Conservatory floor/foundation issues

After reading your post again, with a bit more attention this time, I notice you say one wall will form the boundary of your property. It would then fall under party wall legislation and may be a problem to build without special planning permission. I take it you do have planning permission already for your proposed original site ? If not, stop even thinking about building anything until you do.

A conservatory falls into two categories. Firstly you have what is refereed to as a glue on conservatory, which is just a glass covered patio area. It consists of a small foundation which takes the weight of the people walking on it, rather than the actual structural weight of the whole build. A glued on covered patio needs written consent of non-objection from neighbours who will be looking at the thing when they go into their own property, and is also regulated by drainage warrants for surface water soak away.

The second type of conservatory is totally different. This type of conservatory is called an added room to your existing property. Now adding a room to your property, as you can imagine, brings with it all sorts of regulation and legislation for ground support (foundations), structural height (the roofing material) and wall spanning (the size, shape and weight of the whole thing), all of which must be drawn on paper and submitted to your local planning department for approval. The local planning and building control people will inspect the site for any drainage problems, overlooked area problems (this is in case you have any pervs' about, remember the see through walls) and any conservation notices on the land Etc, Etc.

Now you say you'd like to use the area as an actual dining "ROOM", and I emphasise "room", and therefore, you need to plan for fire break qualities, escape route plans, thermal regulation properties, floor structure design (remember, if it collapses while you have guest in it, it is a manslaughter charge) and insurance restriction for its security qualities.

So, after finding out in more detail what is actually involved, do you still plan to bang posts into the ground to take a few panes of glass and lay a couple of pallets on the ground with a plywood sheet over them ? My advice to you is, "you should now go to an actual company that does them for a living, and ask how they go about building one of these things". Put your mind at ease.

Reply to
BigWallop
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I was under the impression that the Party Wall Act was a toothless tiger and, in any case, didn't affect what you could build, just the way that you inform your neighbours.

I've still seen nothing to suggest that I need planning permission at all. The proposed conservatory is well within the requirements of my available permitted development rights and would be so even if made of brick as a proper habitable room, as I understand it.

Because I can build one for 4,000 quid myself or pay some scrote with only a mobile phone number 15,000 to do it for me. This is uk.d-i-y you know!

The only things left for me to find out are:

a) What's the definitive answer to the building regulations question? (i.e. does it need approval, what are the rules applicable).

b) How should I construct the floor/foundations and attach the conservatory to them?

I've just looked again and I have about 30cm available for a concrete floor, Jablite and DPM, which I hope is enough.

My guess at the moment is that you construct a concrete floor, with DPM right to the edge, about 20cm above ground level and just attach the wood frame to the concrete. Any problems with this? Would a suspended wooden floor be better?

Christian.

Reply to
Christian McArdle

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>I take it you do have planning permission already for your proposed

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>My advice to you is, "you should now go to an actual company that does

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The only things left for me to find out are:

conservatory

Reply to
BigWallop

Christian.

Reply to
Christian McArdle

From the chaotic regions of the Cryptosphere, The Natural Philosopher wrote on Fri, 11 Jul 2003 11:59:52 +0100:

What about a pump over the top of the house. May be a bit expensive for a conservatory, though.

Reply to
Hugo Nebula

"Hugo Nebula" wrote | >Hmm. I'd be tempted to see if a hired concrete mixer would be | >gettable in through the house, and then just get bags of sand, | >cement, and ballast and do it the hard way. | What about a pump over the top of the house. May be a bit | expensive for a conservatory, though.

How heavy's a little mixer? Would it be hot-air-balloon-able over the house?

Owain

Reply to
Owain

From the chaotic regions of the Cryptosphere, "Christian McArdle" wrote on Mon, 14 Jul 2003 10:14:46

+0100:

A "conservatory" is exempt from the Building Regulations (in England & Wales) if it meets the following criteria:

  1. It is less than 30m² floor area,
  2. It is built at ground level (ie, not with an undercroft or on a balcony),
  3. It is an _addition_ to a dwelling, with external quality doors between it and the house,
  4. The roof is transparent or translucent,
  5. Any heating should be controlled separately from the remainder of the house (ie, TRV's on any radiator),
  6. It should not contain any controlled services or fittings (any drainage or heat-producing appliances), and
  7. The glazing should comply with the requirements for safety glazing.
Reply to
Hugo Nebula

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