Cellar Conversion Leeds West Yorkshire (LS1): A basement (or cellar) conversion can transform that cheerless, dark basement into an airy, warm and dry useable living space while also creating extra room in your Leeds property. Whether you want to use the extra space as a bar, home gym, games room or even turn it into a self-contained flat, a cellar conversion brings useable space nearer to the living area of your property than a loft conversion can do.
It's also a relatively easy way to add more value to your house; the property specialists Savills have said that it can increase the market price by up to about 15% to similar properties in your neighbourhood. If you've already converted your loft to cope with your ever growing family, a cellar conversion allows you to create desirable additional living space.
Before jumping into any basement conversion project, you should ask yourself these important questions: 1. How do you steer clear of shoddy builders and locate an experienced Leeds contractor who'll be able to convert your cellar and provide warranties for all of the work involved? 2. What degree of work is necessary to do a conversion on your basement? 3. What kind of expense is involved and what positive advantages can be attained from doing a basement conversion? 4. What do you hope to accomplish with the additional space created with the conversion?
Why Pick a Cellar Conversion in Leeds?
If your property already has a cellar, you will not have to make an application for local authority planning permission if you are simply transforming it into a living area, but if you've got to dig out the floor to lift the ceiling height then you must double check with your local council first. In most instances you are pretty much free to use a converted and refurbished cellar with very few limitations, but if your home is a listed structure, has a shared party wall with a neighbour or is inside a conservation area, there are different rules that should be followed.
For most householders in Leeds, the reason they wish to have a cellar conversion created in their home is to free up priceless living space. If like lots of other people in Leeds you find living space is restricted, this can be a big plus. A basement conversion can also be done as a way to earn a bit of extra money by changing that previously unused area into a self contained flat and putting it up for rent.
In truth the uses of a basement conversion are only limited by your own imagination.....and your budget. Maybe you've always desired a home cinema or games room, or you could always install a bar and "hey presto", instant pub for you and your friends. With recent opportunities for working at home, converting your cellar into a pleasant and out of the way office space, where you are much less likely to be interrupted, may be just the ticket to break you out of your daily commute.
What is Involved?
As has already been mentioned, local authority planning permission may not be required in the majority of instances, however you definitely will need to have Building Regulations approval. These important regulations give you, and any subsequent owner of your house, the assurance that the basement conversion conforms to the guidelines and laws for electrical wiring, fire escapes, water supply, ceiling height, damp proofing, ventilation and health and safety. These regulations and rules will be dealt with as part of the construction process by your Leeds basement conversion company.
To make sure your basement conversion remains dry and warm throughout its life, a cementitious tanking or waterproof membrane will need to be installed even if there aren't any visible signs of dampness or water ingress. Any damp proofing and waterproofing that you decide to use has to comply with the BS8102 recommendations which your Leeds builder is required to follow. A trusted company will be able to provide you with an insurance supported warranty for their workmanship, should the membrane ever fail.
The water supply, ventilation, floor coverings, insulation, electric wiring, lights and heating system will most likely all have to be installed or upgraded. Under floor heating is increasingly popular in cellar conversions in Leeds because it is efficient and spreads heat evenly. Also, it is hidden underneath your chosen flooring style and requires little maintenance.
A fully qualified electrician must be brought in to undertake all electrical testing and installations on your cellar conversion project. Lighting systems are usually recessed to help with ceiling height issues and there are lots of low cost and efficient LED light fittings that look fantastic and will brighten your conversion to make it feel airy and light.
Ventilation and insulation are two vital factors that must be addressed from the design stage. Insulation should offer sufficient protection to stop damp and cold spots occuring in your conversion. A lack of ventilation can also lead to a gradual build up of humidity which can lead to problems with mould and damp.
Finding a Cellar Conversion Specialist in Leeds
It is best practice to get a minimum of 3 quotations from different conversion companies in Leeds, to compare warranties, service and prices for your cellar conversion project. Ask to see relevant building trade accreditation and membership certificates, if you are at all in doubt about their credentials.
After an on-site survey you could be given an initial price quote which assesses the standard cost of your basement conversion, and covers things like floors, access adaption and waterproofing. Follow up calls from the building firm should provide some clarification of your own specific requirements, i.e. increasing the ceiling height of your cellar by the excavating of the existing floor, or the installation of a kitchen or toilet in a separate room.
The final quotation should contain all necessary party wall agreement, building regulation and planning application paperwork relevant to the Leeds area before work is able to begin. So as to have a better understanding of the costs involved with each phase of the work, you should make sure that the final quotation also provides a complete breakdown of each element of the project.
With such a lot of stuff to think about, a competent cellar conversion specialist should be able to offer solutions to any concerns you may have as well as offer imaginative ways that you may be able to increase natural daylight by installing light wells or opening up the stairway. This is also the time to consult with a fully qualified electrician regarding the installation of extra wiring for lighting, plug sockets, computing and home entertainment.
Subject to how you plan to use your conversion it would pay you to seriously think about the width and height of your access points. All things considered, what's the point of designing an elaborate cellar conversion as a gymnasium, pool room or bar if it's not possible to carry the equipment down the staircase.
Keeping your cellar warm and free from damp is the main concern against whatever the British weather can throw at it. If this is going to be readily guaranteed and achieved, you will need a trustworthy cellar conversion contractor with the appropriate accreditation and membership of a trade association.
You can check if your Leeds building company is on the list of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) to make certain you are employing a reliable and trusted contractor. You are able to verify how effectively a building company has performed in past times by going to the highly respected TrustMark website and seeing the dependability figures it has attained. TrustMark is a scheme that enjoys the full support of the government and was founded by the Trading Standards Authority.
There are plenty of legitimate and dependable building firms in the Leeds area who can help you convert a basement or cellar with the assistance of a highly qualified and trained workforce within the building trade. However it only takes a small number of dishonest firms to create distrust, and a reliable conversion company will acknowledge your fears and help allay your worries in any way possible.
Planning Permission for Basement Conversions Leeds
If you have already got a basement under you property, and are wondering whether or not you will need to have planning permission for a basement conversion in Leeds, the answer is "probably not". This will normally be considered to be a straightforward "change of use". If your current cellar space doesn't have sufficient head room to accomplish what you want with it, you will need to dig out the floor, in which case planning permission will probably be necessary, since you're increasing the volume of your home. This sort of planning application will in most cases be granted, so long as you're not changing your home's exterior to any great extent. Your chosen basement conversion company in Leeds should be able to get this information for you, or you can chat to your local council planning department.
Home Cinema Conversions Leeds
Of all the different ideas about what to do with a basement conversion in Leeds, one of the most popular at present is to convert it into a home entertainment centre or home cinema. For families that really enjoy watching movies or box sets a home cinema is the perfect option. Since basements and cellars are typically dark due to the lack of daylight they are an ideal setting for a cinema. Even more important, this sort of addition to your home provides extra social space where the whole family can get together and hang out in a relaxed informal setting.
Upcoming Articles:
Low ceiling cellar conversions.
Other Useful Trades and Services in Leeds West Yorkshire: Needless to say, whenever you're doing home improvements and repairs in Leeds, West Yorkshire, you are likely to need all sorts of different tradespeople and aside from a cellar conversion specialist in Leeds, West Yorkshire, you may also need cellar waterproofing in Leeds, a carpenter in Leeds, timber preservation in Leeds, a builder in Leeds, loft conversion in Leeds, an electrician in Leeds, basement flooding solutions in Leeds, a plumber in Leeds, a painter & decorator in Leeds, condensation control in Leeds, a handyman in Leeds, basement surveys in Leeds, damp proofing in Leeds, a bricklayer in Leeds, SKIP HIRE in Leeds, a plasterer in Leeds, black mould removal in Leeds, a house extension in Leeds, and other different Leeds tradesmen.
Cellar Conversion Tasks Leeds
You possibly came here hunting for basic cellar conversion, yet your local Leeds basement conversion specialist can offer an extensive variety of additional tasks and services, and these might include cellar remodeling, budget basement conversion Leeds, cellar conversion quotes in Leeds, cellar surveys, basement surveys in Leeds, positive input ventilation, low ceiling basement conversions Leeds, basement remodeling in Leeds, cellar floor repair, domestic basement conversion, basement refurbishment, woodworm treatment, commercial basement conversions in Leeds, basement tanking, cellar conversions, basement conversion design, cellar soundproofing, small cellar conversions, structural waterproofing, basement plumbing Leeds, cementitious tanking Leeds, cellar excavation, basement conversions, cellar conversion underpinning, waterproof membranes, basement flooding solutions in Leeds, black mould removal, basement conversion ideas, and others. Listed are just an example of the duties that are accomplished by someone doing cellar conversion. Leeds professionals, when approached, will keep you informed about the full range of cellar conversion services that are available. If there's something cellar related, which you need but do not see listed here, you can always go to this QUOTE FORM and enter your details.
Basement Conversion Near Leeds
Also find: Woodhouse cellar conversion, Green Side cellar conversion, Lower Wortley cellar conversion, Armley cellar conversion, Saxton Gardens cellar conversion, Colton cellar conversion, Seacroft cellar conversion, Potternewton cellar conversion, Harehills cellar conversion, Gledhow cellar conversion, Headingley cellar conversion, Belle Isle cellar conversion, Hunslet Cars cellar conversion, Churwell cellar conversion, Sheepscar cellar conversions and more. All these villages and towns are serviced by companies who do cellar conversion. Leeds householders can get price quotes by going here.
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