Convert your Cellar or Basement with AH Building Contractor
Why convert my basement or cellar?
We at AH Building Contactor suggest that basements are becoming increasingly as popular as a traditional extension option.
We believe homeowners either decide to include a basement conversion in the renovation of the whole house at the point that they buy it, or they reach crunch point in family life and choose to convert the basement instead of moving home.
In many parts of the UK, stamp duty can be as much as £20K, add that to moving costs and the price of a larger home, then more and more home owners are beginning to understand that, it makes better financial sense to convert the basement/cellar than move home.
What's the advantage of a cellar conversion over a loft conversion?
We at AH Building Contactor have realised the great advantage with basements, they not only add a whole new floor, it’s also space that can be used in many different ways.
With a loft extension, the space is so far from the living areas that it can only really be used for bedrooms, studies or bathrooms. Basements are close enough to the ground floor area to be used as playrooms, nanny bedrooms and bathrooms when a new baby arrives, living rooms, kitchens or accommodation for relatives. With the demands of modern lifestyles, basements are increasingly being turned into leisure areas with home cinemas, pool tables, home gyms and even swimming pools! You can also create an independent entrance or exit out into the back garden from the basement.
It really is the only way you can achieve a completely new floor level which is an exact footprint of your ground floor mirrored below. A basement creates a lot of extra space, which can be used for absolutely anything – it also frees up the rest of the house to be used in different ways. For example, nearly everyone puts a utility room, shower and toilet in their basement, irrespective of what else they put in there.
Can I convert my basement? What will I need to check?
We advise that before embarking on a basement conversion, there are some important factors to consider, in particular the height of the water table around the house, the existing cellar, basement or foundations, light into the area and ventilation. We can do this for you by requesting a free site survey and quotation.
Victorian and older-style properties that have timber-suspended floors are the ideal homes for basement conversions, as we can excavate from the outside. With most of these older properties, homeowners live in the house while the basement is being converted. The disruption in the house is limited to the last stage when the new staircase and balustrades are fitted.
We believe if there’s an existing cellar or basement, then you need to ascertain what the foundations are like. With Victorian properties, the foundations often don’t go down far enough, so we may need to underpin them. If your house is attached or a terrace, we will need to underpin not only your home’s foundations, but also your neighbours’ foundations too, as they are shared.
What if I don't have a basement?
It is possible to create a basement in a property with a solid floor even if there is not one there already, but it is likely to be much more expensive.
If there is not an existing basement or cellar, then the job is more complicated and costly, however it may still be very financially economical! We need to start by propping up the existing ground floor and for this, we may have to dig far deeper into the ground than the existing foundations.
The Water Guard system
At the heart of your basement construction or cellar conversion project we will install the most reliable waterproofing system.
The patented Water Guard system is installed just under the floor at the wall floor junction around the perimeter of your basement. It has holes in the back to accept water and a special flange on the back allowing it to intercept water penetrating at height levels. The Water Guard channels control water movement by diverting it to a Super Sump or another drain, where it can be safely removed from the property without trace to you inside the home.
For more information on our cellar conversion services in Manchester,
contact AH Building Contractor today: 077384 77063, or make an enquiry below: