FAQ

What door sizes are available?

Any door from T&K comes completely bespoke. Therefore, there are no standard sizes of door available. A member of our expert team will come out and perform a survey of your home, taking into account your specific requirements to work out the size of the door(s) that you need.

What materials are used to construct doors?

Doors from T&K are available in four different materials: uPVC, aluminium, timber and composite doors. You can follow the highlighted links to learn more about each material. Although none is better than the other, each material has its own particular strengths. They also differ in appearance so you might find you’re more attracted to the one that suits your home’s unique styling.

What types of door are available?

Here at T&K, there are a number of different types of door to choose from to suit a variety of purposes. Select from:

Entrance doors - available in uPVC, aluminium, timber and composite
French doors – available in uPVC and timber
Patio doors – available in uPVC, aluminium and timber
Tilt & slide doors – available in timber
Bifold doors – available in aluminium and timber

Is Secured by Design accreditation available?

Yes, a number of our door options are available with Secured by Design accreditation. To name one example, our composite doors are available with it. For a full list of door options that are available with this accreditation, feel free to get in touch with the T&K team. The specific security hardware that’s in use will vary depending on the type of door, although we always use advanced multi-point locking systems, securing the door to the frame in multiple positions. This makes it very difficult for a would-be intruder to find a weak area of the door that can be exploited to gain entry to your home.

What is the process for buying a door?

After getting in touch with us and outlining the details of your proposed door, we’ll arrange a time to pay you a visit and work through the finer details, before providing you with a free no-obligation quote.

Next, we’ll send one of our surveyors to take the exact specifications for the door(s). This ensures that the new door or doors will be the perfect fit your home.

We then install the door(s) in a professional and courteous manner, keeping your home clean and tidy whilst minimising any disruption to your everyday life.

Once the installation has been completed, every door is then guaranteed for 10 years and our customers are granted access to our devoted aftercare service.

What colours are doors available in?

No matter what type of door or material you opt for, there’s a huge number of colour options available to suit your home. They range from the incredibly faint to the ultra-loud, encompassing every colour of the rainbow. On many of our doors, you can also opt for dual colours. This is where you have different colours for the internal and external part of the door, ensuring for a seamless match with every part of your home.

What glass designs are there to choose from with doors?

There is a huge number of glazing options that T&K’s range of doors can be equipped with. This includes privacy increasing options like Chantilly or Contora style glass. You can find an extensive list of designs in the glass options section on our contemporary composite doors page. Within the same section of our aluminium entrance doors page is some alternative choice of glass.

What opening options are available for doors?

This will depend on the chosen door. For instance, bi-fold doors are folded to one side to open in a concertina style and sliding patio doors slide to the left or right. For most of our other doors, there’s the option for them to open inwards or outwards. We work with you, taking into account your needs to determine which opening option is the best for your home. However, entrance doors do not usually open outwards because this will involve placing the hinges outside your home, which is a potential security risk.

What furniture options are available with doors?

The handle is one area of our doors that can be customised, regardless of the type of the door. Select from a variety of finishes for them too, like gold, chrome, black and white. Additionally, letterplates, spyholes, and safety chains are available. T&K can also fit a cat flap if you’re opting for a solid panel door.

Are there threshold options to suit all access requirements?

Yes, there is. T&K has four different threshold options to choose from, including an ultra-low option, which allows for wheelchair access if required.

How long does it take to build a conservatory?

There is no exact amount of time for how long it takes for a conservatory to be built. This is because every conservatory is bespoke and constructed to specific customer requirements. That being said, average size conservatories tend to take between three and four weeks whilst larger ones can take up to six weeks to build.

Does a conservatory need building regulations?

Usually, conservatories are exempt from building regulations, however this is only if they meet the following criteria:
• The conservatory is less than 30m2 in floor area and is built at ground level
• It’s separated from the house by external quality walls, doors or windows
• It has an independent heating system that has separate temperature and on/off controls
• The glazing and any fixed electrics are compliant with the relevant building regulations

Otherwise, conservatory building regulations must be met.

How large can a conservatory be without planning permission?

Conservatories or other single-storey extensions can be a maximum of 4 metres in height. However, if the conservatory is within 2 metres of a boundary, the maximum height allowed is 3 meters. The conservatory must also not cover more than 50% of the size of the existing house. For a full look at planning permission for conservatories, check out our guide using the link below.

Do you need planning permission to put a tiled roof on a conservatory?

Previously, a certain percentage of a conservatory’s roof had to be translucent in order be exempt from planning permission. This means that newly built tiled roof conservatories can usually be built without planning permission, provided they meet the correct criteria. However, when replacing the glass roof on an existing conservatory with a tiled one, Building Regulatory Approval will be required. Planning permission might also be required because this is classed as ‘change of use’. However, when hiring T&K for a conservatory roof replacement, we will take care of all of this for you. For further guidance, use the link below.

Can you add glazing to a solid roof conservatory?

Yes, this is possible. Full length glazing panels and/or rooflights can be fitted into a solid roof. This means you needn’t sacrifice too much natural light when opting for a tiled roof, allowing you to illuminate specific areas of your conservatory also.

What is the best conservatory roof?

Which conservatory roof is right for you will depend on what you’re looking to get out of your conservatory. The three most common conservatory roofing types are glass, tiled and polycarbonate. To separate them in simple terms, glass leads the way in terms of illuminating your conservatory, tiled roofs provide the most insulation and polycarbonate roofs are the cheapest. We have a conservatory roof guide available for a more in-depth look at this issue.

Can conservatories be built over a drain?

It is possible to build a conservatory over a drain. However, if the manhole is too close to the strip footing, the T&K team may have to move it somewhere else. Even if the drain is within the floor area of the conservatory, we’re able to raise and seal it, provided it’s at least 400mm away from the strip footing. Any drains will be securely sealed to prevent any odours from escaping.

How deep do conservatory foundations need to be?

There is no exact amount for this, however foundations are usually between 650mm and 1000mm in depth. Foundation depth is affected by a number of variables, including the condition of the ground and the number of trees close by. Also, if any drains are nearby, the bottom of the foundations must be at least as deep as the floor level of the drain(s).

Can conservatories be built on a slope?

T&K Home Improvements is able to build a conservatory on ground that slopes. Once we’ve laid the foundations for the conservatory, we can add steps or a slope so you’re able to access it.

How long will a conservatory last?

Provided you take good care of the conservatory, it will easily be able to last decades. Plus, every conservatory installation from T&K comes with a 10 year insurance backed guarantee. This means that, in the unlikely event of a fault occurring with your conservatory during this 10-year period, we’ll come out and rectify any issues free of charge.

Can I upgrade my existing conservatory?

If you’re fed up with your current conservatory for whatever reason, we can either build you a new one or upgrade your existing one. We offer a conservatory refurbishment service, which covers everything from new windows and doors for your conservatory, to new frames or a replacement roof. Please feel free to contact us to discuss any issues you have with your current conservatory and we will see what we can do to help.

Can existing conservatories be moved?

Existing conservatories can be taken down and moved to another location. However, any warranties and guarantees will be voided in the process, plus its structural integrity might be compromised. If you’ve recently moved to a new home and are considering a new conservatory, get in touch and see if we can help.

Can conservatories be built without foundations?

Building conservatories without foundations is possible, however it is not best practice. Sturdy foundations are essential for ensuring the structural integrity of the conservatory will last. Under the right circumstances, we can overcome the need for foundations by using a Durabase. But due to the uniqueness of every conservatory installation, we recommend having one of our designers take a look first.

Can you build conservatories without walls?

Instead of walls or a dwarf wall, which is a short brick wall, T&K can build full-length glazing panels instead. However, this will limit the amount of radiators and power outlets that we can fit because these types of things are unable to be fitted to glazing panels.

Can I build a conservatory on a bungalow?

In short, the answer for this is yes. There are numerous conservatory options that are suitable for bungalows, including Victorian and Lean-to conservatories. Our definitive guide on conservatories for bungalow contains all the information you’ll require when considering a bungalow conservatory.