the outside showing the before and after (there’s a bit of optical illusion going on here - the new roof isn’t as high as it looks here). We need to get the lights replaced (will be done next week) and then it will be a separate sitting room/study.

[Livilla]

Also, Duo, I love your floor too. Are they tiles designed to look like wood?

[Edith Bacon]

That looks really smart, Liv.

We are considering doing something similar with our conservatory - what material is your new roof?

And I hope your rubbish architect gets their finger out soon!

[nineseven]

That looks great, Liv! It's like having an extension without having to extend. Is your old architect still refusing to speak to you?

[Livilla]

They are lightweight plastic, Edith! (the roof needs to be light given the conservatory structure) - they match the main roof, though, which is proper slate

[Livilla]

Yes, the useless architect has properly gone to ground. I’m drafting him a letter before action now…

[Derek Nimmo]

He will run the day!

I'll be interested to see how much light you retain when it's done (can you take some before and afters?). I'm thinking of doing the same in my new gaff but the conservatory is in front one of the two light sources for the kitchen and I'm worried about making it gloomy.

[nineseven]

I have a hideous lean-to with a plastic roof (not dark) and it really blocks the light into the whole back of my house.

[nineseven]

Yes, the useless architect has properly gone to ground. I’m drafting him a letter before action now…

I'm guessing the aim is to recover what you've paid him and the costs of getting planning permission? Did they approve his impossible plans?

[Derek Nimmo]

I have a hideous lean-to with a plastic roof (not dark) and it really blocks the light into the whole back of my house.

Yeah, knocking it down is a very possible Plan B!

[Edith Bacon]

I'll be interested to see how much light you retain when it's done (can you take some before and afters?). I'm thinking of doing the same in my new gaff but the conservatory is in front one of the two light sources for the kitchen and I'm worried about making it gloomy.

This is also a concern for me and I too would be interested to see the effect on light.

Is the roof a particular brand, Liv?

Sorry for the interrogation - I’m really excited that someone else has done the thing I’m thinking about.

[Livilla]

They did, yes, nine - though obviously we can’t build to them! And we aren’t about to take the risk to build an extension that significantly diverts from the approved plans as we’d have to do to make it usable.

Derek - light-wise the conservatory is fine, as there’s still so much light coming in the glazed walls. It’s south-facing though on the glazed sides, which might make a difference?

[Livilla]

Sorry for the interrogation - I’m really excited that someone else has done the thing I’m thinking about.

There are a number of firms which specialise in this, Edith, so we got quotes from a few and picked the ones we liked the most. They supplied all materials etc and did the whole thing in two days.

[Margo]

Mum has just had her conservatory roof done, the inside is white and bright and it’s really changed the look of the room. She used conservatoryinsulations.com, as advertised by Anna Ryder Richardson.

[Livilla]

Derek - here’s a before and after from inside - obviously the before was a sunnier day, but the room is definitely still light afterwards. We chose to keep the beams and struts in place on the inside too, by the way, to keep the character of the old conservatory (installed by the previous owners of the house, not us). You can just have a whole new ceiling internally though, if you wish, and install lights etc - ours had wall lights that we’re updating.

[Derek Nimmo]

Thanks Liv, mines south facing but the panes are rather smaller than yours (as is the structure full stop) so it doesn't let in as much light to begin with. It's basically a glorified boot room and passage to the outside. We shall see!

Your new roof looks fantastic externally though, and how nice to get a whole new room without major upheaval

[Pippedydeadeye]

That looks really good. It’s ok my list of things to think about now. We have plans for an extension but there are steel issues and an ongoing discussion with a structural engineer. That’s all before the insane quotes we’ve had.