19 Oct This Is the Perfect Time for a Basement Conversion
Unlike most countries, homes in the UK don’t usually have a basement, especially if they’ve been built in the past hundred years. Even when there is a basement, it’s often used as nothing more than storage space.
However, with property so expensive these days, it can often be better to make use of what you have, rather than move to somewhere bigger. And, in this new world of Covid, there are more reasons than ever to have a basement conversion or a basement extension.
Covid-Friendly Basement Conversions
Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, we’ve had to rethink many of our reasons for going out. Most obviously, working from home has suddenly become mainstream, rather than an exception, and it’s likely that much of this change will remain permanent, even after the pandemic is over.
This means that many of us have had to find spaces to work at home. The kitchen table or a corner of the living room may have been fine for a short-term solution, but for longer-term home working a proper home office or workshop is necessary. If you need all the rooms in the main part of the house for their original uses, your basement could be the perfect alternative.
Working isn’t the only restriction the pandemic has forced on us. If you went regularly to the gym before the lockdown, you may be reluctant for safety reasons to go back, even if it’s open. A cellar conversion offers the perfect space for your own home gym.
Basement Conversions and Basement Extensions
The simplest type of basement conversion is if your existing basement is already large enough for your needs. In this case, you may simply need it to be refurbished, although it’s likely that it will also need extra waterproofing and a light well to make it usable. Depending on access to the outside, you may also want air conditioning installed.
If you only have a small space, however, it can be extended to the whole footprint of the building, or you can have the floor lowered to give more height. You could even have a new basement excavated to your specification, which will require the building to be underpinned.
Besides a home office or a home gym, a basement can be put to numerous uses. It could be anything from a home cinema or media room to a semi-independent flat, or even a swimming pool.
What Does a Basement Conversion Cost?
Basement conversion costs depend on your requirements. For a straightforward conversion, for instance, the cost may be around £1,500 per square metre. Basement extensions and new excavations will obviously cost more, perhaps up to £3,000 per square metre.
While this may seem a lot to pay out, it could prove a great investment in the long term. A good chunk of the price might be offset by avoiding commuting costs or gym membership over the years, while a basement can increase the value of your property by significantly more than you paid out.
Whatever type of basement conversion you choose, however, you need an expert contractor who has a great track record in this kind of work. Get in touch with us to find out more.