Used Conservatory

Buying a used conservatory may not sound like a great idea at first, but due to the global meltdown it’s become far more popular than every before. As with every second hand purchase, there are often compromises that need to be made but these are far outweighed by some of the benefits of purchasing a used conservatory. If your looking to buy a used conservatory then this article is for you. It discusses all the pro’s and con’s and also gives you some tips on what to look out for when completing your purchase. Despite being second-hand, used conservatories are still a substantial amount of money, by reading this article you can help ensure that it is money well spent.

Advantages of Used Conservatories

Costs – Used conservatories can often be purchased for a lot less than the cost of brand new conservatory and this is one of the primary motivators for purchasing one. There’s no absolute figure regarding the amount you should pay for a used conservatory as it depends on many factors such as it’s age and condition, but a good rule of thumb is that you should expect to pay between 40%- 60% of the as new purchase price

Environment – Used conservatories have also risen in popularity in recent years because they are seen as taking the ‘green’ option. There are a lot of natural resources involved in making a conservatory, so it’s far better use of materials if you recycle an old conservatory rather than making a new one. This also means that less used conservatories are disposed of in landfill sites.

Weathered – For period properties, used conservatories are ideal. Wooden structures are particularly favoured as the have been exposed to the elements for a number of years so look weathered, which is in keeping with the rest of the house. In some cases, a used conservatory such as this could even command a premium over a brand new conservatory.

Disadvantages of Used Conservatories

Transportation – Transporting the user conservatory from it’s original position to it’s new resting site is a complicated business which will require skilled labour. The whole structure will need to be dismantled piece by piece and clearly labelled so it can be put back together with relative ease. All the pieces will then need to be carefully packed into a large van or lorry and then driven to the new location. Care must be taken to ensure the glass is packed in plenty of packing to reduce the chance of it breaking. Glass is very expensive to replace so must be treated with utmost care.

Style – The selection of used conservatories on the available will be far less than the number that could be purchased new from a conservatory showroom. As a result, it may not always be possible to find a conservatory that exactly matches the style of your home as quickly as you want, but if you persevere a suitable style will eventually turn up.

Cleanliness – As a used conservatory will have been exposed to the sun, wind and rain for a number of years it is more than likely to be a little bit dirty. It shouldn’t be anything major, nothing that some old fashioned elbow grease couldn’t fix, but it’s still a bit of a pain.

Tips on buying a Used Conservatory

As I mentioned early, buying a used conservatory can be expensive, but if you follow the tips below you can help ensure that the money is spent wisely.

Measure it properly – it may sound obvious but I’m still hear stories of people purchasing a second hand conservatory, spending lots of time and money transporting it only to find it doesn’t fit in their garden. If your in any doubt then get a second opinion as it could save you a lot of money in the long run.

Make sure the style matches your house – Just because you don’t find the style of used conservatory as soon as you start looking doesn’t mean that you buy the next best thing regardless of how well it suits your house. Conservatories last for over 30 years so you need to ensure you get a style that you like.

Transportation/Don’t smash any glass (most expensive bit) – Glass is by far the most expensive part of a used conservatory, so make sure you take good care of it when your transporting it. It can also be dangerous so make sure you wear thick gloves if carrying it yourself.