Basement and cellar conversions make great living spaces with the added benefit of adding value to your home.
A basement conversion can provide the opportunity to create a playroom, home cinema, gym, office, utility room, or even an extra bedroom. Cellars and basements often suffer from damp, lack of headroom, ventilation and natural light. Mar2Build are experts at finding solutions to all these problems.
Damp
Depending on the level of damp and the buildings construction, damp proofing solutions range from a simple cementitious render or tanking to fitting a waterproof cavity membrane with a drain or sump pump system.
A Mar2Build structural specialist can advise on the best solution for your cellar.
Lack of Headroom
In order to create extra height, the cellar floor will often need to be excavated. Although this sounds simple, this can involve underpinning the foundations.
Mar2Build have years of experience of this type of building work and use the correct techniques and materials.
Ventilation
Installing the correct ventilation system is important, as it controls the humidity and reduces possible condensation in the basement or cellar.
Ventilation can be a simple air-brick, a humidity controlled fan or a heat recovery unit.
Mar2Build can advise on a suitable ventilation solution for your conversion.
Natural Light
Depending on the intended use of the basement conversion, natural light can be an important consideration.
The amount of natural light can be increased by installing additional windows, light wells or light tubes.
Mar2Build will be able to advise on the best solution for your basement conversion.
Planning Permission
Planning permission is not required for a basement conversion as long as you are not making alterations to the existing structure, including excavating the existing cellar floor.
Planning permission is required if the property is in a conservation area or there are any alterations the external appearance to the property, a change of use and major building work, such as digging a new basement under an existing house.
Even if planning permission is not required, the cellar conversion will have to meet a number of building regulations regarding structure, fire safety, ventilation, electricity and plumbing.
Mar2Build will be able to advise you on this and will handle the planning process on your behalf.
