Cellar Conversion Reading

According to the property agents Savills, a converted cellar (or basement) can also add between 10-15% to the value of your home. A cellar or basement conversion allows you to create extra space, which if you have already converted an attic space into bedrooms, is a welcome and important supplement to your home.

Before jumping into any cellar conversion project, ask yourself these questions: 1. What work is involved in converting your cellar or basement? 2. Are the costs involved in a basement conversion really worth the rewards that you'll gain from it? 3. How will you select a building company that you can rely on to do a quality basement conversion in Reading? 4. What exactly are you going to do with the extra space?

If your house already has a cellar, you will not have to apply for planning permission if you are just turning it into a living space, but if you've got to dig out the floor to increase the ceiling height then you should check with your local council. In most cases you are pretty much free to utilise a remodeled and converted cellar with few restrictions, but if your home has a shared party wall with a neighbour, is listed or is in a conservation area, there are various different rules that must be adhered to.

One of the main reasons given by home owners in Reading for renovating an existing basement is to utilise the redundant space for something practical. If like lots of other people in Reading you find that living space is limited, this will be a big plus. A basement conversion could also be used to generate a little extra income by making it into a self contained flat which can be rented out or used as an AirBnB.

Actually the things you can do with a cellar conversion are only limited by your own imagination.....and your budget. Maybe you have always dreamt of having a home cinema or games room, or you could install a bar and "hey presto", instant pub for you and your mates. If you happen to be a home worker a basement conversion can become the ideal home office by giving you a tailor-made space where you're much less inclined to be disturbed.

What is Involved?

Even if your basement conversion requires no local authority planning permission, there are a set of certificates and approvals needed from the Building Regulation department, to make certain it's legal and above board. These regulations give you, and any subsequent buyer of your house, the assurance that your cellar conversion adheres to the guidelines and laws for ventilation, electrical systems, health and safety, minimum ceiling heights, damp proofing, fire escapes and water supply. Thankfully your Reading basement conversion company will be glad to address all of these legal guidelines as an integral part of the construction process.

Even if there aren't any visible indications of damp or mould in your cellar, it will still require some sort of damp proof membrane or cementitious tanking in order to remain dry and make it acceptable for converting. Your Reading builder will help you decide on which method is more suitable for your conversion and also make sure it follows the recommendations of the British Standards BS8102 regulations. A respectable contractor should be willing to provide you with an insurance supported guarantee for their workmanship, in the event that the membrane fails.

Seek the advice of the conversion company about the installation or upgrade of the water supply, heating, electrical installations, ventilation, flooring, lights and insulation, to get the most suitable products for your selected use of your basement conversion. An extremely effective way to warm up your cellar conversion is to put in underfloor heating, which uniformly disseminates the heat around the room. This space saving method of heating is concealed beneath your basement floor covering and calls for little upkeep once it has been installed.

Any sort of electrical re-wiring must be carried out by a skilled electrician. Efficient and cheap LED lighting can be sunk into the ceiling to give the maximum possible floor to ceiling height and make certain that your cellar conversion has a bright, natural feel.

There are regulations regarding adequate insulation and ventilation to cellar conversions and your contractor will want to discuss the various options. The correct insulation ought to provide enough protection to stop cold spots and dampness arising in your basement conversion. In addition inadequate ventilation can lead to complications, not only from stagnant air, but also by allowing a build up of humidity which is a serious worry where dampness is concerned.

Before choosing your contractor in Reading, obtain as many estimates as you can to enable you to assess the different prices and services on offer. Ask if you can see relevant building trade membership and accreditation certificates, if you are at all in doubt about their credentials.

If you are given an initial quotation after an on-site survey it may only cover the basic aspects of your conversion, such as damp proofing considerations, the floor and access issues. Follow up calls from the builders should look to provide some clarification about your requirements, for example increasing the height of your cellar by the excavating of the existing floor, or the installation of a toilet or kitchen in a separate room.

A definitive quote from a nearby Reading basement conversion company needs to include any necessary party wall agreements, building regulation applications and planning laws required before work can begin. The final quote should also provide a job-by-job breakdown of the various components of the conversion to give you an accurate understanding of the costs involved at each stage.

If you're concerned about how you can get more natural light into your cellar conversion, your selected builder will be able to offer solutions such as opening up stairs or the use of light wells, and should also address any other worries you might have. If you need new wiring for extra lighting, plug sockets or entertainment and computing systems these should all be addressed at this point.

Dependant upon your planned use of your conversion it would pay you to think seriously about the height and width of your access points. All things considered, exactly what is the point of designing an elaborate cellar conversion as a games room, bar or gymnasium if it's impossible to get the equipment down the staircase.

Keeping your cellar free from damp and warm is the main concern against whatever the Reading weather decides to do. For this you need your cellar conversion specialist to be qualified and endorsed by membership and accreditation to professional trade organisations.

Try to use Reading conversion companies that are members of the FMB (Federation of Master Builders) and if you are in any doubt you can ask the FMB to check if they are actually on their list of approved members. You can check up on how effectively a construction company has performed in the past by visiting the TrustMark website and looking at the dependability figures it has accomplished. This is a scheme run by by the Trading Standards Authority with backing from the government.

The majority of cellar conversion companies in Reading are legitimate and genuine businesses with a qualified workforce. But it only takes a small group of dishonest firms to create distrust, and a professional conversion company will recognise your fears and help to allay your worries if they possibly can.

Home Cinema Conversions Reading

Out of all the various ideas about what you can do with your new cellar conversion in Reading, one of the favourites these days is to change it into a home entertainment centre or home cinema. This is naturally a great alternative for people who love spending hours watching movies or box sets. With an absence of natural light and a tendency to be dark, a cellar is an awesome location for a home cinema. Even more important, this sort of addition to your home delivers extra social space where your family members can gather together and spend quality time in a relaxed setting.

Small Basement Conversions Reading

Even a modest cellar or basement can be converted into a unique living area by a skilled designer, and a competent Reading cellar conversion company should be able to create the room you have wished for. Maybe it could become a utility room and a place to keep your washing machine hidden away and create valuable extra space in your kitchen.

Possibly you could do with a place to work from your home; even a small room can be used effectively as an office with tailor-made furniture built and installed by a specialist company. Your small basement could be turned into an oasis of peace, where you life's stresses and listen to relaxing music or enjoy a decent book. Add a bit of comfy seating, subdued lighting and a media centre or bookshelf and you're in business. The options for a small cellar conversion in Reading are limited only by the extent of your imagination.

Basement and Cellar Conversion Surveys Reading

Many families in Reading will look at converting their cellar or basement into an additional living area at some point. The first step in this process is to ensure your basement is actually suitable for converting, and this involves a professional survey of your cellar/basement area.

A below-ground constructions qualified surveyor will take note of the planned usage of the new space while carrying out the survey. This will enable them to assess exactly what steps need to be taken to legally and safely do a conversion on your basement in line with your requirements.

There'll be a full evaluation of ceiling, floor and wall construction, as well as making an allowance for the requirements for ventilation, plumbing and electricity. Your certified surveyor will also have to assess the specific British Standards requirements and building codes relating to basement conversions. Such regulations include stuff like minimum ceiling heights, fire escapes and party wall agreements, along with guidelines of damp and waterproofing.

Waterproofing Cellars Reading

Probably the most important aspect of a cellar conversion is waterproofing your existing basement. Discovering that your new room is mouldy and damp 12 months after carrying out your conversion is certainly a thing that you want to avoid. This is exactly why it is imperative to employ a highly professional conversion company in Reading to manage the project. When you're waterproofing an underground basement, there are essentially 2 ways that you can approach it. The seepage of water into your cellar can either be prevented by cementitious tanking, applied as a slurry type mixture, or it may be redirected into a cavity through the use of waterproof membranes, whence it's noiselessly pumped out of the building. (Tags: Waterproofing Basements Reading, Cellar Waterproofing Reading, Basement Waterproofing Reading)

Basement Conversion Near Reading

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Cellar Conversion Tasks Reading

Your selected Reading cellar conversion company will be able to help with most cellar related tasks, and this includes condensation control, commercial cellar conversions, basement conversion quotes, residential cellar conversions, small basement conversions, basement conversion planning permission, cellar conversion, woodworm treaments, cellar lighting, black mould removal, cellar plumbing, cellar conversions, bonded sheet membranes, basement waterproofing, cellar damp proofing, cellar refurbishment, cellar waterproofing, basement remodeling, cementitious tanking, basement conversion design, small cellar conversion, cellar tanking, cellar surveys and more.

Ideas For a Cellar Conversion

• Gymnasium
• Swimming Pool
• Man Cave
• Bar
• Extra Bedroom
• Guest Room
• Kid's Playroom
• Games Room
• Laundry Room
• Study
• Kitchen

Basement Conversion Services Reading

Basement Conversion in Reading

• Reading Cellar Tanking
• Reading Commercial Cellar Conversions
• Reading Basement Flooring
• Reading Basement Remodeling
• Reading Cellar Surveys
• Reading Basement Waterproofing Services
• Reading Residential Cellar Conversions
• Reading Basement Conversion
• Reading Cellar Damp Proofing
• Reading Rising Damp Control
• Reading Cheap Cellar Conversions
• Reading Cellar Conversion Quotes
• Reading Cellar Conversion
• Reading Cellar Refurbishment

Other Useful Trades in Reading Berkshire

Undoubtedly, whenever you happen to be doing home improvements in Reading, Berkshire, you'll likely need all sorts of different tradespeople and aside from a basement conversion specialist in Reading, Berkshire, you might additionally need basement waterproofing in Reading, black mould removal in Reading, damp proofing in Reading, a plasterer in Reading, condensation control in Reading, an electrician in Reading, a plumber in Reading, timber preservation in Reading, a builder in Reading, basement surveys in Reading, loft conversion in Reading, a painter & decorator in Reading, a carpenter in Reading, home improvements in Reading, a bricklayer in Reading, basement flooding solutions in Reading, a property extension in Reading, and other different Reading tradesmen.

More Berkshire cellar conversion specialists: Woodley, Maidenhead, Wokingham, Crowthorne, Slough, Finchampstead, Winkfield, London and Reading.

To read local Reading information take a look here

Basement conversions in RG1 area, telephone code 0118.

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