Cellar Conversion Southend-on-Sea Essex (SS0): Converting an unwelcome and dark cellar into an airy, bright living area is an excellent option for those folks wanting to generate extra space in their home without the need to build an extension. It also brings a fully functional room closer to the main living areas of your property, which is useful for hosting parties, to use as a study, a home gym or even a spare bedroom for an elderly relative.
It's also a relatively easy means by which to add extra value to your house; the property specialists Savills state it can increase the market value by up to about 15% to comparable properties in your neighbourhood. A cellar conversion allows you to generate extra space, which if you have already converted an attic space into bedrooms, is an important and useful addition to your house. It's about more than just enhancing your daily living; such an investment also positions your dwelling competitively in the real estate market.
Before taking the plunge it is worth asking a few questions: 1. Precisely what do you want to do with the additional space you can achieve with the conversion? 2. Are the attributes of a basement conversion actually worth the expense that is involved with doing it? 3. What is a conversion going to mean with regard to the amount of work needed and disruption to your home? 4. How do you find a local Southend-on-Sea based cellar conversion firm that's dependable and efficient?
Why Pick a Cellar Conversion in Southend-on-Sea?
Unlike doing extensions and loft conversions, a basement conversion doesn't normally require planning permission if you're merely making it into a functional living space, but if you've got to do any major construction works like lowering the level of the floor you must ask the local council precisely what your options are. There are different rules if your home is listed, shares a party wall with a neighbour or is in a conservation area, but in most cases you are free to utilise the space as a living area with very few constraints.
The ability to free up precious living space in their home is the main reason many property owners in Southend-on-Sea choose to do a cellar or basement conversion. This is particularly relevant where living space is limited such as in many parts of Southend-on-Sea. If you do not need the additional living area for you own use, a cellar conversion can easily be changed into a self contained apartment to earn welcome extra cash.
Actually the uses of a cellar conversion are only limited by your own imagination.....and your budget of course. In Southend-on-Sea bars, home cinemas and games rooms are favourite choices for a cellar conversion, to provide a comfortable space for entertaining family and mates. With recent opportunities for home working, converting your basement into a comfortable and isolated office space, where you're much less likely to be interrupted, could be just the thing to break you out of your daily commute.
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 department, to make certain it's legal and above board. These stringent Building Regulations, that must be observed by your building company, will make sure that the cellar conversion fulfills all the required building guidelines in relation to electrical installations, ventilation, damp proofing, health & safety, minimum ceiling heights, water sources and fire escapes. These regulations and rules should be addressed as an integral part of the build process by your Southend-on-Sea cellar conversion specialists.
Even if there aren't any visible signs of damp or mould in your existing basement, it will still need some type of cementitious tanking or damp proof membrane so that it stays dry and render it acceptable for converting. Your Southend-on-Sea cellar conversion specialist will help you choose which procedure is best for your particular conversion and also make certain it abides by the recommendations set down by the British Standards BS8102 regulations. For peace of mind, ask the conversion company if they can provide you with an insurance supported warranty against damp proof membrane failure and resulting water ingress.
The installation or upgrading of insulation, ventilation, lights, water sources, floor coverings, heating and electrical installations will also have to be talked over with your chosen conversion company. A very efficient way to warm up your cellar and basement conversion is to put in underfloor heating, which evenly distributes the heat around the area. It's also concealed underneath your chosen flooring style and requires minimal maintenance.
Only competent electricians should be used to accomplish any electric rewiring that needs to be done on your cellar conversion. Effective and cheap LED light fittings can be recessed into the ceiling to provide the maximum possible ceiling to floor height and ensure that your cellar conversion has a bright, natural feel.
Two vital elements that your builder will will want to discuss are how to provide the necessary ventilation and insulation. The correct insulation should provide enough protection to stop dampness from cold spots occuring in your conversion. Additionally poor ventilation can cause problems, not just from stagnant air, but also by encouraging a build up of humidity which is a serious concern where dampness is concerned.
Choosing a Cellar Conversion Company in Southend-on-Sea
Before selecting your contractor in Southend-on-Sea, obtain as many quotations as possible to allow you to evaluate the different services and prices available. If you are at all in doubt about the credentials of a builder it should not be a problem if you ask to see their proof of membership and accreditation to the relevant trade organisations.
A preliminary estimate could be provided at the end of an on-site survey for a basic basement conversion with damp proofing, flooring and access measures being evaluated. Follow up calls from the builders should look to provide some clarification of your own requirements, i.e. increasing the height of your cellar by the excavation of the existing floor, or the installation of a kitchen or toilet in a separate room.
An exact quote from a local Southend-on-Sea basement conversion company should contain any appropriate party wall agreements, planning laws and building regulation applications required before work can begin. It should also be broken down into individual sections of the overall project so you are able to get a better understanding of the eventual price.
If you have concerns about how you can get more natural light into your basement conversion, your chosen builder should be able to offer recommendations such as installing light wells or opening up staircases, and will also advise about any other anxieties you might have. They will also be able to suggest the best way to adapt the basement and electrical installations for additional sockets, lighting, entertainment systems and computer networks you need.
Access to your basement is extremely important because subject to how you plan to use your new living space could mean that the entrances need to be adapted. Your elaborate design might be based on your dream of turning your cellar conversion into a games room, bar or gymnasium, but if the access isn't suitable how will the equipment get down there?
Whatever you want to do with your basement conversion you want it to remain dry and warm regardless of the weather. For this you need your cellar conversion tradesmen to be qualified and backed up by membership and accreditation to the relevant building organisations.
A Federation of Master Builders (FMB) membership and accreditation by your Southend-on-Sea building company shows their professionalism and reliability in the building and construction industry. You can check out how effectively a building company has performed on previous jobs by going to the highly respected TrustMark website and looking at the trustworthiness figures it has attained. The Trading Standards Authority run the scheme and it is backed by the government.
It is a fact that the overwhelming majority of businesses who carry out basement conversions in Southend-on-Sea are trustworthy with highly qualified construction workers. But it only takes a tiny number of unprincipled companies to ruin trust, and a reliable conversion company will recognise your concerns and help to ease your worries if they possibly can.
Cellar conversion services are naturally not only accessible in Southend-on-Sea itself, but additionally in nearby towns and villages like Barling, Daws Heath, Eastern Avenue, Thorpe Bay, Temple Farm, North Shoebury, Little Wakering, Two Tree Island, Shopland, Chalkwell, in these postcodes: SS0 0BL, SS0 0RP, SS0 0RG, SS0 0PE, SS0 0JZ, SS0 0RB, SS0 0NQ, SS0 0SX, SS0 0TB, and SS0 0PU, and other areas of the region. Local Southend-on-Sea basement conversion specialists will likely have the postcode SS0 and the phone code 01702. Checking this out will make sure that you're accessing locally based providers of cellar conversion. Southend-on-Sea homeowners can utilise these and numerous other similar services. Just click the "Quote" banner to get estimates for basement conversion.
Cellar Waterproofing Southend-on-Sea
By far the most critical aspect of a cellar conversion is waterproofing your existing basement. You definitely don't want to shell out all that money transforming your basement, only to discover that the space created is damp and mouldy. This is precisely why you need somebody you can trust to undertake the work to the highest possible standard. There are basically two methods that can be used for waterproofing an existing underground cellar. Moisture can be curbed from seeping into your basement by either stopping its ingress using a water impermeable cementitious tanking material that is put on as a watery slurry, or by the use of waterproof membranes which reroute water into a cavity and then silently pumped out.
Small Cellar Conversions Southend-on-Sea
Develop a unique new living space, even if your existing cellar or basement is only small, by using an experienced Southend-on-Sea cellar conversion company to design, plan and then build it. It may be transformed into a utility area, creating more much needed space in the kitchen by moving your washing machine and tumble dryer out of the way.
Maybe you need an office to work from home; even a modest room can be efficiently used with custom furniture made and put in by a professional Southend-on-Sea company. A compact cellar can also be converted into an oasis of tranquillity, where you can hide yourself away from the stresses of work and everyday life, enjoying a good book or listening to some music. Add a bit of soft lighting, comfy seating and a media centre or bookshelf and you'll be in business. You are limited only by the depths of your imagination for what you can accomplish with a small cellar conversion in Southend-on-Sea.
Basement Conversion Surveys Southend-on-Sea
Many households in Southend-on-Sea will look at converting their basement or cellar into an additional living area at some point. The first step in this process is to make sure your basement is suitable for conversion, and in order to do this you must arrange a professional survey of your cellar/basement area.
Any surveyor who inspects your property must be certified in below-ground constructions, and will have spoken to you before arriving concerning the planned usage of your basement/cellar. This will enable them to assess just what procedures need to be followed to legally and safely do a conversion on your cellar in line with your requirements.
The structure of your basement or cellar will be assessed, and the requirements for ventilation, electricity and plumbing will be considered. Your professional surveyor will also need to evaluate the particular British Standards guidelines and building codes related to cellar conversions. Such measures include factors like damp proofing, ceiling height and fire escapes, and whether any party wall agreements must be satisfied. There are plenty of authorised surveyors in the region, if you need to have a cellar conversion survey in Southend-on-Sea. (Tags: Basement Conversion Surveys Southend-on-Sea, Basement Surveys Southend-on-Sea, Cellar Conversion Surveys Southend-on-Sea).
Basement Planning Permission Southend-on-Sea
If your house in Southend-on-Sea already has a basement that's presently being used for storage or something similar, and you want to convert it into a livable space, it will be considered to be "change of use" and you won't have to make an application for planning permission from your local authority. Having said that, if you have to excavate the floor so as to increase the ceiling height, it will be treated more like an extension and you may then need to have planning permission. Planning permission will more often than not be granted, as long as you aren't changing your home's external appearance to any significant extent. Any decent basement conversion specialist in Southend-on-Sea will be able to give you all the information in regards to this, or if unsure get in touch with your local council planning division.
Potential Ideas For a Cellar Conversion
- Man Cave
- Study
- Kid's Playroom
- Granny "Annexe" Apartment
- Home Gym
- Games Room
- Pub
- Spa Room
- Utility Room
- Indoor Plunge Pool
- Additional Bedroom
Basement Conversion Tasks Southend-on-Sea
Your local Southend-on-Sea cellar conversion specialist can deliver an extensive variety of services and tasks, and in addition to what's previously been covered here they should be able to do basement waterproofing, basement excavation, low ceiling basement conversions Southend-on-Sea, cellar conversion design, low ceiling cellar conversion Southend-on-Sea, basement conversion in Southend-on-Sea, basement refurbishment, budget basement conversion Southend-on-Sea, condensation control, basement conversion quotations, cellar conversion ideas, basement surveys, residential basement conversion in Southend-on-Sea, cellar electrics, bespoke cellar conversions, cellar conversion estimates, cellar floor repair & restoration, cellar waterproofing, bonded sheet membranes, obtaining planning permission for cellar conversions, budget cellar conversion Southend-on-Sea, basement lighting in Southend-on-Sea, commercial basement conversions, cellar surveys, black mould removal in Southend-on-Sea, wine cellar installation, cellar flooring, cellar remodeling, cellar tanking in Southend-on-Sea, cellar soundproofing, to mention a few. This is simply a selection of what can be done by a builder doing cellar conversion. Southend-on-Sea providers will be happy to tell you about their entire range of basement conversion services. If you've got basement conversion requirements in Southend-on-Sea, that you can't find here here, you should go HERE and complete the quote form provided.
Basement Conversion Near Southend-on-Sea
Also find: Little Wakering cellar conversion, Eastern Avenue cellar conversion, Barling cellar conversion, Shopland cellar conversion, Two Tree Island cellar conversion, Chalkwell cellar conversion, North Shoebury cellar conversion, Temple Farm cellar conversion, Daws Heath cellar conversion, Thorpe Bay cellar conversion and more. There are building contractors who specialise in cellar conversion in most of these localities. Bringing a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the table, these seasoned professionals are well-equipped to convert your basement into an inviting and functional living area. These specialists are adept at making your envisioned snug basement lounge, additional bedroom or home cinema a tangible reality. Local home and property owners can obtain cellar conversion estimates by clicking here.
Basement Conversion Services Southend-on-Sea
- Southend-on-Sea Commercial Cellar Conversions
- Southend-on-Sea Cellar Refurbishment
- Southend-on-Sea Basement Refurbishment
- Southend-on-Sea Domestic Cellar Conversions
- Southend-on-Sea Basement Damp Proofing
- Southend-on-Sea Cellar Conversion Quotes
- Southend-on-Sea Cellar Waterproofing
- Southend-on-Sea Cellar Remodeling
- Southend-on-Sea Basement Tanking
- Southend-on-Sea Basement Conversion
- Southend-on-Sea Rising Damp Control
- Southend-on-Sea Cheap Cellar Conversions
- Southend-on-Sea Basement Remodeling
- Southend-on-Sea Basement Flooring
Other Useful Services and Trades in Southend-on-Sea Essex
Undoubtedly, whenever you are doing home repairs and improvements in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, you will probably need all kinds of different tradesmen and together with a basement conversion specialist in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, you may additionally need a plumber in Southend-on-Sea, condensation control in Southend-on-Sea, a building contractor in Southend-on-Sea, basement waterproofing in Southend-on-Sea, a carpenter in Southend-on-Sea, damp proofing in Southend-on-Sea, basement flooding solutions in Southend-on-Sea, a home extension in Southend-on-Sea, an electrician in Southend-on-Sea, a painter & decorator in Southend-on-Sea, a tiler in Southend-on-Sea, basement surveys in Southend-on-Sea, loft conversion in Southend-on-Sea, a handyman in Southend-on-Sea, black mould removal in Southend-on-Sea, timber preservation in Southend-on-Sea, a plasterer in Southend-on-Sea, and other different Southend-on-Sea tradesmen.
To read local info about Southend-on-Sea, Essex go here
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Basement conversions in SS0 area, and dialling code 01702.
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