Building Your DIY Conservatory

Our modular conservatories can be assembled without a specialist - and if you have good DIY skills, building one is something that you can do by yourself saving thousands of pounds in the process. The simple steps shown in our easy to follow illustrated guide below will provide you with all of the instructions that you will need to know about how to build your own DIY Conservatory.

The site of the proposed conservatory build. Check that there are no obsacles such as drain pipes, boiler flues or extractor fan outlets where the conservatory will be built.	For construction work to begin A trench is excavated to a minimum depth of 600mm for the footings. The ground level within the boundries of the trench is also reduced to at least 300 mm below the Damp Proof Course (DPC). As you can see in the above image, on this project the excavation has exposed an underground pipe.	Concrete lintels need to be used to protect the drainage pipe from being crushed. Additional steel mesh is also introduced to the concrete foundations for additional support.
Stakes are driven into the ground and set at 450mm below the Damp Proof Course and 300mm below the external ground level. Concrete is then poured into the trench to a depth of 150mm.	The concrete is then floated forming a level surface 450mm below the house Damp Proof Course.	The inner leaf of the cavity wall is built up to floor level, usually the houses Damp Proof Course .
Hardcore is laid to a depth of at least 100mm and compacted to form the base layer of the slab. Compactors are easy to use and cheap to hire.	A blinding screed of sand 50mm thick is layed over the compacted hardcore to prevent any sharp stones puncturing the damp proof membrane (heavy duty plastic sheeting).	The damp proof membrane is laid over the sand blinding and lapped onto the inner leaf of brickwork.
Floor insulation (Optional) is placed upon the damp proof membrane, in this case 50mm thick Styrofoam has been used.	100mm of concrete is layed and then float finished to bring the slab up to the finished floor level and give a smooth finish for tiling or carpet.	The outer leaf of the wall is built. In this case, artificial stone is used to match the current brickwork that is used on the main house.
The inner leaf of the cavity wall is erected completing the basework. The same material as the outer leaf has been used to provide a matching stone finish.	The external uPVC cill is fitted to the dwarf wall and the frames are to be erected. Note that the lead flashing has already cut into the house wall at this stage.	On completion of the frames the structural aluminium eaves beam is fitted to the head of the frame work. This secures the frames and is the base for the roof.
The PVCu thermally clad aluminium glazing bars and ridge system are quickly assembled.	The roof glazing (either polycarbonate panels or double glazed glass units) are installed.	Once the roof build is completed the side frames can be glazed.
The Aluminium ridge is ventilated and ready to accept the clip fit PVCu internal cladding. If a fan or ceiling lights are required the cables may be concealed behind the cladding. The vented ridge minimizes the formation of condensation.	The PVCu internal fascia is clipped onto the eaves beam to complete the internal finishing trims. Any other internal work is then to be undertaken once the roof is in place. The windows should be left open at this stage to allow the concrete floor to dry out.	The completed self build conservatory. Now you can enjoy finishing off the interior to your own taste.

For more Technical Information on building one of our DIY Conservatories please click on one of the following pages, Edwardian/Victorian Conservatories or Lean To Conservatories.