Conservatory Kits
Most conservatories are somehow pre-manufactured to be installed either by the producers own trained builders or a third party contractor of your choice. A real DIY conservatory kit will come with a plan and the majority of its parts exactly pre-cut and wherever necessary pre-drilled to make assembly as simple and error-proof as possible. In fact, the better the components are prepared, the smoother the construction process will be.
So, how easy is it to build a conservatory yourself? I can only really speak about wooden conservatory kits in this respect, but as a rule of thumb, if you are able to build a deck or a shed, and have the carpentry tools and skills to master this task, you should manage. Having the help of one or two other people available for carrying and holding components will be a big time saver and makes life much easier. If you are going to build a hardwood conservatory, but mainly worked with softwoods before, prepare yourself for having to deal with a tougher material – sawing and drilling are more demanding on the tools, and screws not specifically made for hardwood can easily break off (and are then difficult to remove). If some extra screws are needed and not supplied with the kit, chose high quality stainless steel or brass screws like for deck building to avoid later corrosion. (It does not hurt to have a set of different screw sizes at hand anyway.) If you don´t own an electric screwdriver, buy or borrow one, or you will sooner or later wish you had one.
If certain tasks are out of your expertise, think about hiring a professional or ask an experienced do-it-yourselfer for help. If you are good with wood but don´t have any idea of how to make a base according to the specifications of the kit supplier, you may be better off concentrating on your favourite craft. After all, building a DIY conservatory shall be fun, too.