FAQ
Why do you use hardwood?
Does it need any maintenance?
Only with hardwood can you obtain the required amount of detail
finish that distinguishes our designs. Plastic is cold and
unsympathetic and quite inappropriate for many of our customers
houses. We use an African hardwood called Idigbo that is naturally
resistant to rot and fungal attack. Natural oils present also resist
water penetration and contribute to longevity of the timber. All
timber used comes from managed renewable plantations.
After planning and jointing the assembled timber
goes through an automated painting and drying process, which
includes base coats and top coats providing a factory finished
product. This means that there is no requirement for on-site
painting other than some touching up. Depending on where you live
and how exposed your conservatory is will determine how often it
should be repainted; as a general rule though we would recommend
about every three to five years using a micro-porous paint.
What special tools will I need?
Any competent self-builder will have all the necessary plant and
equipment to complete the installation. From a convenience and
safety point of view a light access scaffold tower is extremely
useful when assembling the roof and installing the lead flashing. A
scaffold tower can be hired from most hire shops throughout the
country.
I have a difficult property that doesn’t suit standard framed conservatories. Can you
make me a special design?
David Salisbury’s success has been largely achieved by designing
and supplying bespoke conservatories. See the portfolio of pictures
on our main website
Conservatory Gallery
then contact us.
The only place I can put a conservatory faces north?
More people complain about how hot their conservatory gets rather
than the reverse, so a north facing elevation is often the best
position for a conservatory. South facing conservatories usually
need blinds; sometimes air conditioning and the latest solar control
glass could be worth considering. Visit the specialist glass
manufacturer www.glaverbel.com for more information.
Problems?
Send us your building problem and we’ll post it here, with our
suggested solution. But maybe you have an alternative? Just let us
know.
CAVITY TRAYS?
Another website suggests that we should always install a cavity tray to stop water coming in above doors and
windows. What do you think?
(DP from Taunton)
Our response: Cavity trays are
tricky to retrofit for the self-builder and are only needed in
exposed conditions subject to driving rain with porous brickwork.
Some reconstituted stone is particularly susceptible. We would
suggest treating the brickwork above the wall plate with a
proprietary water sealant like Robex TWP that is brushed or sprayed
on and has a life of ten years.
ROOF LEAKS
My PVCu conservatory roof leaks when it rains, have you thought of
a better system?
(JF, Hackney)
Our response: We have developed
a dry-glazed roof system that uses a specially designed rubber
gasket covering each roof member, which can withstand torrential
rain. It is simple and quick to install and requires only a Stanley
knife. The entire roof is well protected with aluminium rafter
cappings and lead flashing (where necessary). (See page 41 of our
conservatory manual).
AWKWARD MANHOLE
I have a manhole right in the middle of where I wish to place my
conservatory. What can I do about it?
(GT, Solihull)
Our response: It may be
expensive to move so you should consider fitting an airtight cover
over the top. You will not be able to place permanent flooring over
the cover as access may be needed in the future.
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