Converting a conservatory to a proper extension.

[f13ldy]

So we have a conservatory roughly 4m x 3m appended to the dining room of our 3 bed semi.

The plan is to knock through the kitchen and dining room and have the conservatory as a proper extension to give a 'L' shaped room.

It is currently 3/4 brick on the neighbours side and 1/4 brick on the remaining two and separated from the house by patio doors. The roof is pitched with horrendous polycarbonate.

What I'd like is a pitched tiled roof with windows, sliding doors on the garden side, some underfloor run on the current ch system and some floor to ceiling windows on the far end.

On the 3/4 brick side which adjoins the neighbours garden is obscured by trees so no windows required other than the existing high level ones that are already in situ.

What the deal with planning permission? Required? And is the existing brick structure suitable for a proper roof.

I appreciate it is propably a how longs a piece of string question, but ideally I'd like to know if can amend what I've got easily or am better off getting rid and starting over.

[dickymint]

Whilst you're waiting for more accurate advice......

I think 4m x 3m is too large not to need planning. You will definately need to comply with building regs. The main stumbling blocks for builing regs would be the need for adequate footings and lack of insulation in the existing base and walls.

[andy43]

dickymint said:

Whilst you're waiting for more accurate advice......

I think 4m x 3m is too large not to need planning. You will definately need to comply with building regs. The main stumbling blocks for builing regs would be the need for adequate footings and lack of insulation in the existing base and walls.

+1.
The foundations may need exposing - chances are they won't be deep enough as conservatories sometimes get away without building regs if they were separated from the house by decent doors and unheated.

[cjs]

You can extend 3m out on the back of a house without planning, as a permitted development. As said it will be the building regs that you will need to comply with and that is where your problems will start.

However... you could just go ahead and do the work, as long as you don't have awkward neighbours??? Who is going to know? There will be grief when it is time to sell though!

[Si 330]

I had a client do this last year, horrible mono pitched conservatory in to a proper room.
Planning and building regs were required.
The existing strip foundation ripped out and new founds were laid.
It came in at £22k.

[cpas]

I was thinking of doing the same think as my conservatory is off the living room, but is always too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. I was assuming that the roof (possibly a timber framed flat roof) would bo no heavier (even with snow loading) than th existing pitched poly roof (as we would still be staying at one storey). I was also considering plasterboarding the brickork where necessary to increase the thermal index, and running radiator pipework from an existing rad within the house. The only drawback I can see would be that the living room could be made darker by adding the solid roof.

[Hammer67]

Si 330 said:

I had a client do this last year, horrible mono pitched conservatory in to a proper room.
Planning and building regs were required.
The existing strip foundation ripped out and new founds were laid.
It came in at £22k.

If you don`t mind, what size was that? and was it a turnkey project?. I`ve got a similar issue with a conservatory and am half thinking of doing this, I would do all the decoration, flooring etc myself though. Ta very much.