Project Pictures - Converting a conservatory into a large orangery

Diary of a conservatory conversion to orangery project in West Sussex started in May 2018
First picture shows the conservatory as it was…. A lovely hardwood conservatory constructed 17 years previous and still in wonderful condition. The plastic roof was holed when parts of a chimney breast fell onto it so was replaced with glass roof. Nothing wrong with te conservatory but just too small to meet changed requirements (bigger family)

The existing conservatory was disassembled by an eager new owner (who responded to a local advertisement on Gumtree) to be reconstructed to continue life with them as a lesser summer house.

 

Customer concept drawings were competed so client could visualise his ideas. These were then translated into architect's drawings and plans for submission to structural surveys and authorities and to enable the orangery /extension to be designed and constructed.

 

After designs drawings and permissions construction began. First job was to remove the old conservatory and measure and dig suitable footings. It is always amazing how much rubble is collected when this stage is completed.
The basework was established and walls started.
Bricks carefully selected to match existing house bricks and .. most critcally .. the correct mortar mix established and used.
Outside brickwork was started and then inner block wall. Cavity walling was created and high quality cavity filler used.
The side windows were fitted and the walls built around them so they fitted perfectly.
Steels were lifted, fitted and welded into place (always disturbing for the house owner to see holes cut into his own house wall!)
Woodwork supporting commenced

The gully around each of the two orangery lanterns was constructed, insulated, boarded, fibre glassed and completed. Then the hard wood frame was erected that was prepainted Farrow and Ball Elephant's breath colour

 

The 2 hand crafted bespoke  prepainted hardwood orangery lanterns were fitted and then surrounded by quality coping stones. The glass in the windows and doors was fitted and work continues on inside. The orangery floor base was laid and then quality floor insulation applied to whole floor prior to screeding
 

The orangery / extension floor was fitted with wet under floor heating pipes routed to a manifold. Screeding was then laid on top of the under floor water heating pipes. The difficult to create but lovely to have curved windows were created

Wet underfloor heating installed and connected to the house heating system
Knock through from inside room to the orangery and connected via bifolding doors