Conservatory Build and Supply companies and warranties

Conservatory supply and build companies

Building a conservatory – Windows
The replacement window industry was, and to some extent still is, haunted by cowboy companies who change their names as frequently as they change peoples windows. The industry was totally unregulated until 2002,when the work was introduced in some aspects to the building regulations of Companies can self certify their work if they belong to FENSA, but this does nt extend conservatories, which remain largely exempt from control of any kind in England and Wales.

Some of the cowboys, have moved in from replacement windows. You can find some protection against them with a few simple measures. Look for companies building a conservatory and check their work. Check with neigbours, friends, colleagues and relatives who have had a conservatory built, to see if they can recommend a firm.

The Conservatory Association and Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) are trade bodies that seek to regulated their members and achieve higher standards in the industry. To some extent they have been successful, particulary the GGF, which has virtually created a self-regulating industry from its members in respect of the supply and fitting of glass. Their rules regulate the British Regulation reguirements and British Standard advice, and they have tended to precede the introduction of the former, at least in respect of safety glass and insulation.

Certification, FENSA and Building Control

The FENSA (Fenestration Self Assessment Scheme) system was created in April 2002, when Building Regulations were amended to include this work ? rather than late in the day, since it had been employing unregulated growth (over 2,000,000 installations a year) for the previous 20 years.

To avoid the prospect of having every window replaced in the country inspected by council Building Control Officers, the industry brought in FENSA scheme as a self-certification system by which is could regulate itself and avoid having to make applications for building regulation approval.

FENSA inspectors do carry out the odd spot check on their members work to see if they are complying with the regulations.

Some installers are also able to offer you insurance before they start the job. This takes the form of a money-back warranty if they cease to trade or if there are defects with materials or the workmanship. Since the warranty should be independent, its worth taking it out if you can afford to.

Pay by credit card
If they then goes out of business before starting to work, the Act should allow you to recover the payment.If the contractor doesn’t have a credit card scheme, you might ask for a deposit indemnity. If it’s a limited company, its directors should be able to provide it and if not the proprietor should.
You should have been given a copy of the agreement, which sets out your rights to cancel it, and you should receive a second copy in the post at a later stage. Be warned however that the time limits in which to do so are quite tight.

Installer Warranties
Installers who belong to trade federations such as GGF or FENSA advertise the fact as a symbol of their professionalism or quality of work. You should be aware of that all such groups exist to represent the interest of their members. Not all companies advertise honestly in fact a report released in 1996 suggested that 13-22per cent of all building firms made false declarations about membership of trade associations.

When you check to see if they can offer a warranty for their work that guarantees you ? normally for a period of up to 10 years from the date of completion ? against financial defects with inferior workmanship or materials, and against the event of the contractor becoming insolvent, or dying, before finishing the work.