Over the past few years, a lot of homeowners have decided to roll up their sleeves and build a conservatory with their own two hands. It’s not hard to see why: the rising cost of home improvement services have made hiring architects and installers unaffordable for many. There’s also the growing popularity of DIY kits, which provide everything you need to build a conservatory from scratch. Despite this, self-building a conservatory isn’t for everyone.

At Trade Price Warmer Living, our goal is to simplify the process of realising your dream conservatory. Below, we outline the three key questions you should ask yourself before reaching for a hammer and getting to work.

1. Are Your DIY Skills Up to Scratch?

Building a conservatory from the ground up requires a good understanding of carpentry and construction. You’ll need to measure, cut, and assemble a variety of components accurately, all while adhering to strict quality and safety standards. For this reason, it’s best to have some previous experience with construction before tackling a conservatory build on your own.

However, if you’re not confident in your DIY skills, there’s no rush to call an installation company just yet. A DIY kit could be the ideal middle ground – it includes everything you need to complete your build, all pre-cut and ready for assembly. You won’t have to worry about sourcing materials, cutting them to size, or planning the layout of your build, making the process far easier.

All of Trade Price Warmer Living’s self-build kits come with easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, making them accessible even for newcomers. We also offer comprehensive support at every step, so if you ever find yourself stuck or unsure about what to do next, we’re only ever a phone call away.

2. Do You Have Enough Time to Complete the Build?

Building a conservatory can eat up a lot of time – it usually takes installation teams anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks to complete the job. If you’re working on it alone, the time frame can be even longer (particularly if you’re working a full-time job on the side). That’s why it’s important to make sure you can dedicate enough time without neglecting your work or family responsibilities. The last thing you want is to run out of time and end up with a half-finished structure stuck to the back of your house!

DIY kits can solve this problem, for much the same reasons mentioned above. Since everything is pre-cut and the design is planned out beforehand, you won’t need to spend nearly as much time on the preparation stage. This allows you to reduce the timeframe from months to weeks, or even less!

Trade Price Warmer Living’s kits make the process even quicker by having support from Stroma, one of the UK’s leading building control agencies.* They have an in-house team exclusively focused on Warmer Roof installations, which means they can give approval much faster, saving you days of hassle. They’re also happy to offer guidance and support throughout the approval process.

*Remember to submit your application to Stroma before you start the installation process, as applications cannot be accepted once construction is underway. Please provide at least 5 days’ notice to process and register your application.

3. Can You Absorb Unexpected Costs?

If you’ve ever worked on your house or had renovations done, you’ll know that unexpected costs are par for the course. Whether it’s a sudden spike in material prices or struggling to find the right component at a fair rate, there always seems to be something adding a couple zeroes to the final bill. To account for this, you should be confident you have the money to cover any surprises before you kick off the project.

Another perk of choosing a DIY kit is the fixed costs. You get all the necessary components from one supplier upfront, so you won’t have to chase down that last piece at an inflated price. It’s all there, ready to go when you are!

And with a Trade Price Warmer Living kit, you won’t need to fret about unexpected costs later on either. It comes with a 10-year guarantee, giving you peace of mind that you won’t have to shell out for repairs or replacements should an issue arise.