Cellar Conversion Littleport Cambridgeshire (CB6): An effective way to create useful living space in your house in Littleport without the need to resort to doing a loft conversion or a brick extension, is to change that inhospitable, dark space beneath your property into bright and airy room with a cellar conversion. Having extra living space closer to the more used areas of your home can provide you with greater opportunities for entertaining friends, creating a home gym or building a "granny annex" for elderly relatives.
It is also a relatively simple means by which to add more value to your home; The estate agents Savills have said that it can raise the market value by up to around 15% to equivalent houses in your neighbourhood. For property owners with expanding families, who could have previously converted loft space for additional bedrooms, a basement conversion offer them a way to add that extra space that is very important for family life.
If you're considering doing a cellar conversion be sure you've asked yourself these important questions before beginning: 1. Are the attributes of a cellar conversion actually worth the expense that is involved with accomplishing it? 2. Just what use do you want to make of the additional space you're going to develop with a basement conversion? 3. Just how much work will need to be undertaken on your basement to transform it into a functional area? 4. How can you track down a local Littleport basement conversion company that is trustworthy and reliable?
Why Choose a Cellar Conversion in Littleport?
If you are merely going to remodel a pre-existing basement without needing to raise the height of the ceiling, then in most cases you don't need planning permission. There are some different requirements if your house is listed, is in a conservation area or shares a party wall with a neighbour, but in most cases you're free to use the space as a living area with few limitations.
The capacity to make use of valuable, extra living space in their property is the number one reason many property owners in Littleport aim to do a cellar or basement conversion. If like lots of other folks in Littleport you find living space is limited, this can be a top priority. If you don't really need the additional living space for you own benefit, a cellar conversion can easily be changed into a self contained flat to bring in some welcome extra money.
In all honesty the only limits to what you can do with your basement conversion are your imagination and your budget. Maybe you've always wanted a games room or home cinema, or you could install a bar and "voila", an instant pub for you and your friends. If you happen to be a home worker a cellar conversion can become the ideal home office by providing you with a custom-built area where you're much less likely to be disturbed.
What is Involved?
Even if your basement conversion requires no local authority planning permission, there are a number of approvals and certificates needed from the Building Regulation office, to make certain it's above board and legal. This will ensure that your newly built living area abides by all the Health & Safety laws and guidelines for water sources, damp proofing, electrical systems, ventilation, minimum ceiling heights and fire escapes. Thankfully your Littleport basement conversion company will be glad to address all of these legal guidelines as an integral part of the build process.
It matters not if your cellar does not feel damp nor has any indication of mould; you'll still need to have an appropriate waterproof membrane or cementitious tanking installed to provide a dry, watertight area which is suitable for conversion. Any damp proofing that you choose to use should conform to the BS8102 guidelines which your Littleport cellar conversion specialist is obliged to follow. A trusted contractor will be able to provide you with an insurance supported warranty for their work, should the membrane fail.
The installation or upgrading of water supply, heating, lighting, ventilation, electrical installations, insulation and floor coverings will all need to be discussed with your selected builder. Underfloor heating is increasingly popular in basement and cellar conversions in Littleport because it spreads heat evenly and is extremely efficient in this setting. It needs very little upkeep once put in and is a hidden form of heating, which is an extra space saving bonus.
A certified electrician must be used to complete all electrical testing and re-wiring on your cellar conversion project. Light fixtures are often sunk in to avoid height issues and there are numerous low cost and efficient LED fittings that look fantastic and will brighten up your conversion to make it seem light and airy.
Two crucial factors that your builder will will want to discuss with you are how to provide the necessary insulation and ventilation. Insufficient insulation can leave your cellar conversion with possible cold spots which might increase the potential for damp. Additionally inadequate ventilation can cause issues, not only from stale air, but also by encouraging increased humidity which also is a major concern where dampness is concerned.
Selecting a Basement Conversion Company in Littleport
Before choosing your contractor in Littleport, get as many price quotes as possible to enable you to compare the different prices and services available. Not every building company is the same when it comes to cellar conversions and it is sensible to ask to see relevant building and trade memberships and accreditations if you have any doubts about their working standards.
After a site survey you may be given an initial quotation which assesses the basic cost of your basement conversion, covering aspects like flooring, access and damp proofing. Follow up discussions with the building firm should provide some clarification of your own 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.
A definitive quotation from a locally based Littleport cellar conversion firm needs to include any appropriate party wall agreements, building regulation applications and planning laws required before work can begin. It also needs to be divided into individual parts of the overall conversion project so that you are able to get a better perception of the eventual price.
A reputable firm can provide recommendations for all your worries including ways in which to introduce more natural light to your cellar conversion by opening up staircases or the installation of light wells. If you require new wiring for additional lighting, electrical sockets or computing and entertainment systems these should all be sorted out now.
Contingent upon how you plan to use your basement conversion it is advisable to seriously think about the height and width of your access points. There is no point in planning for a gymnasium, bar or snooker room complete with equipment if you can hardly get down a narrow flight of stairs whilst holding a cup of coffee.
It's clear that whatever you decide to convert your basement into, you'll need it to stay dry and warm in summer and winter. Employing a competent cellar conversion specialist with accreditation, membership and assurances from the building and construction trade organisations will enable this to be accomplished and give you peace of mind.
You can check if your Littleport conversion company is on the list of the FMB (Federation of Master Builders) to ensure you are dealing with a reliable and trusted contractor. If you want to verify a conversion company's past performance you can look to see if it is included in the respected TrustMark scheme. The Trading Standards Authority supervise the scheme and it's approved by the UK government.
The majority of conversion companies in Littleport are legitimate and genuine businesses with a fully qualified workforce. However it takes only a small group of unscrupulous companies to generate distrust, and a competent conversion company will recognise your concerns and help to ease your uncertainties in any way possible.
Small Basement Conversion Littleport
Even a tiny basement or cellar can be transformed into a unique living area by a good designer, and a professional Littleport basement conversion company will be able to create the room you've wished for. It could become a utility room and a place to keep your washing machine and tumble dryer out of sight and create valuable extra space in your kitchen.
Maybe you need an office to do work at home; even a little room can be effectively used with purpose built furniture made and installed by a professional Littleport company. Why don't you change your small cellar space into a reading or listening room, and make it somewhere to relax and get away from the stress of life. Add some cozy seating, subdued lighting and a bookshelf or media centre and you will be good to go. The design and usage alternatives are varied for even the smallest cellar space in Littleport.
The Installation of Sump Pumps
To shield your home from water damage, a sump pump installation is necessary. To remove water accumulation in crawl spaces and cellars, sump pumps are commonly used devices. This is vital since an accumulation of water can bring about mould growth, structural damage, and a number of other related complications. Sump pump installation generally involves digging a pit in the crawl space or cellar's lowest point and then placing the pump inside. Finally, a discharge pipe is connected to the pump, which discharges the water away from the property. To ensure the pump's continuous operation during power cuts or other similar emergencies, property owners may opt to install a battery backup system. An experienced professional installation of a sump pump is necessary to ensure proper placement and configuration for effective water management in the home. Sump pump installation provides a valuable safeguard against water damage, making it a worthwhile investment for property owners.
Arriving Next:
Building regulations compliance - article 213.
Basement Conversion Near Littleport
Also find: Doddington cellar conversion, Prickwillow cellar conversion, Chettisham cellar conversion, Mepal cellar conversion, Queen Adelaide cellar conversion, Witcham cellar conversion, Pymoor cellar conversion, Southery cellar conversion, Little Downham cellar conversion, Manea cellar conversion, Wimblington cellar conversion, Feltwell cellar conversion, Welney cellar conversions and more. Most of these towns and villages are catered for by companies doing cellar conversion. Littleport residents can get cellar conversion estimates by going here.
Basement Conversion Tasks Littleport
Your local Littleport basement conversion specialist can provide a large assortment of tasks, and in addition to what has previously been covered here they should be able to do basement conversion quotes, basement plumbing, cellar remodeling, basement refurbishment, cellar conversion design, basement damp proofing, cellar tanking in Littleport, cellar damp proofing, low ceiling cellar conversion Littleport, budget basement conversion Littleport, basement remodeling Littleport, cellar conversion, sump pumps, cellar electrics, cellar surveys Littleport, basement soundproofing, basement flooding solutions in Littleport, bonded sheet membranes in Littleport, woodworm treaments, residential cellar conversions, small cellar conversions Littleport, basement conversion planning permission in Littleport, basement surveys, basement conversion ideas, commercial basement conversions, damp proofing, cellar conversion ideas, cellar refurbishment, and more. Listed are just a few of the tasks that are handled by a builder doing cellar conversion. Littleport specialists who are operating in the area will tell you about the full range of cellar conversion services which are offered. You could always go to this QUOTE FORM and fill in your details, if you have additional Littleport cellar conversion requirements that you need but cannot see here.
TOP - Cellar Conversion Littleport
Black Mould Removal Littleport - Damp Proofing Littleport - Cellar Refurbishment Littleport - Basement Conversion Littleport - Basement Conversions Littleport - Cellar Conversions Littleport - Wine Cellar Installation Littleport - Cellar Conversions Near Me - Cellar Conversion Littleport