FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

No. You won’t have any issues with temperature control as our living spaces are designed to provide year-round comfort. It would be hugely frustrating when an old polycarbonate roof would cause a conservatory to feel like a greenhouse in summer. It could be worth using solar control glazing as that will assure you of a living space that provides the perfect feel. A tiled roof is another option.

Yes, we do. James Oliver is part of the Conservatory Outlet Network and its sister company, Conservatory Outlet, is one of the country’s leading roof manufacturers. Every roof in our range is built at Conservatory Outlet’s advanced manufacturing facility in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

By having such a close relationship with our roof manufacturer, it enables us to keep close control over our supply chain and check that the products that are rolled off the production line are of a sufficient standard.

You are permitted to do that. We offer a wide range of shingle and slate roof tile options, and you can also match the roof tiles to the existing roof tiles on your home. Various flat roof membranes are also available. To get further detail about roof tiles, speak to a James Oliver advisor.

That’s what we’re here for! At present, an ‘A’ rated window in the most energy efficient window you can get in the UK, as defined by the BFRC Rating Scheme. All replacement windows are labelled so that you can identify the standard of thermal efficiency that they provide.

Most ‘white’ goods, such as fridges, freezers and washing machines, are energy rated, and replacement windows are no different, using a similar consumer-friendly traffic system, rated from A-E. Knowing the Window Energy Rating of a design helps you get a full understanding of what you’re getting.

There is a special coating on solar control glazing that stops excess heat from being transported into your living space and retains the heat generated inside the structure. We offer solar control glazing in a series of tints, with each tint providing a different degree of light transmission and heat retention. Any of our advisors will be able to go into more depth about solar control glazing.

We have strong connections with several local brick merchants, so we should be capable of finding a close brick match. It’s important to know that there may be weathering and manufacturing differences between new and old bricks. If we experience any difficulty locating a suitable brick match, your new brickwork can always be tinted to make it match, but this will incur an additional charge.

In most cases, you need Building Regulations Approval to extend a house. Certain classes of extension don’t require it. Either way, one of our surveyors, who will know all about planning and building regulations, will clarify matters, coming out to your home to take measurements and photographs. In the event of Building Regulations Approval being necessary, James Oliver will approach your local authority to get this organised.

If your extension fulfils the relevant limits and conditions to be classed as a Permitted Development, no planning application will be necessary. The limits and conditions are as follows:

• The ground area covered by the extension and any other buildings within the boundary of the property, excluding the original house, is not more than half the total area of the property.
• Any part of the extension is not higher than the highest part of the roof of the existing house.
• The eaves of the extension are not higher than the eaves of the existing house.
• Any part of the extension does not extend beyond any wall facing a road if it forms the principal or side elevation of the original house.
• The eaves are no more than 3 metres in height if any part of the extension is within 2 metres of the property boundary.
• The materials used in exterior work, except in the case of a conservatory, are of similar appearance to the existing house.
• An upper floor window on a side elevation within 15 metres of a boundary with another house is obscure glazed; and is non – opening unless the parts which can be opened are more than 1.7 metres above the floor of the room in which the window is installed.
• A side extension does not exceed 4 metres in height or be wider than half the width of the original house.
• In a single storey extension
  • the extension does not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 4 metres for a detached house or 3 metres for any other type of house;
  • the height of the extension does not exceed 4 metres;
  • no part of the extension is within 3.5 metres of any property boundary with a road opposite the rear wall of the house.
• In an extension with more than one storey
  • the extension does not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 3 metres;
  • no part of the extension is within 7 metres of the property boundary opposite the rear wall of the house;
  • the roof pitch of the enlargement is as far as practicable the same as that of the original house.
• If you live in a house within a conservation area, World Heritage Site, area of outstanding natural beauty or National Park-
  • no part of the exterior of the house is clad with stone, artificial stone, pebbledash, render, timber, plastic or tiles;
  • the extension is not more than 1 storey or 4 metres in height;
  • no part of the extension extends beyond a principal or side elevation of the original house

It’s extremely hard to give you an exact estimate as it all depends on how complex the project is and whether you will need planning permission beforehand. Our ‘What happens next’ guide will give you more information about the whole building process.

We conduct a test dig to determine if the local ground conditions are suitable enough to take a traditional concrete base and the foundations are sound. If we find that the ground is unsuitable, we will suggest an alternative foundation proposal such as a specialist pile foundation or concrete raft.

A cavity tray is a series of high-level damp-proof courses that bridge a wall cavity to direct moisture to the external face of a wall where the extension roof joins the house wall. Its main purpose is to prevent any moisture that penetrates an outdoor wall from becoming visible inside the extension.

Yes. To make life easy for you, James Oliver can arrange a variety of affordable and convenient easy payment finance options (subject to application & status). Applying for finance is simple and we promise you a quick decision. Everything can be sorted out with you in the comfort of your home or at your local James Oliver Showroom, so you can enjoy whatever you’ve set your heart on right away.

If you’re arranging your own finance, you’ll need to call us as soon as you get the go ahead. If you’re taking up one of our offers, the company will tell us both directly, so there’s no need to call as we will get in touch with you.

Finance companies can turn down people for lots of reasons, for example if you’ve moved several times over the past few years. In these circumstances, we always do our best to help and sometimes it’s worth trying another provider, especially if they know you.

Sometimes our finance company will say ‘yes’ almost immediately and on other occasions it may take them a few days. This short delay can be for any number of reasons and you should not be unduly concerned.