Cellar Conversion Watford

According to the property agents Savills, a converted cellar can also add between 10-15% to the market value of your property. If you've already converted your loft space to provide space for your ever growing family, a cellar or basement conversion enables you to create much needed extra living space.

If you're considering a basement conversion make certain you've asked yourself these questions before commencing: 1. What do you want to do with the additional space you are going to generate with the conversion? 2. What sort of costs are involved and what positive benefits can be attained from a cellar conversion? 3. What level of work is necessary to convert your basement or cellar? 4. How do you select a builder you can count on to do a top quality cellar conversion in Watford?

If your property has already got a basement, then there is no need to put in for planning permission if you are purely transforming it into a living area, but if you've got to dig out the floor to increase the ceiling height then you first need to check with your local council planning department. You will however have to check with the local council authorities if you live in a conservation area, if you share a party wall (requires different regulations) or if your home is listed.

One of the main reasons provided by property owners in Watford for renovating a basement is to transform the underused space into something practical. This is especially true where space is restricted such as in many areas of Watford. If you don't need the extra living space for you own use, a cellar conversion can easily be transformed into a self contained apartment to generate welcome extra cash.

In truth the uses of a basement conversion are limited only by your imagination.....and your budget of course. Maybe you have always wanted a games room or home cinema, or you could always install a bar and "hey presto", instant pub for you and your pals. If you happen to be someone who works from home a basement conversion can become the perfect 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 set of approvals and certificates needed from the Building Regulation office, to make it legal. These important regulations give you, and any future owner of your house, the confidence that the basement conversion conforms to the laws and recommendations for electrical installations, damp proofing, ventilation, water sources, health and safety, minimum ceiling heights and fire escapes. These rules and regulations should be addressed as part of the construction process by your Watford cellar conversion specialists.

It does not matter if your cellar does not feel damp nor has any indication of mould; you'll still need to have a suitable cementitious tanking or waterproof membrane put in to offer a dry, watertight area suitable for conversion. Any damp proofing that you choose to use must comply with the BS8102 guidelines which your Watford cellar conversion specialist must observe. To put your mind at ease, ask the conversion company if they offer an insurance backed warranty to cover damp proof membrane failure and resulting water ingress.

Consult with the builders regarding the installation or upgrade of the ventilation, electrical installations, lighting, water supply, heating, floor coverings and insulation, to to make sure you get the most suitable products for your specific cellar conversion. A very effective way to keep your cellar conversion warm is to put in underfloor heating, which evenly distributes heat around the room. It needs minimal maintenance once it is put in and is a concealed type of heating, which helps to save space.

Any sort of electric installations must always be carried out by an experienced electrician. Look for recessed lighting systems to reduce the concern about height problems, and with a wide range of cost effective Led lamps currently available, your basement can feel bright and airy even if there is a lack of natural light.

Two important factors that your contractor will discuss with you are the best ways to provide adequate ventilation and insulation. Substandard insulation will leave your cellar conversion with cold spots which could increase damp. Substandard ventilation can also bring about a constant build up of humidity which is known to trigger problems with mould and damp.

It is best practice to acquire a minimum of 3 estimates from different builders in Watford, to compare guarantees, service and prices for your basement conversion project. Not every builder is alike with regards to cellar conversions and it's advisable to ask if you can see the appropriate trade and building memberships and accreditations if you've got any doubts about their working standards.

A preliminary estimate may be provided after an on-site survey for a standard cellar conversion with access, waterproofing and flooring considerations being evaluated. Through discussion with your building company you are able to incorporate your personal specifications, for instance you might need a room to be divided, have a kitchen or bathroom installed or increase the ceiling height by digging out the current floor.

You should sign off on a final price with an accurate quote for all work to be completed including all the required paperwork pertaining to the Watford area for the planning laws, party wall agreements and building regulation applications. The final quote should also include a job-by-job breakdown of the individual components of the conversion to give you an accurate idea of the costs involved in each phase.

A dependable company can provide recommendations to resolve all of your worries including ways to improve natural light to your conversion by the use of light wells or opening up staircases. This is also the best time to consult with a fully qualified electrician about the installation of additional wiring for lighting, plug sockets, computer networks and entertainment.

Access to your basement is very important as subject to how you plan to use your newly created living space might mean that the entryways have to be modified. It is pointless to plan for a gym, games room or bar complete with equipment if you have problems getting down a narrow, winding staircase whilst holding a mug of coffee.

It is crystal clear that no matter what you plan to convert your cellar into, you'll need it to remain dry and warm in summer and winter. If this is going to be readily accomplished, you'll need a reliable builder with the necessary membership and accreditation of a trade association.

You can verify that your Watford cellar conversion company is on the list of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) to ensure you're hiring a trusted and reliable builder of excellence. You can check how efficiently a building company has performed previously by going to the highly respected TrustMark website and looking at the dependability figures it has attained. This is a scheme created by Trading Standards with support from the government.

Happily a large majority of building companies who carry out basement conversions in Watford are highly qualified and trustworthy building and construction workers. But it takes only a tiny minority of unethical companies to ruin trust, and a professional company will acknowledge your concerns and help to allay your worries if they possibly can.

Small Basement Conversion Watford

Even small basements or cellars can be converted into functional spaces with the right design, and a reputable Watford cellar conversion company will create a fabulous new room exclusively for you. You might be able to create some precious space in your kitchen by converting your small cellar to a purpose built laundry room for your tumble dryer and washing machine.

Maybe you need an office where you can work from home; even a little room can be used effectively with purpose built furniture designed and installed by a professional Watford company. A tiny cellar can also be converted into a tranquil oasis, where you can hide away from the worry of work and everyday life, enjoying a good book or listening to your favourite music. With comfortable seating, subtle lighting and a storage unit you'll have all that you need to chill out and while away the hours. The usage and design options are countless for even the tiniest cellar space in Watford.

Waterproofing Basements Watford

Waterproofing is one of the most important things to consider when you are planning to carry out a cellar conversion. Finding that your newly created area is damp and mouldy a year after doing your conversion is surely a thing that you want to avoid. This is precisely why you need somebody you can depend on to undertake the work to the highest standard. When you're waterproofing an existing underground cellar, there are essentially 2 ways to do it. The incursion of moisture into your basement can either be stemmed by a cementitious tanking material, employed in the form of a slurry, or it can be redirected into a drainage channel using waterproof membranes, whence it's quietly pumped out of the building. (Tags: Cellar Waterproofing Watford, Waterproofing Basements Watford, Basement Waterproofing Watford)

Cellar Conversion Tasks Watford

Your chosen Watford basement conversion specialist will be able to help you with most basement related work, and this includes cellar waterproofing, basement flooding solutions, cellar conversion, timber preservation, basement refurbishment, sprayed concrete, basement conversions, bonded sheet membranes, cellar remodeling, cellar surveys, basement waterproofing, cellar conversion estimates, basement surveys, damp proofing, waterproof membranes, sump pumps, condensation control, woodworm treaments, commercial basement conversion, basement remodeling, small cellar conversion, black mould removal, cellar electrics and more.

Basement Conversion Near Watford

Also find: Chandler's Cross cellar conversion, Oxhey cellar conversion, Batchworth cellar conversion, Bedmond cellar conversion, Garston cellar conversion, Letchmore Heath cellar conversion, Flaunden cellar conversion, Chipperfield cellar conversion, Sarratt cellar conversion, Eastbury cellar conversion, South Oxhey cellar conversion and more.

Basement Conversion Services Watford

Basement Conversion in Watford

• Watford Cellar Remodeling
• Watford Basement Refurbishment
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• Watford Basement Flooring
• Watford Rising Damp Control
• Watford Basement Surveys
• Watford Cellar Waterproofing
• Watford Cellar Conversion
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• Watford Domestic Cellar Conversions
• Watford Basement Conversion
• Watford Basement Remodeling
• Watford Commercial Cellar Conversions
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For local information on Watford, Hertfordshire click here

More Hertfordshire cellar conversion specialists: Potters Bar, Hemel Hempstead, Wheathampstead, Redbourn, Letchworth, Hoddesdon, Sawbridgeworth, Berkhamsted, Sandridge, Hertford, Watford, Kings Langley, Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, St Albans, Buntingford, Tring, Cuffley, Hatfield, Elstree, Bishops Stortford, Royston, Bushey, Harpenden, Bovingdon, Broxbourne, Colney Heath, Hitchin, Cheshunt.

Cellar Conversion Jobs Watford: Find basement conversion jobs near Watford here: Watford Cellar Conversion Jobs

Basement conversions in WD17 area, (dialling code 01923).

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