Step two: Building a conservatory on a firm foundation

As their second step, Hazlemere Conservatories ensure that every conservatory they build is done so on a good firm foundation. Consequently, after digging the footings for the foundations to the depth specified on the sectional drawings approved by South Bucks District Council’s planning department, Hazlemere’s ground team then fill the trenches with 450mm deep of concrete to provide a solid foundation for this new three faceted Victorian aluminium conservatory they are constructing for their client in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.

Again, the clients property (in this case the paved driveway, existing patio and grass lawn) is protected during transporting of the concrete from the vehicle on the main road, via wheelbarrows to fill up the carefully dug trenches.

The concrete conservatory foundations are then left to dry before the next stage, which the bricklayer will build the brick dwarf walls as per the scaled plans produced by Hazlemere Conservatories and signed off by the client prior to submission the the local planning authority.

Step one: Building an aluminium conservatory 1st steps

Hazlemere’s experienced ground crew excavated the soil with a specialist mini digger whilst protecting the clients patio and grass lawn. They then dug a soak-away at the new aluminium conservatory site in Beaconsfield, Bucks measuring 1 metre by 1 metre,  filling it with stones, then covered it with a plastic membrane before putting the original turf neatly back on top. Later, more drainage pipes will be fitted from the newly constructed aluminium Victorian conservatory gutters and downpipes to this soak-away to remove rainwater.

Hazlemere Conservatories go to great lengths to protect each clients driveway and lawn etc. First, they lay a thick plastic sheet down, then cover this with wooden boards, on-top of which they put the spoil, prior to it being taken away by a 25 ton grab lorry.

Building a conservatory from scratch in Bucks

There is an awful lot more to building a conservatory from scratch than buying a ready made kit from a DIY shop and tacking a lean to conservatory on the side of a house. Firstly, the new HIPS packs require all new Conservatories to have a Certificate of Proposed Lawful Development or an approved letter from the local authority granting Planning Permission. Without the correct legal documentation, adding a conservatory to your home may not add the value you would hope and expect!

Hazlemere Conservatories will not start building a conservatory until the appropriate paper work is in place, which not only ensures all the work we carry out will never need to be removed, but gives our clients peace of mind. Furthermore Hazlemere’s experienced staff deal with all the planning issues as part of the process, designing, drawing and submitting all the appropriate plans for each new conservatory. Local planning authorities also expect to see scaled sectional drawings for the foundations, as well as elevations etc.

Earlier in 2009, one of my neighbours ordered a Hazlemere conservatory, having seen sight of the drawings produced after a full site survey by Hazlemere’s in-house dedicated conservatory surveyor Philip Marsden. Phil takes detailed measurements, notes and photographs of each site, checking existing drains, floor levels etc. before finalising the design to be presented to the client for approval, prior to submission to the local council. Having obtained approval from my neighbour and secured an order, Phil heard in April 2009, as part of the service Hazlemere provides to each of it’s new conservatory customers, that Hazlemere Conservatories had been successful in obtaining a Certificate of Proposed Lawful Development to build a conservatory in Beaconsfield for my grateful neighbours.

My neighbours new conservatory was subsequently constructed of strong white aluminium, has a brick dwarf wall, includes French Doors and has a Pilkington Activ Blue Self Cleaning Glass double glazed roof. This three faceted Victorian style conservatory is unique in that my neighbour very kindly agreed to allow Hazlemere to film its construction from beginning to end.

Hazlemere started work on site by marking out the position of the conservatory from the scaled plans approved by South  Bucks District Council Planning Department. Once the site had been marked out the trenches were dug for the concrete conservatory foundations by Hazlemere Conservatories own ground-workers using the Hazlemere Group’s small mechanical digger.

Hazlemere kept a digital photographic and video record of each stage of building this aluminium Victorian conservatory from scratch, the plan then being to produce a short video documenting every step that you should take when building a conservatory. The conservatory project was completed in time to allow this Hazlemere conservatory customer to benefit from their new conservatory throughout the Summer.

High Wycombe Cricket Club sign up Hazlemere Windows

I am delighted that Hazlemere Windows have agreed to a new three year advertising package with High Wycombe Cricket Club at the Club’s London Road Cricket Ground in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. In effect, Hazlemere Window Company will now be supporting the Club financially until 31st May 2012.

The Hazlemere Group already have long term advertising deals with Burnham Football Club and Conference Centre at The Gore in Burnham, Bucks, and Beaconsfield Slough Youth Club Old Boys Football Club and Function Room at Holloways Park, on the Slough Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks (opposite the new motorway service station on junction two of the M40 motorway).

Hazlemere’s involvement with High Wycombe Cricket Club includes having two prominent advertising signs at the London Road Cricket Ground, along with a small advert in the entrance lobby to their bars and function suites. As with Beaconsfield FC and Burnham FC, High Wycombe Cricket Club have excellent facilities with  free off road parking, rooms that can be hired by individuals for wedding, parties and discos etc. or by businesses for conferences, sales meetings and Christmas parties etc.

Personally, I am delighted Hazlemere Windows have committed to supporting these well established local community institutions for the next 3 years and am certain that the members of these Clubs, along with the many visiting players, officials and general public who use their facilities will notice the level of support that the Hazlemere Group is giving to the local community. As a family owned and run business I know Hazlemere is delighted to be giving back to the community and region that has been supporting Hazlemere since 1985.