The Double Glazing and Conservatory Ombudsman (DGCOS) has launched its new installer guide to building a conservatory. The guidance document has been published to ensure best practice among installers, from start to finish, DGCOS representatives have said.
Faisal Hussain, chief executive of the DGCOS, said: “The installer guide covers everything from defining what a conservatory is – which might sound obvious but actually isn’t always – to excavations, foundations, drainage and building the structure, including issues that all installers should consider from the beginning. The aim of the guide is to help installers be aware of potential areas where issues may arise, in order to construct a quality build that does not require come backs due to errors in any part of the planning or building process.
“The guide also explains best practice in terms of assessing a potential site before starting any groundworks (to ensure foundations will be the correct depth), the strata the builder is likely to encounter, and whether there are any trees or drains in the area which may be an issue. There is a section on excavations, giving advice on how to deal with different soil types, plus other things to look out for, such as circumstances under which a structural engineer should be engaged, as well as a dedicated section on getting the foundations right.
“The report also deals with the substructure, addressing topics such as damp proofing and building the superstructure itself. The final section addresses drainage in relation to roof run off, gutters, outlet pipes and soak ways.
“The guide is an invaluable start for anyone involved in building conservatories. But there are also useful links to external bodies that can provide further detailed information, such as the government website for information about the Party Wall Act 1996 and Approved Document A, Citizens Advice for guidance on drains and sewers, and links to local authority building control departments. There is support within the support!
“At DGCOS, we are fully committed to ensuring all of our members have access to support and documentation that raises standards in our industry. We hope that this latest installer guide will help our installers avoid some of the pitfalls seen in our industry in the past.”
