PJR have been established since 1994.

PJR give a full 10 year guarantee which covers not only materials, but workmanship as well.

On April 1st 2002, the government introduced part L, amending the building regulations to include replacement windows and doors, ensuring they meet tough new thermal performance standards. When the time comes to sell your property, your purchasers solicitors will ask for evidence that any replacement glazing installed since April 2002 complies with building regulations. There are currently two ways to provide compliance:-

1. A certificate showing that the work has been done by an installer who is registered with FENSA or a similar body

2. A certificate from the local authority building control stating that the installation has been approved under the building regulations.

Any installation undertaken by a company which is not registered with FENSA or a similar body, or has been done as a DIY project by a homeowner, will need full local authority building control approval. All local authorities will know of the registered businesses in their areas and can identify unauthorised work very easily. It should be noted that the homeowner is ultimately responsible for ensuring the installation complies with these requirements.

Before you sign a contract to buy any replacement glazing, be sure to ask whether the installer is able to self-certify. If not, an application to local authority building control for approval under the building regulations will need to be made by either the installer or the homeowner. It is likely there will be associated charges with this.

PJR are a FENSA registered company and on completion of any replacement window contract you will be issued with a FENSA certificate showing the installation complies with building regulations. You will need this certificate should you decide to sell your property at any time.

Sometimes YES sometimes NO.

Specific Planning permission is not normally required if the following guidelines are met:

• A detached or semi-detached dwelling may be extended without planning permission (subject to the following conditions) by up to 70 cubic metres, or 15% of the volume of the original house, whichever is the greater (to the maximum of 115m3)
• A terraced house (or a house in a National Park, an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a conservation area or other specifically designated area) may be extended by up to 50m3 or 10% of the volume of the house.
• The property has NOT had its permitted development rights withdrawn.
• The overall height of the conservatory must not exceed 4m when the conservatory is less than 2m from a boundary. The height of the conservatory may equal the height of the house above original ground level.
• The conservatory must be used for domestic purposes.
• No part of the conservatory should be closer to the highway than the nearest part of the original house, unless there would be at least 20m between the house (as extended) and the highway.

Planning permission is required if:

• The property has had its permitted development rights withdrawn.
• The proposed conservatory is on any wall fronting the highway. (“highway” includes all public roads, footpaths, bridleways and byways) This may include the side or rear of the property.
• The property is a listed building or in a conservation area
• The property is non residential or anything other than a single dwelling. Flats and apartments always need planning permission.
• The conservatory is higher than any part of the original building.
• The conservatory and other additions to the original house exceed 50% of the total area of the garden within the boundaries of the property.
• Eaves, Fascias, foundations or guttering encroach over the boundaries of the property.

For Building Regulation Requirements, here’s a quick summary of the basic facts:

In England and Wales, Building Regulations are not required as long as the conservatory in question….

• Has a roof made of least 75% transparent or translucent material
• Has at least 50% glazed walls (i.e., no more than half of the wall area should be brickwork masonry or solid panels
• Has a floor area of no more than 30 square metres
• Is at ground level
• Is permanently separated from the rest of the house by an exterior quality lockable door
• Has thermostatically controlled heating
• Is not being attached to a listed building
• Does not contain sanitary or drainage facilities (one of the likeliest reasons for a conservatory requiring Building Regulation approval is that all or part of it is being used as a kitchen)
• Satisfies the Building Regulations with regard to toughened or safety glass
• Please note that requirements in Scotland and to a lesser extent, Northern Ireland are different to those in England and Wales.

We suggest that you contact one of our knowledgeable surveyors or your Local Authority for more information. PJR have produced these notes as a general guideline. For the avoidance of doubt, please consult your Local Authority Planning Department and Building Control Department for specific requirements in your area for your proposed build.