Cellar Conversion Raynes Park

A basement or cellar conversion is also a means by which to add to the value of your property; the global estate agents Savills say that it can be approximately 10-15% higher than the value of comparable houses in the Raynes Park area. For those with expanding families, who might have already converted their attic for more bedrooms, a cellar conversion provides them with a way to add that much needed space that is vitally important for comfortable family life.

Before you take the plunge it's worth asking two or three questions: 1. Precisely what do you want to do with the extra space you'll be able to achieve with the conversion? 2. What is a conversion going to mean in terms of the amount of work necessary and the disturbance to the home life? 3. How do you identify a local Raynes Park based cellar conversion company that's efficient and dependable? 4. What sort of expense is involved and what benefits can be attained from doing a cellar conversion?

Unlike constructing extensions and loft conversions, a cellar conversion does not usually need planning permission if you're just making it into a functional living area, however if it is necessary to do any major construction works for example lowering the level of the floor you must ask the local council what is required. You will however have to check with the local council if your building is listed, if you share a party wall (requires different rules) or if you live in a conservation area.

For many property owners in Raynes Park, the reason they want to have a cellar conversion done in their home is to make use of priceless extra living space. If like lots of other people in Raynes Park you find that living space is restricted, this can be a top priority. If you don't actually need the additional living space for you own use, a basement conversion can be turned into a self contained flat to bring in welcome extra money.

In all honesty the only limitations to your cellar conversion are your imagination and your budget. Perhaps you've always desired a games room or home cinema, or you could always install a bar and "hey presto", an instant pub for you and your mates. With recent developments and the opportunities for working at home, converting your basement into a tranquil and out of the way office space, where you're much less likely to be disturbed, could be just the thing to get you out of that stressful daily commute.

What is Involved?

Even if your basement conversion doesn't require any planning permissions, there are a number of approvals and certificates required from the Building Regulation department, to make sure everything is above board and legal. These regulations give you, and any future purchaser of your house, the reassurance that your cellar conversion follows the recommendations and legislation for water supply, ventilation, damp proofing, fire escapes, health and safety, electrical systems and minimum ceiling heights. Luckily your Raynes Park cellar conversion specialists should address these rules and regulations as part of the build process.

It doesn't matter if your basement doesn't feel damp nor has any sign of mould; you'll still have to get a suitable damp proof membrane put in to offer a dry, watertight area which is suitable for conversion. Your Raynes Park builder will help you decide on which technique is most suitable for your basement conversion and also make certain it abides by the guidelines set down by the British Standards BS8102 regulations. To put your mind at ease, ask the building company if they offer an insurance protected guarantee against water ingress due to the possible failure of the membrane.

The ventilation, water sources, insulation, floor surfaces, lights, electrical installations and heating will most likely all have to be installed or upgraded. An efficient way to warm up your basement or cellar conversion is to put in under floor heating, which evenly circulates the heat around the room. It needs very little maintenance once installed and is a concealed form of heating, which is an extra bonus in saving space.

A fully qualified electrician must be used to do all electrical testing and installations on your basement conversion project. Watch out for recessed (sunken) lighting fixtures to reduce the concern about height issues, and with a variety of different affordable Led lamps currently available, your cellar can feel bright and airy even if there is a lack of natural light.

There are regulations regarding the necessary ventilation and insulation to cellar conversions and your contractor will want to chat about the different options. The correct insulation ought to provide enough protection to stop dampness from cold spots appearing in your conversion. Inadequate ventilation can also result in a constant build up of humidity which can easily cause issues with mould and damp.

The judicious approach is to acquire a minimum of 3 estimates from different building companies in Raynes Park, to compare guarantees, services and prices for your cellar conversion project. If you have any concerns about the working standards of a company it should not be a problem if you ask to view their proof of membership and accreditation to the relevant trade bodies.

At the end of an on-site survey you could be given a preliminary quotation which evaluates the standard cost of your basement conversion, covering aspects such as damp proofing, access and floors. Through discussion with your conversion specialist you're able to incorporate your personal specifications, i.e. you might require a room to be separated, have a bathroom or kitchen installed or to increase the ceiling height by excavating the pre-existing floor.

You should sign off on a final price with an exact quote for all work to be completed that includes all of the required documentation applicable to the Raynes Park area for the party wall agreements, planning laws and building regulation applications. It should also be broken down into individual sections of the overall conversion project so that you are able to get a better perception of the final price.

A decent builder should be able to offer help and advice on all these matters and recommend ways in which to introduce natural daylight to brighten the conversion by opening up stairways or installing light wells. They will also be able to suggest how best to adapt the basement and electrical installations for extra lighting, sockets, computing and entertainment systems you need.

Dependant upon how you plan to use your conversion it is advisable to think seriously about the width and height of your access points. Your elaborate design may be based on turning your cellar conversion into a mock pub, gymnasium or snooker room, but if access is restricted how will the equipment get down there?

It is clear that no matter what you plan to convert your basement into, you will want it to stay warm and dry at all times of the year. In order for this to be readily guaranteed and achieved, you'll need a reliable cellar conversion contractor with the appropriate membership and accreditation of a trade body.

You can verify that your Raynes Park basement conversion company is on the list of the FMB (Federation of Master Builders) to ensure that you are hiring a reliable and trusted builder. If you want to check up on a company's past performance you can see if it's included in the respected TrustMark scheme. TrustMark is a beneficial scheme that enjoys the full support of the government and is run by Trading Standards.

The majority of basement conversion companies in the Raynes Park area are genuine and legitimate businesses with qualified tradesmen and women. A professional conversion company understands the fears of the public, caused by a tiny minority of unethical traders, and will try everything they can to validate their integrity in a friendly and responsible manner.

Home Cinema Conversions

The concept of converting a cellar into a home cinema is a choice which has been growing in popularity recently. This is obviously an excellent alternative for folks who really enjoy bingeing on movies or box sets. A cellar is an ideal setting for a home cinema, being typically dark and having an absence of natural daylight. More to the point, this kind of addition to your home delivers much needed extra social space where your whole family can get together and have fun in a relaxed informal setting. (Tags: Basement Home Cinemas Raynes Park, Home Cinema Conversion Raynes Park, Home Entertainment Conversions Raynes Park)

Cellar/Basement Conversion Surveys

If you have a cellar or basement in your home in Raynes Park, it can be easily converted into a useful living area. You are required to have a professional survey carried out to ensure that your particular basement is suitable for conversion.

As soon as the surveyor, who will be qualified in underground construction, understands the planned use of the converted space he can perform an in-depth survey. This will give the surveyor a perception of what systems need to be put in place to accommodate your requirements.

The structure of walls, floors and ceilings will be fully evaluated, accounting for the demands of ventilation, drainage and electricity. British Standards requirements and building regulations specifically target basement conversions, and your surveyor will deal with each requirement in turn. These will include things like ceiling height, fire escapes and damp proofing, and also if there happen to be any party wall agreements that must be considered. There are a choice of qualified surveyors in the district, if you need to do a cellar conversion survey in Raynes Park. (Tags: Cellar Conversion Surveys Raynes Park, Basement Survey Raynes Park, Basement Conversion Surveys Raynes Park).

Basement Conversion Tasks Raynes Park

There is a variety of work that can be undertaken by your local Raynes Park cellar conversion specialist including cellar electrics, basement plumbing, cementitious tanking, cellar conversion ideas, basement remodeling, cellar refurbishment, basement floor repair & restoration, basement waterproofing in Raynes Park, basement surveys, commercial cellar conversions, basement conversion ideas, low ceiling cellar conversion Raynes Park, cellar flooring, residential basement conversion Raynes Park, basement conversion planning permission Raynes Park, cellar excavation Raynes Park, condensation control, budget basement conversion Raynes Park, cellar tanking in Raynes Park, cellar damp proofing, cellar surveys Raynes Park, basement rendering Raynes Park, cellar conversion underpinning, timber preservation Raynes Park, waterproof membranes, wine cellar installation, budget cellar conversion Raynes Park, and lots more. Listed are just a small portion of the activities that are performed by someone doing cellar conversion. Raynes Park providers will be delighted to keep you abreast of their entire range of basement conversion services. If there's something cellar related, which you need but can't find mentioned here, you could go to this QUOTE FORM and tell us what you are looking for.

Cellar Conversion Near Raynes Park

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