Cellar Conversion Benson Oxfordshire (OX10): Changing an unwelcome and dark basement into a bright and airy living space is an excellent option for anybody in Benson looking for more space in their house without having to build an extension. Having extra living space closer to the more frequently used areas of the house can give you more opportunity for creating a home gym, entertaining friends or creating a "granny annex" for an elderly relative.
A cellar or basement conversion is also a means by which to add value to your property; Savills say that it is normally in the range of 10-15% above the value of comparable houses in the Benson area. A basement conversion allows you to create extra space, which if you have previously converted an attic space into bedrooms, is an attractive and important addition to your property.

Before starting any cellar conversion project, you should ask yourself these questions: 1. Are the benefits of a basement conversion actually worth the costs that are involved with accomplishing it? 2. What are you going to do with the extra rooms or room? 3. What work is involved in converting your cellar or basement? 4. How do you avoid "cowboy" builders and locate a top quality Benson firm who can convert the basement and provide guarantees for all the work involved?
Why Choose a Cellar Conversion in Benson?
If your property already has a cellar, there's no need to apply for planning permission if you're purely transforming it into a living space, but if it is necessary to dig up the floor to elevate the height of the ceiling then you first need to double check with your local council planning department. In most situations you're free to use a remodeled and converted cellar with few restrictions, however if your home has a shared party wall with a neighbour, is inside a conservation area or is a listed building, there are completely different regulations that must be adhered to.

For many people in Benson, the reason that they wish to have a basement or cellar conversion created in their property is to free up invaluable living space. In Benson, where living space is often hard to come by, this is the main concern. If you do not need the extra living area for you own benefit, a cellar conversion can be turned into a self contained apartment to earn some welcome extra money.
Actually the things you can do with a cellar conversion are only limited by your imagination.....and your budget of course. In Benson games rooms, home cinemas and bars are popular choices for a basement conversion, to provide a welcome place for entertaining family and mates. Another strong favourite, and maybe more appealing given recent circumstances, is the building of a home based office or study where you will be able to escape the stressful daily commute and enjoy an area in your house where you might be much less likely to be interrupted while working.
What is Involved?
As has already been mentioned, local authority planning permission may not be required in many instances, however you definitely will need to have Building Regulations approval. These important regulations give you, and any subsequent buyer of your home, the assurance that your basement conversion observes the laws and guidelines for health and safety, damp proofing, ventilation, ceiling height, electrical installations, water sources and fire escapes. Fortunately your Benson basement conversion specialists should address these legal guidelines as an integral part of the build process.

Even if there are no visible signs of damp or mould in your existing basement, it will still need some form of cementitious tanking or waterproof membrane so that it remains water-resistant and make it acceptable for converting. Any water proofing and damp proofing that you decide to use has to conform to the BS8102 guidelines which your Benson cellar conversion specialist is required to follow. To put your mind at ease, ask the building company if they can provide you with an insurance protected warranty against water ingress due to water proof membrane failure.
The electrical installations, lights, ventilation, heating, insulation, flooring and water supply will probably all have to be installed or upgraded. Underfloor heating is increasingly popular in basement conversions in Benson because it is efficient and spreads heat evenly. This space saving style of heating is concealed beneath your cellar floor and needs little maintenance once it has been installed.
Electrical re-wiring should be left to a certified electrician. Try to use sunken lighting to reduce the worry about height issues, and with a variety of different affordable LED lights available on the market, your basement can feel bright and airy even where natural light is lacking.
Insulation and ventilation are vital elements that must be addressed from the design and planning phase. The appropriate insulation should provide sufficient protection to stop cold spots and dampness appearing in your cellar conversion. Damp and mould can also be a consequence of increased humidity levels if the quality of ventilation in your conversion is inadequate.
Picking a Cellar Conversion Specialist in Benson
It is best practice to acquire at least three estimates from different building contractors in Benson, to compare guarantees, services and prices for your conversion project. Not all contractors are alike with regards to cellar conversions and it's sensible to ask to see appropriate building and trade memberships and accreditations if you have any doubts about their working standards.

An initial quotation could be provided at the end of a site survey for a basic basement conversion with waterproofing, flooring and access elements being assessed. Follow up conversations with the builders should look to provide clarification about your requirements, i.e. the installation of a toilet or kitchen in a separate room or increasing the ceiling height of your cellar by the digging out of the existing floor.
You will sign off on a final price with a definitive quotation for all work to be carried out which includes all of the appropriate documentation applicable to the Benson area for the party wall agreements, building regulation applications and planning laws. The final quote should also provide a task-by-task breakdown of the various parts of the cellar conversion to give you a true understanding of the costs involved at each phase.
With such a diversity of stuff to consider, a competent cellar conversion company will be able to provide solutions to any queries you may have and also advising on methods by which to introduce more natural daylight by opening up the staircase or the installation of light wells. This is also the time to speak to a qualified electrician regarding the installation of additional electrical wiring for electrical sockets, lighting, computer networks and entertainment.
Subject to how you plan to use your basement conversion it is advisable to seriously think about the height and width of your entry points. Your elaborate design might be based on transforming your cellar into a gymnasium, mock pub or games room, but if the access isn't suitable how will you get the equipment down there?

Whatever you choose to do with your cellar or basement conversion you will need it to stay dry and warm throughout the year. For this to happen you need your basement conversion tradesmen to be qualified and backed up by membership and accreditation to the relevant trade bodies.
Hunt for Benson cellar conversion companies that are signed up members of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and if you're in any doubt you can always ask the FMB that they're actually on their list of approved members. You can check how well a conversion company has performed in the past by going to the TrustMark website and seeing the dependability figures it has attained. The Trading Standards Authority run the scheme and it's approved by the UK government.
The majority of building firms in the Benson area are genuine and legitimate businesses with qualified staff. But it only takes a tiny group of unprincipled companies to ruin trust, and a trustworthy company will acknowledge your concerns and help to ease your worries in any way possible.
Now, you might have navigated to this page in search of "basement conversions Benson", not due to the fact that you reside in Benson itself, but perhaps in one of the adjacent Oxfordshire places like Britwell Salome, Rokemarsh, Warborough, Preston Crowmarsh, Overy, Berrick Salome, Shillingford, Ewelme, Brightwell Baldwin, Crowmarsh Gifford, Shillingford Hill, Watlington, or someplace nearby. However, you don't have to worry given that Benson cellar conversion services regularly work in these locations too and will usually be happy to provide you with such services. Local Benson cellar conversion specialists will probably have the telephone code 01491 and the postcode OX10. Checking this out should make sure that you are accessing locally based providers of cellar conversion. Benson homeowners will be able to utilise these and various other comparable services.
Small Basement Conversions Benson
Even an existing small basement or cellar can be converted into a useable space with the appropriate design, and a competent Benson cellar conversion company will create a fabulous room exclusively for you. Perhaps it could be turned into a utility area and somewhere to keep your washing machine and tumble dryer hidden away and free up valuable storage space in your kitchen.
Perhaps an office where you can work from home would be useful; even the smallest room can be used efficiently with custom furniture made and installed by a professional company in Benson. Why don't you change your little basement space into a music or reading room, making it somewhere to unwind and get away from the stress of everyday life. With the addition of subtle lighting, comfortable seating and a place for storage you'll have all that you need to chill out and while away a few hours. The design and usage possibilities are wide and varied even for the smallest cellar space in Benson. (Tags: Small Cellar Conversion Ideas Benson, Small Cellar Conversion Benson, Small Basement Conversions Benson).
Cellar and Basement Conversion Surveys Benson

If you have a cellar or basement in your house in Benson, it can easily be converted into a functional living space. You are required to have a professional survey completed to make sure your particular cellar/basement is suitable for converting.
A surveyor who visits your property should be certified in underground construction, and will have spoken to you before arriving about the planned usage of your basement/cellar. This will enable them to assess what steps need to be taken to legally and safely convert your basement in line with your requirements.
There will be a comprehensive inspection of floor, wall and ceiling construction, as well as making an allowance for the demands for ventilation, plumbing and electricity. You will discover that there are specific building regulations and British Standards requirements concerning basement conversions which your certified surveyor will also have to evaluate. These measures include damp proofing, ceiling height and fire escapes, and whether any party wall agreements have to be satisfied. (Tags: Cellar Conversion Surveys Benson, Basement Conversion Surveys Benson, Basement Conversion Survey Benson).
Planning Permission for Cellar Conversions

If you have already got a cellar below your house, and are concerned about whether or not you'll need planning permission for a basement conversion in Benson, the answer is "probably not". The reason is that this will generally be regarded as being a straightforward "change of use". If you have to increase the overall volume of the house by digging up the cellar floor to lift the height of the ceiling, you may then need planning permission, because it's going to be treated as a type of extension. Generally speaking this kind of planning application is seldom refused, assuming that the exterior of your property is not going to be altered to any great degree. Any genuine cellar conversion company in Benson will be able to get you all of the relevant information in regards to this, or if unsure get in touch with your local planning department. For more information visit the planning portal here.
Cellar Tanking Benson
If your cellar in Benson is damp or contains water, you should consider cellar tanking. This kind of waterproofing is more affordable and easier to install than you might believe. Moreover, tanking can make extra space in your home usable. Here is why: tanking helps to keep moisture out while at the same time making extra usable space.
First, remove loosened materials and mortar joints. You can also add a salt inhibitor to prevent problems in the future. If you can't remove the loose material, you can try applying a chemical or physical bond. After the coating has dried, you can add plaster over the top. Make sure to use a sulphate-resistant cement.
Membrane-sealed tanking can be installed in a cellar or basement in Benson. This form of tanking requires you to clear all internal walls of all items, including pipes. You must also secure the pipes to the membrane. This is often done using plywood. After this is done, perimeter channels are installed around the base of the walls. These channels lead to a sump and pump system which transports water away from the property.
When selecting a cellar tanking system, you should consider the depth of your cellar. For example, if your cellar is five metres deep, the hydrostatic pressure head will be significantly higher than if it is only two meters deep. This is why you need to choose the right covering for the depth of your cellar. You should also check the manufacturer's usage guidelines to determine the right covering for your cellar.
Skip Hire Benson

There's probably going to be a fair amount of waste produced whenever you are doing any kind of garden revamps or home improvements in Benson. Even though basement conversion is not one of those jobs that normally generates lots of waste, that's not always the case, and the amount will depend on the scale of your installation. While some tradesmen will be glad to take away any waste materials, some will leave it for you to deal with.
Hiring a skip is one of the simplest and most trouble-free ways to dispose of this waste. Skips come in different sizes depending on your requirements, and choosing what sort of skip to order is essential. You can choose between a mini-skip (2-3 yrds), a midi-skip (4-5 yds), a builders skip (6-8 yds), or a roll-on-roll-off skip (20-25 yds), or you could even opt for a skip bag.
GO HERE to get a skip hire quote in Benson.
Basement Conversion Tasks Benson

You likely came here searching for basic basement conversion, yet your local Benson cellar conversion specialist can accomplish a wide range of additional tasks and services, and these might include small cellar conversions Benson, basement floor restoration, sump pumps Benson, basement flooring in Benson, woodworm treatment, basement waterproofing, budget cellar conversion Benson, cellar lighting, basement tanking in Benson, damp proofing, cellar conversion in Benson, bonded sheet membranes, low ceiling basement conversions Benson, basement conversion ideas, cellar underpinning in Benson, basement plumbing, cellar remodeling Benson, basement flooding solutions, cellar conversions, basement remodeling, structural waterproofing, basement damp proofing, cellar excavation, basement conversion design, black mould removal, commercial basement conversions, sprayed concrete in Benson, basement conversion, and others. Listed are just a selection of the duties that are undertaken by somebody doing cellar conversion. Benson professionals, when asked, will be more than happy to inform you of the whole range of cellar conversion services which can be accessed. If there happen to be other Benson basement conversion requirements that you want but don't see here, you can list them on the QUOTE FORM provided.
Cellar Conversion Specialists Oxfordshire

In Oxfordshire you will additionally find: Wootton basement conversions, Sutton Courtenay cellar conversions, Stonesfield cellar conversions, Hook Norton basement conversion specialists, Goring on Thames cellar conversion, Kirtlington basement conversion, Long Hanborough basement conversion, Harwell basement conversion, Longworth cellar conversions, Berinsfield cellar conversions, East Hendred basement conversions, Long Wittenham basement conversion, Shrivenham basement conversion specialists, Tackley basement conversions, Adderbury basement conversion, Stanford in the Vale cellar conversions, Wootton basement conversion specialists, Cumnor basement conversion, East Hendred cellar conversion, Finstock basement conversions, Milton Under Wychwood basement conversion, Leafield cellar conversion specialists, Kirtlington basement conversion specialists, Great Milton basement conversions, Cumnor cellar conversion, Kingham basement conversions, Brightwell Cum Sotwell basement conversions, Stanford in the Vale cellar conversion, Middle Barton basement conversions, Shiplake basement conversion, Charlbury cellar conversions. There are plenty of people around the county of Oxfordshire who can help you with cellar conversion, and if you cannot find someone acceptable in Benson itself, you should undoubtedly be able to locate someone close by.
Basement Conversion Near Benson
Also find: Crowmarsh Gifford cellar conversion, Berrick Salome cellar conversion, Ewelme cellar conversion, Rokemarsh cellar conversion, Shillingford Hill cellar conversion, Britwell Salome cellar conversion, Watlington cellar conversion, Shillingford cellar conversion, Overy cellar conversion, Warborough cellar conversion, Brightwell Baldwin cellar conversion, Preston Crowmarsh cellar conversions and more. Most of these places are serviced by companies that do cellar conversion. Benson business and home owners can get cellar conversion quotations by going here.
Basement Conversion Services Benson
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Cellar Conversion Around Benson: Homeowners living in the following areas and roads have recently requested cellar conversions - Old Barn Close, Battle Road, Church Close, Merlin Close, Beggarsbush Hill, Chapel Lane, Mosquito Lane, Observatory Close, Forge Close, St Helen's Avenue, Port Hill Road, Beverley Close, Wychwood Close, Henley Road, Javelin Way, Churchfield Lane, Baker Avenue, The Cedars, The Sands, Alister Taylor Avenue, High Street, One End Lane, Wessex Road, Hudleston Avenue, Watlington Road, Brook Street, as well as these local Benson postcodes: OX10 6RU, OX10 6HA, OX10 6NW, OX10 6FB, OX10 6LS, OX10 6LN, OX10 6EU, OX10 6PB, OX10 6SE, OX10 6SU. Work was conducted in these areas by experts in cellar conversion. Benson home and property owners enjoyed reliable and top quality remodeling services.



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More Oxfordshire Basement Conversion Specialists: More Oxfordshire cellar conversion specialists: London, Thame, Henley-on-Thames, Wantage, Carterton, Abingdon, Chinnor, Kidlington, Bicester, Oxford, Faringdon, Banbury, Didcot, Wallingford, Chipping Norton, Witney, Benson and Eynsham.
Basement conversions in OX10 area, and dialling code 01491.
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