BASEMENT CONVERSION

Have you been in a situation when there is a need for another room and yet all you have is a dusty basement? We just did so we converted the basement or cellar into a cozy and stay-worthy entertainment room for the entire family. Since our house is a semi-detached property, we thought of investing a considerable amount not just for the aesthetics and functionality of the house itself but we also put into consideration the home value which could increase by 30 – 50%.

With the help of my husband’s colleague, they were able to come up with a floor plan within a week. The thorough planning saved us from a lot of unnecessary expenses such as overspending on materials. So make sure to have that plan before starting the project. Include in the plans the doorways, staircases and walls that you want to add to the existing space. It wasn’t easy though as we still need planning permission and approval of the city engineer in our locality and there was also a need to pay construction bonds though we were only renovating the cellar.

One challenge we have cited was the heat and air ventilation, probably the most crucial in the entire project. Air bricks and extractor fans were installed to ensure adequate ventilation in the entertainment room. There was also a need to waterproof the walls by lining the basement with waterproof membranes. It’s not as expensive as you might think. The hired professionals used cavity drain membranes. These created an envelope within the walls allowing the natural drainage of the ground water to enter and be collected behind the system. Cavity membranes are lightweight, quick to install, non-destructive to the structure, insulative and sound absorbing and conducive to a dry, high quality environment. This is probably the best solution to basement conversion.