New to the forum and I thought I'd kick things off with a very recently completed project, a timber conservatory. I learnt a few things along the way which I'd like share.
I wanted the design to be traditional, timber and classical although the window spacing would be more modern. Having looked at a number of examples (like Vale garden rooms), the construction seemed straightforward enough - essentially a number of windows connected by a sill and a ring beam with rafters on that.
Lacking in spindle moulder and heavy enough machinery to deal with the lengths of timber required, I found a company (Ilingworth Ingham) that made the window moulding profiles and would even machine up the cope and stick joints to measurements. It was then a case of assembling.
I ordered 1 large window which made up the 3m length, made up from two openers and one large middle non-opener, two side windows, a door and frame, and some lengths of sill. I made corner posts and tennoned them into the sill and a ring beam with half lap corners.
Here I'm also mocking up the overhang detail in ply for the ring beam/ fascia
Now on the plinth - more on that later, but the steel frame was a massive time and effort saver
It was all engineered redwood, which was great dimensionally although I had the door and sill made up in sapele.
As far as a service I thought the machining was good, and reasonable in cost. I would recommend it, especially as the window jambs etc are fairly hefty mouldings and I don't think I would have achieved the accuracy or at least the time spent wouldn't have been cost effective.
I wanted the design to be traditional, timber and classical although the window spacing would be more modern. Having looked at a number of examples (like Vale garden rooms), the construction seemed straightforward enough - essentially a number of windows connected by a sill and a ring beam with rafters on that.
Lacking in spindle moulder and heavy enough machinery to deal with the lengths of timber required, I found a company (Ilingworth Ingham) that made the window moulding profiles and would even machine up the cope and stick joints to measurements. It was then a case of assembling.
I ordered 1 large window which made up the 3m length, made up from two openers and one large middle non-opener, two side windows, a door and frame, and some lengths of sill. I made corner posts and tennoned them into the sill and a ring beam with half lap corners.
Here I'm also mocking up the overhang detail in ply for the ring beam/ fascia
Now on the plinth - more on that later, but the steel frame was a massive time and effort saver
It was all engineered redwood, which was great dimensionally although I had the door and sill made up in sapele.
As far as a service I thought the machining was good, and reasonable in cost. I would recommend it, especially as the window jambs etc are fairly hefty mouldings and I don't think I would have achieved the accuracy or at least the time spent wouldn't have been cost effective.
