Since there has been a continuing demand in these locations, industry has developed improved methods of constructing basements to make them cheaper to build, warmer and drier.
But there remains certain issues to be resolved to enable basements to become more of a norm in the UK. Basement refurbishment or conversion of an existing cellar. This is the most straightforward option that uses old cellar spaces which often have bare brick walls and lack waterproofing. They tend to exist beneath Victorian and Edwardian houses. If there is enough headroom such a basement conversion would involve damp proofing, improving the staircase and access, and finishing works.
If there isn't enough headroom the build gets more complex as the basement conversion will need the floor to be lowered and the ceiling to be raised. A retrofit basement is when a basement is added to an existing home. Adding a new basement to an existing building requires extensive and pricey excavations and possibly underpinning to party walls.
However, such basement conversions are still viable in high value properties and neighbourhoods or when there is no other way to achieve more required space.
Such basement extensions can be underneath your property or extend further out. Building a new basement from scratch. This is when basements are constructed as part of a new build. This is a straight forward option and can be fully or semi underground. Including a basement in a new build design can be a great way to get more space from your land.
One of the first things to consider is how constrained the site is? What level of access would builders have for such things as the removal of spoil, and delivery and storage of materials? How close are the neighbours and what effect will any works have on them?
What is the structural state of the existing property? How much extra will it cost just to bring the property up to par and is it possible to do so? What are the local ground conditions and soil types in the immediate area? A good place to start is to talk to your local building control officer and pick his knowledge of his patch. Obviously, carrying out a couple of trial holes will also establish this information quickly. These tend to be carried out during a site investigation, soil survey or geology survey.
They should be carried out before construction begins as the results should inform the design and build of the basement and property. Establishing the drainage characteristics of the local soil and water table level is important because it has a direct effect on the choice of structure and waterproofing of the property. If there is an existing basement, consider if it has a history of flooding, or, is it currently damp?
Can anything be done to control this? It is important to seek expert advice to ensure costs do not spiral out of control if the issues are not dealt with early enough. Are there level differences that can be exploited for the provision of external access, light and ventilation? Is there any ventilation to any existing basement? If not how easily could it be provided?
Consider the constraints of the existing context and ground floor layout. For example, how will internal access and fire escape be provided and comply with building regulations? What are the existing foul drainage provisions? What will the impact of the basement conversion or basement extension be?
Careful planning of the basement space is crucial to its success. Are you creating extra room for general living areas or will the basement play a specific role, such as a cinema, gym or spa zone? Your basement should feel like a natural continuation of your home in the same way as a good horizontal ground level extension would create a seamless flow between the stories by things like matching flooring and style. The staircase position between the basement and the rest of the building has an important role to play.
Tucked away staircases can make a new storey feel like a secretive area, whilst a more visible design will add a sense of connection. Your basement brief is an important stage that outlines what you want your basement conversion or basement extension to achieve.
Having established that your property is likely to be suitable for a basement, the next step is to define the scope of your project. What follows are some basic questions you might ask yourself:. How big a footprint do you want from your basement?
It does not need to be as big as the house above, or it could be bigger and extend under the garden to the rear. Is external access direct from the basement level required? Having clear ideas on these points will help ensure professionals like architects can help ensure your basement conversion or basement extension provides you with what you want. They can offer priceless design advice and if some aspects of your brief are not possible, they can explain why and offer alternatives.
A popular way to get daylight into a basement is with light wells. These are pits dug around the outside walls of a basement to allow light to penetrate into the rooms below ground. Basements do not always have to be fully underground.
Parts of a basement could be partially above ground, especially on a sloping site. And this area of the basement could be designed to allow natural light into the basement.
Even a small amount of daylight can relieve the feeling of claustrophobia that may mar an otherwise successful basement extension.
Borrowed light comes from open plan spaces, or for example, a staircase with glass railings that draws light down. Artificial lighting can be softened by concealing the source, and reflecting it off surfaces.
This trick works well in basements and is an effective way of illuminating the ceiling. The lighter the ceiling, the higher it will seem. Coelux-Generation-2, for when there is no natural light. Watch the video to see this great artificial skylight product. Along with the lack of daylight, another problem a basement designer faces is connecting the new zone to the rest of the house.
Ideally, the new stairwell should link seamlessly into the hallway. A basement should always feel like it is part of the home, so it is important to give some thought to how it will connect to upper levels. The staircase must provide a safe and direct route outside from the new lower level, otherwise, there may be problems with Building Regulations. Note, this may not apply if you are upgrading an existing basement.
The best location for the staircase is immediately below the ground-to-first-floor flight. Any new habitable rooms will need to be ventilated and this can sometimes present a problem. Ventilation should be considered early in the design stage because if mechanical ventilation is required, the ductwork will need to be accommodated for. In any bath or shower rooms and extractor fan should be fitted. If there are no opening windows in these rooms, extractor fans which are triggered by the light switch with overrun timers should be fitted.
This allows the fan to remain on for a period of time after the light is turned off. Where natural ventilation through windows is not practical, a mechanical ventilation system will need to be installed. Various package systems are available on the market. The simplest way to construct a basement is to follow the line of the existing structure above. However, it is also possible to extend horizontally beyond the footprint of the house.
This can be particularly effective at the rear of a house, where it is usually capped with a raised terrace or patio. This allows roof lights to be set into the ground, which floods the rooms below with natural sunlight.
If basement conversions or new extensions go wrong, they really go wrong. The worst-case scenario is that you end up with an underground swimming pool. So, it may be essential to bring in some professional and specialist help depending on your level of expertise. However, do not be discouraged. The technology to excavate, construct and waterproof basements is improving all the time, and there are many viable options for a headache free basement conversion or extension.
A soil report is considered essential. Soil can have a low or high water content, can be crumbly or can gather water if you are on a hill.
Different soil types will need different types of waterproofing and various types of construction methods. Walls below ground are required to act in a hostile environment and must be highly durable. The requirement to exclude moisture is highly significant due to positive hydrostatic pressure in the ground.
Adding a basement an existing property — requires extensive excavation. Building a new basement as part of a new house build — another straightforward option and a fantastic way of making the most of the land you have to build on. Technical considerations when building a basement extension There are a number of technical considerations when building or converting a basement. Get in touch with Refresh to discuss your home renovation project If you would like to discuss home renovation options for your next renovation project, please use the enquiry form on this page to provide us with your contact details.
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One method for lowering an existing space is called underpinning, and the other is called benching. With benching, you will lose some space around the perimeter. You could use a jackhammer to break up the concrete and a conveyer belt to remove the debris, but most of it requires manual labour. No matter which way you choose to expand your basement, digging around the foundation requires thorough planning and expertise.
There are also many other things you need to consider:. Here at Serbu, we have decades of experience and a safety record in basement excavation. Maximize Living Space with Basement Excavation. The Case for Basement Addition Although moving seems to be the most straightforward option, it might not always be viable. Speak to a Planning Consultant in your local area today about your project. Regardless of whether you need planning permission or not, you will almost certainly still require Building Regulations approval to ensure that your conversion meets a minimum standard of health, safety and welfare conditions; this covers areas such as ventilation, fire safety, foundations, energy efficiency and other standards.
It may seem like there are an overwhelming number of professionals to consult when it comes to planning a basement extension, but speaking to a reputable local builder with experience of similar projects is the best place to start. If they are familiar with local planning laws and have the right experience, they should be able to tell you which other professionals you will need for the job.
Speak to a Builder in your local area today about your project. Your builder, architect or planning consultant should be able to provide you with a package of plans and structural drawings. The structural drawings will be provided by a structural engineer who will also produce technical drawings.
Your builder or architect will work alongside local authority building control or approved inspector in order to achieve building regulations approval. It is better to make a Full Plans Application than to submit a Building Notice to the Local Planning Authority or approved building inspector in order to ensure that they have a chance to review the plans in depth and minimise the likelihood your project could be stopped halfway through.
Use our tool to find a list of local Structural Engineers who can help produce your calculations and drawings. If your basement conversion requires structural changes to the building, such as excavation, you will likely require a Party Wall Agreement.
Some of the main criteria for requiring a Party Wall Agreement include:. Party Wall Agreements aim to protect neighbouring properties during and post construction and in most cases will involve a the serving of relevant notices to neighbours, a legal agreement and a condition survey of the relevant properties. This can sometimes be a contentious issue with your neighbours, so you should ensure that you contact a party wall surveyor at an early stage, or speak to your architect or consultant, in order to ensure that time and cost provisions are made for this.
Use our free tool to find a Party Wall surveyor in your area and compare quotes. Even though Building Regulations do not specify a minimum height for ceilings, 2. You will need at least 2 metres over the stairs to keep within building rules. The process involves covering the walls in a membrane or another material to withstand water pressure from the surrounding ground, preventing damp and structural damage.
Make sure that your contractor complies with the relevant standards by checking that they are a member of the Basement Waterproofing Association.
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