Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the most commonly asked questions about Mitchel Glass's Sunrooms - simply click on the questions listed below to reveal the answers.

If you have a question about our Sunrooms not shown below, please contact us online or you can call us free on 0800 220 415 - our advice is free and without any obligation to buy.

• Is an orangery or sunroom a lot more expensive than a conservatory?

  There is more work during the build process for our unique orangeries or sunrooms, so they are a little bit more expensive than a typical conservatory. For example, there is more building work required, joinery for the internal lighting pelmet, lighting and plastering.  However, our orangeries and sunrooms are designed to be a far more cost effective solution than what many other double glazing companies supply.

• What is the difference between conservatories and orangeries or sunrooms?

  The principal difference between an orangery or sunroom and a conservatory is that there is less glass and frames used in the construction of the orangery or sunroom than the conservatory. A conservatory in it’s typical form, primarily consists of fully glazed frames and a translucent roof glazed with either polycarbonate or double glazed glass. Many conservatories are built on a brick dwarf wall with full height brick walls to one or more elevations. The modern orangery and sunroom tends to resemble a structure that is half conservatory and half brick built extension. One reason why people choose an orangery or sunroom is that the greater use of brick and less glass provides a greater sense of privacy and is often designed to provide the owners with an extra room - a kitchen or living room for example.

• How long are your orangeries & sunrooms guaranteed for?

  All our orangeries and sunrooms are guaranteed for 10 years.

• What types of flooring do you offer for orangeries and sunrooms?

  Weoffer a great range of flooring options for your new orangery or sunroom - ranging from Ceramic Floor Tiles, Laminate Flooring, Wooden & Timber Floors - visit our Showroom to view our vast range of tiles.

• What types of roofs do you offer?

  We supply both glass and polycarbonate roofs to suit your individual requirements. Our glass roofs are solar controlled for maximum comfort in the summer and winter months.

• When will your sales advisors be able to visit my home?

  Our sales advisors (design consultants) are able to visit you whenever your available including weekends and evenings at a time that suits you.

  You can book a home visit usually within 24 hours by calling 0800 220 415.

  Or if you prefer you can book a free design consultation online. Simply take a moment entering the details on our 'Appointment Booking Form'. We will then contact you to arrange a visit to your home or in our Showroom.

• How long will the visit from your designer take?

  We usually advise at least 1 hour for the designer to take down all measurements and to discuss the various design options available to you.

• Can you design a style of orangery or sunroom to suit my house?

  Yes,  every one of our orangeries and sunrooms are designed to suit you and your home and can be personalised with a host of accessories, design features both inside and out. Our orangeries and sunrooms are created using the very latest computer design software (CAD) to compliment every home in a range of colours ranging from white to natural looking woodgrain finishes.

• Are Mitchell Glass FENSA Registered?

  Yes, Mitchell Glass are FENSA registered number: 22655 for all window and door installations. Please Note: FENSA is not required for orangeries or sunrooms.

• Do we need Planning Permission for a new orangery or sunroom?

  Under new regulations that came into effect from 1 October 2008 adding a orangery or sunroom to your home is considered to be permitted development. In most cases you will not require planning permission for your orangery under the present legislation, unless you are adding a orangery or sunroom to a house that has already been extended. 

• We have an odd shaped garden that slopes from the house, can we still have a orangery or sunroom?

  Yes - we probably can fit a tailor-made orangery or sunroom on sloping ground or awkward shaped gardens, there's always a solution and we can come up with several options for you to choose from. We suggest you speak to one of our sales consultants to discuss your own requirements fully.

  You can arrange a home or showroom appointment with our experience sales consultants by visiting our Free No-obligation Appointment form.

• Our neighbours are not particularly friendly, can we protect our privacy in our orangery or sunroom?

  Orangeries and Sunrooms can be made private by the thoughtful use of obscure glass or perfect fit blinds on the windows. We can even design your new orangery or sunroom to feature a solid wall on one side giving you total privacy.

  We suggest you speak to one of our sales consultants to discuss your requirements fully.

• Do I need ventilation in my orangery or sunroom?

  Yes your orangery or sunroom will need to be ventilated. We will take care of this during the design process.

• Will your builders be at our house every day?

  No. We have planned to build your orangery or sunroom base over about 10 days. We’ve also included some ‘contingency’ time so if anything unexpected crops up - like bad weather, we can deal with it without affecting the date we’ve promised to fit the windows, doors and roof.

• Can you give us a definite time for arriving on the first day?

  Unfortunately building is unpredictable, not least because we’re at the mercy of the British weather. However, our forward planning does mean delays are rare – but should the worst come to the worst, we’ll always keep you fully up-to-date.

• I can’t be there when the builders arrive. What do I need to do and what do you need?

  Please call us and we will make all the arrangements before the day – our builders will need power, water and of course access to your garden, plus on some days to your home, if we are creating a new opening for your orangery or sunroom.

• Will you move my satellite cables?

  No, items like these need to be moved by specialists so you will need to arrange this yourself with the relevant company. The same applies to alarms, aerials, telephone wires, and sockets.

• When will the plasterer and other trades arrive?

  They will know the date the roof is going on and will probably already have made an arrangement with you. If not, they will contact you directly.

• What finish will I get to my floor?

  The standard is trowel finished concrete, which will occasionally be peppered if it rained when freshly laid. This is fine for ceramic tiling, but if you are planning on a smooth flat floor, such as Amtico or Karndean, your flooring company will need to lay a levelling compound.

• How long will it take to fit the windows and roof?

  Usually only a day, if your orangery or sunroom is not too large or complex. Generally, sunrooms over 15 square metres in area will take a little longer. We’ll let you know well in advance how long it will take.

• What about the electrician and plumber? When will they finish off in my orangery or sunroom?

  We will notify other tradesmen of the building dates. They will contact you directly to make arrangements to visit so there is no need to contact them or us, unless you anticipate a problem, in which case, please call your dedicated project co-ordinator.

• Won’t my home be vulnerable before the orangery or sunroom is completed?

  No, if we are creating a new opening for your new orangery or sunroom, we will always make sure it is securely boarded up so your home will be safe. If you've already got patio doors or French doors, they can be kept locked as usual.

• Will there be a lot of dust?

  Compared with most building projects, No. However, if we need to knock through from the outside into your home, some dust and debris will result. Many people like to protect flooring with tough plastic and cover furnishings with dustsheets, as well as take down curtains. We recommend you do the same.

• Will you keep plants and paving currently on the area were my orangery or sunroom is planned to be built?

  Yes, but please either move them safely out of the way before we arrive or let us know what you want to keep the very first day. Otherwise if you don’t move it yourself, we won’t know what’s for the skip and what’s not. Please bear in mind that we’re builders, not gardeners so you might like to move precious plants yourself!

• Afterwards, will my orangery or sunroom be ready to use?

  Probably not, as there may be work to finish off. If this is the case, the fitters will go through a Quality Plan with you. Your orangery or sunroom may also need plastering, tiling and the electrics and plumbing finishing off.

• Do we need to take time off work?

  Not necessarily, but if you are not planning to be at home, you need to make arrangements for power and water to be available.

• What sort of things might need finishing in my orangery or sunroom?

  Quite often, nothing at all – other than your own plans for decoration. But sometimes we will have to wait for the plaster to dry before fitting skirting, for example. Other trades may need to finish up and your choice of flooring will need to be laid on top of the concrete.

• I’m delighted with my new purchase. Do you have a recommend and reward scheme?

  We do. You can earn cash for every recommend you make and your friends and family will benefit too. On completion of your new orangery we will send you all details on how you can earn cash for every person you recommend that results in a new installation by Mitchell Glass.