Instead of thinking about renovating your upstairs rooms to provide extra space for your home, have you considered your basement? In recent years basement conversions have become even more popular than converting your loft or garage space. In the past basements were seen as damp, dark unusable rooms, that really only functioned either as cellars or for storing excess furniture or the detritus that always seems to accumulate around the house. But nowadays, with new developments in construction techniques and with many of the new design features that you can incorporate into a renovating project, a basement can be easily turned into a beautiful, light and airy room that is, above all, functional.
One of the main reasons that people have taken to converting their basement areas with such enthusiasm is that in most homes the basement is generally closer to the other communal living areas – for example, a basement is usually close to the entrance of the house, which in turn is usually close to the kitchen. It may also be closer to plumbing and utilities which, of course, makes it easier to turn the room into a bathroom or kitchen. This gives people far more flexibility in choosing what they want the basement to be, as opposed to a loft which can be much farther away from the rest of the house.
Some of the most popular new uses for a converted basement space include a kids’ rumpus room, hobby room or study. Because most basements are located near the entrance of the house, many people have also decided to change their basement into an office or business area. If you have a basement big enough, you may even consider converting it into a “granny flat” or separate student accommodation. This can be great for your guests or for when your grownup children come home at holidays. Depending on zoning laws you may even wish to rent out the room to a lodger for extra income.
Because the basement is essentially at the foundations of your home, renovating or converting the space can become quite a complex project. If you’re planning any extensions onto your home, or making any external changes you need to be aware that you will probably require planning approval before you begin. Basements can also present many problems for builders because of water seepage and damp. Specialist advice may be needed to help make your basement habitable.
Choosing the right building team, therefore, is critical in ensuring the success of your project. Contact us to see how we can help you to design and build the ideal basement conversion for you!