Basement and Cellar Conversions
Most homeowners would like to make more room in their properties and extending is often preferable to moving. Traditionally, homeowners have responded by extending outwards and upwards, however recently, thanks to more advanced and economical waterproofing methods, many property owners are opting for cellar conversions.
Here, we explain the benefits and how you can achieve an effective basement or cellar conversion.
Cellar conversion – before and after
Benefits of a Cellar Conversion
A high quality cellar conversion gives you a huge number of benefits, including:
- Increases the value of your property
- Allows you increased living space
- Allows you to rent out the extra space e.g. tenants
- Allow you to make the most of previously unused space
- Increase the salability of your property
- Allow you to create revenue from your property
There are many typical benefits of using a cellar conversion to turn your basement into a comfortable and habitable living area. There are, for example, many different exciting possibilities with an effective basement conversion.
With our help, any basement conversions can be achieved with relatively little expense or complications. We can, help you to adhere to the relevant building regulations necessary and of course ensure your new space is dry and warm. If the structure’s form will not change during the conversion, you will not need planning permission for the change; however, you will need planning permission if you will be installing light wells or window egress due to creating more bedrooms.
Achieving a Warm Dry Cellar Conversion
More conventional basement waterproofing methods like cement-based renders commonly called ‘basement tanking’ are becoming more unreliable as water table levels rise and so properties suffer from greater hydrostatic pressure.
A more modern and increasingly popular basement waterproofing method involves applying to walls a polyethylene sheet material known as Cavity Drain Membrane. With a suitable substrate, the membrane can be directly applied, following little preparation; furthermore, it is vapour proof and impervious to water. This helps to provide good insulation.
Before the membrane is installed, a drainage provision is installed. This provision ensures speedy and effective evacuation of water ingress which is left behind the membrane. Later, internal finishes of insulation and plasterboard or plaster and render products are applied in front of the membrane.
This puts the finishing touches to a dry and effectively insulated living area; the system, provided that it has been appropriately installed by an approved contractor and is subject to ongoing routine maintenance of drainage channels and pumps, will last as long as the property it has been installed in!
Book Your Survey Now
To get expert advice on your basement or cellar conversion book a no-obligation survey – just fill in the form and we’ll contact you to arrange an appointment.
If you would like to speak to a Damp 2 Dry Solutions expert, call 01606 872 691
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