Cellar Conversion Blackburn Lancashire (BB1): An excellent way to create useful living space in your property in Blackburn without the need to resort to doing a loft conversion or a brick extension, is to change that dark, unwelcoming space beneath your property into a bright, airy room with a basement (or cellar) conversion. Whether you want to use the additional space as a home gym, games room, bar or even turn it into a separate flat, a cellar conversion brings useful space closer to the living area of your home than can be achieved with a loft conversion.
It's also a relatively straightforward way to add value to your house; the property specialists Savills have claimed that it can raise the value by up to around 15% to equivalent homes in your neighbourhood. A basement conversion permits you to create additional space, which if you've previously converted an attic space into bedrooms, is an important and desirable addition to your home. This investment doesn't just enhance your everyday living; it also places your home in a stronger competitive position in the the Blackburn real estate market.
Before rushing into this process it is certainly worth asking a few questions: 1. For what are you going to use the extra rooms or room created? 2. Are the advantages of a basement conversion worth the costs that are involved with doing it? 3. What will a conversion mean in terms of the amount of work necessary and the disturbance to the household? 4. How do you stay clear of shoddy builders and identify a top notch Blackburn contractor who'll be able to convert the basement and offer guarantees for all the work that's needed?
Why a Cellar Conversion in Blackburn?
If you're merely going to remodel a pre-existing cellar without the need to raise the height of the ceiling, then in most cases you don't need local authority planning permission. In most instances you're pretty much free to use a renovated and converted basement with few restrictions, however if your home has a shared party wall with a neighbour, is in a conservation area or is a listed structure, there are different regulations that have to be followed.
For most homeowners in Blackburn, the reason they wish to have a basement conversion created in their house is to make full use of invaluable living space. This is especially true where living space is restricted such as in many areas of Blackburn. If you don't need the extra living space for you own use, a cellar conversion can be changed into a self contained flat to earn some welcome extra cash.
In all honesty the only limitations to what you can do with your basement conversion are your budget and your imagination. Perhaps you've always desired a home cinema or games room, or you could install a bar and "voila", instant pub for you and your friends. With recent opportunities for working at home, converting your cellar into a quiet and isolated office space, where you're less likely to be disturbed, might be just the thing to get you out of your stressful daily commute.
What is Involved?
Although local authority planning permission may not have to be obtained there are specific Building Regulation clearances that you will definitely need. These regulations give you, and any future purchaser of your home, the assurance that your cellar conversion observes the legislation and guidelines for water supply, electrical installations, health & safety, ventilation, ceiling height, fire escapes and damp proofing. Fortunately your Blackburn basement conversion specialists will be able to deal with all of these legal guidelines as part of the build process.
It matters not if your cellar does not seem to be damp nor has any sign of mould; you'll still have to get an appropriate damp proof membrane put in to offer a dry, watertight area suitable for conversion. Any damp proofing and waterproofing technique that you decide to use has to abide by the BS8102 recommendations which your Blackburn builder is required to follow. A trusted company should be willing to provide you with an insurance supported guarantee for their work, should the membrane ever fail.
The floor surfaces, electrical installations, ventilation, insulation, heating, water supply and lighting will most likely all have to be installed or upgraded. Underfloor heating is increasingly popular in basement conversions in Blackburn because it is efficient and spreads heat evenly. This space saving style of heating is concealed beneath your cellar floor covering and calls for a minimal amount of maintenance once it has been fitted.
An accredited electrician must be used to complete all electrical rewiring and testing on your cellar conversion project. Inexpensive and effective LED lighting units can be recessed into the ceiling to provide maximum ceiling to floor height and guarantee your basement conversion has a natural, bright feel.
Ventilation and insulation are crucial issues that must be dealt with from the planning and design stage. Insufficient insulation leaves your cellar conversion with possible cold spots which could increase the potential for dampness. A lack of ventilation can also bring about a gradual build up of humidity which is known to trigger issues with damp and mould.
Finding a Cellar Conversion Contractor in Blackburn
It is best practice to obtain at least three price quotes from different building companies in Blackburn, to compare prices, service and guarantees for your basement conversion project. Ask if you can see appropriate building trade membership and accreditation certificates, if you have any concerns about their credentials.
If you are given a preliminary estimate after a site survey it may only cover the basic aspects of your cellar conversion, such as access issues, damp proofing considerations and the floor. Through discussion with your contractor you're able to add your personal preferences, i.e. you might need a room to be separated, have a kitchen or bathroom installed or raise the ceiling height by digging out the existing floor.
You will agree on a final price with an exact quotation for all work to be carried out which includes all of the required documents applicable to the Blackburn area for the planning laws, party wall agreements and building regulation applications. The final quote should also include a breakdown of the various aspects of the cellar conversion to provide you with an accurate understanding of the costs involved in every phase.
If you're concerned about how to get more natural light into your cellar conversion, your chosen contractor will be able to offer solutions such as opening up stairs or installing light wells, and will also take care of any other doubts you might have. If you require new electrical wiring for additional lighting, sockets or computing and entertainment systems these should all be dealt with at this point.
If your access to the basement is limited it may have to be adapted subject to what uses you have in mind for your basement conversion. After all, what is the point of designing a fancy cellar conversion as a bar, gymnasium or games room if it isn't possible to haul the equipment down the stairs.
Whatever you eventually decide to do with your basement or cellar conversion you will want it to stay dry and warm regardless of the weather. If this is going to be readily guaranteed and achieved, you'll need an experienced basement conversion company with the appropriate membership and accreditation of a trade association.
A Federation of Master Builders (FMB) membership and accreditation by your Blackburn contractor illustrates their reliability in the building industry. You are able to check out how effectively a construction company has performed in the past by accessing the highly respected TrustMark website and seeing the dependability figures it has accomplished. The Trading Standards Authority supervise the scheme and it is backed by the UK government.
Happily the overwhelming majority of builders who undertake basement conversions in Blackburn are highly qualified and trustworthy builders and construction industry workers. A genuine building company will help you in any possible way to give you proof of their credibility, and provide all the necessary information in order to build trust and a harmonious working relationship.
Home and business owners who live in Intack, Mellor, Mill Hill, Shadsworth, Hoddlesden, Pleasington, Balderstone, Ewood, Whitebirk, Brownhill, in these postcodes: BB1 1DG, BB1 1SS, BB1 1BX, BB1 1BG, BB1 1NF, BB1 1EB, BB1 1HY, BB1 1RX, BB1 1EH, and BB1 1UH, or other locations outside of Blackburn can also benefit from these basement conversion services, and make full use of the help they provide. Local Blackburn basement conversion specialists will likely have the postcode BB1 and the telephone dialling code 01254. Checking this will guarantee you are accessing local providers of cellar conversion. Blackburn home and business owners will be able to utilise these and lots of other related services. To to make enquiries and obtain quotes for basement conversion, you just need to click on the "Quote" banner.
Home Cinema Conversions Blackburn
The notion of changing a cellar conversion into a home cinema is an idea which has been growing in popularity in recent years. If you love nothing more than bingeing on soaps, box sets or movies this might be the perfect choice for you. Since cellars are normally darker because of the deficiency of natural light they are an ideal setting for a cinema. Even more important, this kind of addition to your home generates extra social space where your whole family can come together and have fun in a relaxed atmosphere.
Cellar Planning Permission - Do I Need It?
If your house in Blackburn already has a basement that's presently being used as storage or similar, and you want to convert it into a livable room, it will be regarded as "change of use" and you will not need to make an application for local authority planning permission. If your current cellar space does not have adequate head room to accomplish what you want with it, you will need to excavate the floor to improve the ceiling height, in which case planning permission will most likely be required, because you are expanding the volume of your property. This type of planning application will nearly always be approved, provided that you aren't modifying your property's external appearance to any great degree. Any decent cellar conversion company in Blackburn will be able to get you all the relevant information in regards to this, or if at all unsure get hold of your local council planning division. For much more details visit the planning portal here.
The Importance of Waterproofing
When considering doing a conversion, waterproofing your basement is just about the most critical aspect of the procedure. You obviously would not want to spend all that money remodeling your cellar, only to discover that the space you've created is damp and mouldy. This is precisely why it is essential to hire a highly professional conversion team in Blackburn to handle the project. When you're waterproofing an underground basement, there are essentially 2 ways that you can approach it. The passage of water into the cellar can either be redirected into a drainage channel by the use of waterproof membranes, whence it can be silently pumped from the building, or it can be prevented by cementitious tanking, applied as a wet slurry type mixture.
Cellar and Basement Conversion Surveys Blackburn
Converting a basement or cellar into an additional living area is a project many homeowners in Blackburn will consider at some point in time. A professional survey is necessary to see if your particular basement is actually suitable for converting, before any physical work is undertaken.
A surveyor who inspects your house should be qualified in underground constructions, and will have spoken with you before arriving regarding the usage you have planned for your cellar/basement. This enables them to determine just what steps need to be taken to legally and safely convert your basement as per your requirements.
The construction of your cellar or basement will be checked over, and the demands for adequate ventilation, water drainage and electricity installation will be considered. Your professional surveyor will also need to consider the specific British Standards guidelines and building codes related to basement and cellar conversion. These include things like damp proofing, fire escapes and ceiling height, and if there are any party wall agreements which must be addressed.
Cellar Conversion Tasks Blackburn
Your chosen Blackburn basement conversion specialist should be able to assist you with most basement related work, and this includes basement remodeling, sump pumps, cellar conversion, cellar damp proofing, basement plumbing, basement conversion planning permission, cellar tanking, cellar conversions, basement lighting, basement conversions, basement tanking, damp proofing, structural waterproofing, timber preservation, cellar refurbishment, basement refurbishment, bonded sheet membranes, black mould removal, cellar remodeling, basement flooding solutions, waterproof membranes, condensation control, basement waterproofing and more.
Basement Conversion Near Blackburn
Also find: Mill Hill cellar conversion, Intack cellar conversion, Ewood cellar conversion, Mellor cellar conversion, Hoddlesden cellar conversion, Balderstone cellar conversion, Whitebirk cellar conversion, Pleasington cellar conversion, Shadsworth cellar conversion, Brownhill cellar conversion and more. Contractors who do cellar conversion can be found in all of these towns and villages. With a wealth of knowledge and expertise, these skilled professionals are well-equipped to transform your basement into an inviting and functional living area. For those imagining a snug basement lounge, a home office or an additional bedroom, these specialists are capable of turning such dreams into reality. To obtain cellar conversion estimates, local property owners can go here.
Possible Uses For a Cellar Conversion
- Child's Playroom
- Bedroom
- Indoor Plunge Pool
- Laundry Room
- Kitchen
- Micro-Brewery
- Games Room
- Office
- Mock Pub
- Gym
- Wine Cellar
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Basement conversions in BB1 area, telephone code 01254.
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