conservatory

**chels55** · 12-09-2010, 09:18 AM

i have woken up this morning and have decided this house is way too small for my growing family and childminding! How many use a consevatory for minding and if you don't mind me being really cheeky

how much did you pay for it with fitting

**little miss chatterbox** · 12-09-2010, 09:33 AM

i use my conservatory for minding. I think it cost around £11k but it is very big!!!! Friends have had them smaller for around £6-7k

**sarah707** · 12-09-2010, 09:38 AM

I have a conservatory which I use for childminding.

It is not huge but it gives me an extra room and stores all the resources, has a table, floor space for the children etc.

I cannot remember how much it cost but I know it is worth every single penny.

Things I could not do without include a wooden floor (so easy to clean) and good heating in winter / big fan in summer.

I also have special glass in the roof to stop it boiling in there.

I hope you decide to get one!

**Hebs** · 12-09-2010, 09:53 AM

i want one, under 4m square so dont need planning permission

maybe by summer?? who knows

**karensmart4** · 12-09-2010, 10:56 AM

I have one, I measured it this morning because I need new flooring, its 3mtrs x 4 mtres.

I have a small sink fitted - shelving all down one wall - a playhouse with cooker etc down another wall and a baby changing unit.

I have a table and chairs that the reception class gave me when they bought new for school.

The glass is decorated with posters and multi cultral stickers and I have butterflies etc that the children have made hanging off hooks on the ceiling.

I have a radiator and a wall mounted electric heater to keep it warm in the winter and a fan to keep it cool in the summer.

My conservatory was cheap because my neighbour had a window/conservatory business and he made it out of mis-measured pieces he had in the factory..... £2000

I couldn't do without mine, I use my lounge for quiet time/ sleeping and have a visual/audio monitor into the playroom (Conservatory) so I can watch/listen babies that are having their nap

**Chimps Childminding** · 12-09-2010, 12:06 PM

I would love one, but need to save some pennies

**sonia ann** · 12-09-2010, 12:23 PM

we had one put on 18mths ago and it was the best thing we ever did

we chose the biggest we could within the confines of our garden and it is 5mx4m.....but because our garden is on a slope the foundations needing building up and there was a lot of brick work involved so in total we paid £20,000

**tashaleee** · 12-09-2010, 12:30 PM

we just had ours done this year and definitely dont regret it! You need to check out what your area sais as building regs may differ but ours is 'just inside' the size where you dont need planning permission. Conservatory is 3m x 9m - price wise we only had a builder to do the concrete base and DH did the labouring and footings for him and then actually built the conservatory himself so our prices wouldnt help you much - I think from memory when we had companies come out to price it then it was about £15k ish upwards (but obviously by DIY it was a lot less....)

Downside is our garden is south facing so heat was an issue - we put heat reflective strips into each roof panel (time consuming, boring and sore hands!) but definitely worth it and it works

We also have window blinds and the doors open full back on themselves (great for safety and for extra breeze)

Any other questions feel free to ask on here or PM

**juejue** · 12-09-2010, 01:02 PM

I would of loved a conservatory, but I have a summer house. The mindees love it.
We call it the Boogie House

It work out cheaper than a conservatory.

**Tribe_mummy** · 12-09-2010, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by juejue

I would of loved a conservatory, but I have a summer house. The mindees love it.
We call it the Boogie House

It work out cheaper than a conservatory.

Wow this a fab idea, I was gutted about not being able to have a conservatory as we rent privately but one of these at the bottom of the garden would be fantastic!!

**juejue** · 12-09-2010, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by Tribe_mummy

Wow this a fab idea, I was gutted about not being able to have a conservatory as we rent privately but one of these at the bottom of the garden would be fantastic!!

we added a Fun Pit to it, has the water and sand play in it and keeps the sun of the mindees.
Some times its a house-school-police/fire station what ever the children want it to be.

They love it..... can use the path if it is raining

x

**naartjies** · 12-09-2010, 02:47 PM

juejue how do you keep your summer house warm in winter and is it very easy to use in adverse weather? It looks like a child's idea of heaven.

**Tribe_mummy** · 12-09-2010, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by juejue

we added a Fun Pit to it, has the water and sand play in it and keeps the sun of the mindees.
Some times its a house-school-police/fire station what ever the children want it to be.

They love it..... can use the path if it is raining

x

I love it and I WANT ONE NOW!!

**little miss chatterbox** · 12-09-2010, 03:04 PM

sonia ann - where did you get your bookstand from?? It's exactly what I need!

I wouldn't be without mine, the only problem I find with it is the cold and damp in the winter but I have an extra radiator in there now so am hoping that will help!

**sonia ann** · 12-09-2010, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by little miss chatterbox

sonia ann - where did you get your bookstand from?? It's exactly what I need!

http://www.alphabeteducation.co.uk/b...d/prod_33.html

It was one of the cheapest I found

..free delivery as well

**little miss chatterbox** · 12-09-2010, 06:34 PM

ooooooh I love you! Thank you!

**juejue** · 12-09-2010, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by naartjies

juejue how do you keep your summer house warm in winter and is it very easy to use in adverse weather? It looks like a child's idea of heaven.

Hubby put electric in it for us ( wire is in white tubes round the garden) we have a shelve high up with a heater, fan, light and cd player on.......fan for the summer when it is hot and to be honest when we are all in there it gets pretty warm with the doors n windows closed.
By the time it gets dark we are all inside watching tv having quiet time waiting for parents to arrive.
Its lovely at xmas time we have a xmas tree outside with the lights on and a snow man.
We are not in there all day ....we do things in the house or we are out n about.
But the mindees do love it and I love it in the summer.....I have a toy free house.

Done a risk assessment on it and I would recommend one to you

x