Multiguard
Solutions UK- Considerations -Cellar
Conversions and basement damp proofing in Northants
and other UK mainland areas.
Telephone Multiguard - 01908-516366
-for a friendly reliable service from the caring
profesionals
!
New!
Cellar waterproofing system,
preventing damp in basements / completing cellar
conversions from Multiguard Solutions!
Cellar conversions,
basement treatments
eg tanking, damp proofing, waterproofing Northants
based cellar conversion services,
also covering all areas of the UK!
Important
Considerations for Basements
http://www.buildingarticles.co.uk/article.cfm?aID=33
Date: 02/06/05
Water level
An important element of the decision as to whether
to progress with a basement conversion is the height
of the water table around your house.
Steve Bushell suggests digging a test hole up to
2 metres below where you want your foundations to
stop, to test the water level. It’s also worth
talking to the local water board. “You can
tank and damp proof your basement, but if your water
table is too high, the costs may be prohibitive,”
Steve adds.
Planning
permissions:
You don’t usually need planning permission
for a cellar conversion unless you significantly
alter its usage or add a light well, which will
change the external appearance of the property.
You will however need planning permission to create
a new basement. It is always worth checking with
the local authorities in all cases to make sure
you comply with Planning Permissions.
Party wall agreements:
Your neighbours will worry about the possibility
of subsidence when you begin work on your basement,
so it is important to draw up Party Wall agreements
with your neighbours, before you start interfering
with their walls and foundations. Under the Party
Wall Act, they are entitled to the services of a
surveyor to look after their interests at your expense.
Building
regulations:
Structural work needs Building Regulations approval.
This can also apply to electrical wiring, safe access,
a fire escape route, ventilation and damp proofing.
Damp:
If the basement is correctly tanked and damp proofed
and well ventilated, then there should be no problems.
However it’s worth remembering that a basement
will have no direct sunlight so will be naturally
cooler and require more heating.
Ventilation:
In terms of Building Regulations, if you have an
open staircase into the basement, this is deemed
to be adequate ventilation. However if the basement
has doors separating it from the stairs or it houses
a bathroom, bedroom or kitchen, then Building Regulations
would require a natural airflow, for example through
an air pipe from outside.
Light:
There will be little natural light coming into the
basement area, so it is important to consider how
you want to light the downstairs area. It is possible
to dig out from the front or back garden and use
paving lights to bring the natural light into the
basement. You can also position the staircase to
bring natural light downstairs.
Costs:
Basements do cost more than loft conversion or extensions,
because of the effort involved in digging down to
the foundations. Where you have to start from scratch,
the costs will be around 60% greater than for converting
an existing cellar or basement.
Visit our Cellar Page for information
about waterproofing your cellar/ basement
Telephone
Multiguard Solutions
01908-516366
Multiguard Solutions UK - specialists
in waterproofing cellars - tanking basements - providing
drainage products to convert basement or cellars
for dry storage or habitable use.
Multiguard - Waterproofing wet basements - we repair
flooded basement and damp cellars - offer basement
renovation including newbuild basements - specialists
in water proofing basements to prevent flooding.
Need to water control cellars? - damp proofing in
basements, waterproofing (tanking) cellars - just
one of our home and commercial business rennovation
and improvement services!
