conservatory / lean-to replacement

[scoobydoo]

Help!

On the back of my 200 year old cottage, the previous owners have added a wooden white lean-to conservatory. It's been tastefully done and I want to keep it but, suprise(!) it leaks. Also, several of the glass panes are cracked / leaking etc. which, particularly considering it's a wooden frame is bad news.

So, I've got two options.

1. Replace the glass (lots of panes and big roof panes too) and repaint the whole thing. I've had estimates of about £3k, and I'm not convinced it will sort all the leaks / damp out.

2. Rip it down and replace it. Now, it mounts to the original back wall of the house, and there are two existing brick walls either side - so little work required there. There's a nice terracotta floor which I want to keep, and the 3ft high front wall is brick too so could be reused. I just need someone to sell me a structure that has the roof and front windows.

Any thoughts / recommendations on who would sell and install something like this? Everyone wants to build me a whole conservatory which I don't need - I've got my base, got my walls etc, I just need a new lean-to frame and windows and for someone to put it in for me. I don't want to spend an absolute fortune either - people want silly money for it.

It seems so hard for something that seems so simple!

Any advice / recommendations for people who could help me gratefully recieved. I'm in West Sussex if that helps.

 

[Raylea]

Hi there,

How many panes are cracked, what condition is the wood in, and where else in description does it leak, eg where the lean to meets wall.

If not to many cracked glass panes you could find a glass cutter and replace them yourself plus restore wood frames if they are not to far gone dig out rot, fill and paint. As to other leaks sort this out find out where it is coming maybe flashing (leadmate).

We had the same with a outhouse to the side of our house, replaced roof, rotten beams, replaced some glass and even replaced some wood to frame work (and we are not experts by any means).

Hope this helps
Raylea

 

[scoobydoo]

The wood seems solid, but on one of the corners the wall appears damp, and, having just leant on the windowsill and felt it give way, there must be some damp coming in (although the window above it has a lot of water in it).

6 out of 8 doubleglazed wooden units need replacing at the front, and on the roof, at least 4 of the 12 8x2 dbl glazed units need replacing.

Maybe replace the glass, dig out the rotton bits, fill and see?

 

[Raylea]

Yeah certainly go down the try to mend it myself route, I am a big believer in that and as long as you maintain say once a year, just possibly may save yourself a lot of money in the long run or until it can be afforded, if you have lots of other work also needed

Could you take a picture or two, not sure on the give way and damp on wall, has the water run of the wood of the windows like filtered its way down cracked wood if you get my meaning, or is it penetrating damp etc. All I know water in any form is destructive and a pain in ones back side

Still hope you come to a conclusion on what you think is best.
Raylea