Conservatories FAQs

A conservatory is a great addition to any home, it can add some much-needed space whilst filling your home in glorious natural sunlight. Although, committing to a conservatory installation can feel like a huge deal and it’s only understandable you’d have plenty of questions, which is why we’ve compiled this list of our most frequently asked questions about conservatories.

Do I need planning permission to have a conservatory installed?

In many cases, you won’t be required to apply for planning permission however, if you’re hoping to build an extension in a conservation or protected area there will likely be further restrictions in place and you can discuss these with both us and your local council for more guidance. If you’re living in a standard residential area you won’t be required to apply for planning permission as long as your conservatory abides by these restrictions:

These restrictions were set to expire in May 2019 but the UK government decided to make them permanent.

Read more: What do I need when building an extension?

 

What style can I choose for my new conservatory

Here at Reddish Joinery, we offer a range of conservatory styles to suit your home. Every conservatory we offer is made bespoke in line with your personal preferences and dream design. With this being said we offer five styles of conservatory for you to choose from.

Victorian conservatories

The Victorian-style conservatory is one of the most popular choices among British homeowners. They feature a ridged roof and a multi-faceted end wall which creates a rounded effect.

Edwardian conservatories

An Edwardian conservatory is the perfect choice for homeowners who love the style of a Victorian conservatory but require more space. They also feature a ridged roof but sit on a rectangular base instead.

Lean-to conservatories

Lean-to conservatories feature a single-sloped roof with the longer wall adjoined to your house. A lean-to conservatory is a great choice as it’s suitable for almost all property styles and sizes.

P-shaped conservatories

A P-shaped conservatory is a combination of a lean-to and either a Victorian or Edwardian conservatory, creating that classicly recognisable ‘P’ shape.

Gable conservatories

A gable conservatory is instantly recognisable by its rectangular roof plan and triangular front. A gable roof is great for creating the illusion of more space thanks to the large front windows that extend to meet the roof.

Read more: What shapes and sizes are orangeries & conservatories available in?

 

What is the best material for a conservatory?

Here at Reddish Joinery, we offer timber and uPVC conservatories both of which are excellent choices for conservatories in the UK. Whichever you choose you’re guaranteed to receive exceptional energy efficiency, security, and aesthetics.
We’ve created this helpful table to help you make your decision:

Accoya (timber) uPVC
Able to last for 80+ years & come with a 50-year warranty Lasts between 25-30 years
Requires much less maintenance than traditional timber Virtually maintenance-free
Double glazed Double glazed
Naturally thermally insulating Feature ultra-efficient low-e glass
Classic and contemporary colours available Huge selection of colours including timber effect
Colour matching available Colour matching available
Rot, warp & UV resistant design Durable weather protection
Incredibly sustainable Environmentally responsible

Read more: The top benefits of uPVC and timber orangeries

Will my conservatory be customisable?

Of course! Every conservatory we install is bespoke to the customer’s needs, wants and preferences. The size and shape of your conservatory are completely down to you and our team is happy to discuss your options with you after your first consultation. As we’ve been an installer for over 50 years we’re able to advise you on the most suitable conservatory based on your needs and the purpose of the room.
You’ll also be able to decide on a bespoke colour for your conservatory, we’re able to colour match your conservatory to your existing window and door colours. We also offer a great selection of colours in our own range, offering opaque stains for our timber conservatories.

How much will my conservatory cost?

It’s no secret that a conservatory is a sizable investment, after all you’re extending your home but did you know that by adding a conservatory to your home you could increase its value by up to 15%, making it a great return on investment. We don’t advertise the price of our conservatories as each of our conservatories is bespoke to the customer. There are a number of factors that will affect the final cost of your conservatory.

Read more: What does a conservatory or orangery cost?

 

Can I replace my existing conservatory’s roof?

If you’ve noticed your existing conservatory is overheating in the summer and becoming too cold to use in the winter you might be wondering what you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your conservatory and make it comfortable to use all year round. You’re able to replace your existing conservatory roof with a modern alternative that is certain to improve both the thermal performance and security of your conservatory. Here at Reddish Joinery, we will always send an expert member of our team out to assess the structural integrity of your conservatory before beginning any work.

We offer three different replacement conservatory roof options, each with their own benefits and aesthetics.

Supalite conservatory roof

Livinroof replacement

Roof lanterns

Read more: Supalite vs Lantern Roofs: which replacement conservatory roof is best?

Accoya Orangery

What is an orangery?

An orangery is another type of glazed extension that has grown increasingly popular with British homeowners, they’re often confused with conservatories as they’re both single-storey glazed extensions. An orangery features more brickwork and are often considered a more traditional extension, because of the reduced amount of glazing and solid or atrium style roof. Orangeries are considered a more premium option as they often have a higher price point but of course, this is dependent on the design choices you make.

Read more: Conservatories vs Orangeries: which is better for extending my home?

Just want to say thank you for the excellent job on our bi-fold conservatory doors. The team that came here were helpful, polite explained clearly what they were going to do and tidied up after themselves- very pleased with the result - thank you

John | Didsbury

I approached Reddish Joinery to replace windows on a house we were renovating. Lee was professional, honest and made me feel like he couldn’t do enough. The quality of the finished job was amazing, and we've already booked them for phase two of our renovation.

| Tyldesley

Just wanted to say how thrilled we are with the front door. Looks gorgeous!! Also great door fitters!

Customer | Reddish

After meeting Lee and Caroline we decided to use Reddish Joinery to replace all of our windows and doors in our Edwardian property. They were professional and very nice people, who made us feel very comfortable and confident in their work. Reddish did everything they said they would do, their attitude and work ethic is exemplary and we would recommend them to anyone.

Richard and Alex Caplan | Hale

Reddish Joinery was recommended by 2 sets of neighbours. We are so glad we used them. The service from start to finish was excellent. The director gave really good advice on replacing our old Victorian-style windows with similar wooden ones. Reddish Joinery virtually matched them including replacing the leaded-light windows. The office staff were very efficient. The fitters were extremely professional and ensured that no damage was caused to the interior decoration or external. We would highly recommend Reddish Joinery.

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We are so so happy with our orangery! Reddish have done a fantastic job from start to finish. The quality is excellent. The communication throughout has been good. Would happily recommend them.

Suzannah Royal |

Every stage of our orangery build was met expertly and professionally. Nothing was a problem for them, and they went the extra mile to make sure everything was perfect for us. The orangery was completed on time, and we could not be happier with it. Lee and his team are amazing, and we highly recommend them.

Sue Gibson |

We commissioned Reddish Joinery to remodel our front door space and to make and fit a bespoke Accoya wood door. We are literally thrilled with the end product; it looks and feels quality and the colour and glazing is gorgeous. Highly recommended!

Sally Keen |

Oak bi-folds were made in record time to fit around a draughty winter building schedule. Very much appreciated and the whole team impressed us from start to finish. We’re so grateful.

Charlene Bernadette Barker |

Can thoroughly recommend Reddish Joinery. They've just replaced an old bay window, are excellent fitters, are very friendly, efficient and cleaned up after themselves. We've had most of our windows and front door replaced by Reddish Joinery and have recommended them to friends and family.

Pete Kidd |

I cannot praise the work of Reddish Joinery enough! Especially Lee, Phil and Ashley who have provided a top-class product with excellent customer service. I’m now the proud owner of an excellent Orangery that has far exceeded our expectations. Highly recommended and would use again without hesitation

Gillian Sutton |

A second lot of beautiful windows we have had fitted by Reddish Joinery. They were able to encapsulate our original stained glass and reproduce our bay windows to preserve the look of our house while keeping us warm. Fantastic service from the whole team. Would highly recommend

Patricia Wong |

Reddish joinery made a conservatory to complement our white cottage. From the start making helpful suggestions to the end of the process finishing off the snagging they were a pleasure to deal with on time and on budget. Delighted with the results would have no hesitation in recommending Reddish Joinery.

Gill No |

Great experience dealing with Reddish Joinery. Tony and Dean have done a great job fitting our windows and we are delighted with the result. Would definitely recommend this firm.

Karl Chartres |

Reddish joinery fitted my Accoya windows and doors, great workmanship, the fitters were polite, clean and tidy. A great local company

Wayne Ratcliffe |

Reddish fitted our new front door today. It looks stunning. The sales team, the office team and the fitters were great, helpful, and great to deal with. Can’t fault anything about this company or the service. They even stayed in touch during the last few weeks of lockdown....

Nigel Bielby |

Exquisite workmanship. I couldn't recommend these guys enough. Fantastic customer service, Lee and Caroline are really great to work with. First Class Company.

Matt Knott |

Highly recommend this company, quality products, and great service and I will be using them again

Luke Sugden |

20 years ago, Reddish Joinery built our last conservatory. So, when we moved we asked them again! And we are totally thrilled to bits with the result!! It’s stunning!

Yvonne Martin |

I’ve recently bought a new timber door from Reddish Joinery, they were professional at every point. The finished piece is exquisite, so nice in fact two people have knocked on to ask where it’s from!

Natalie McEvoy |

Reddish Joinery has recently completed our Orangery and the whole experience has been an absolute pleasure. From Tony the salesman, Ash and Lee the builders and fitters, Nick the electrician, Paul and Kate the plasters and anyone else I have overlooked. We were kept informed at each stage of who would be on-site and the time they would arrive. Everyone was courteous and helpful when we had queries. Without a doubt, this is an incredible team of tradesmen and women who are client-centric, focused on professionalism and delivering the perfect job. Lee and Caroline, you have a team to be proud of

Karen Desai |

Great team at Reddish Joinery! Love that it is family-owned & run, and a local business. Competitive quote. Loving my new door! Now saving up for the windows. Thanks Lee and team!

Sarah Ward |