5 underground steps towards increasing your property’s worth and use

You love your current house but know that as your family has grown you need more space. You’re reluctant to move on, but there is one other option – that dark, dank space underneath the house. Not every house has a fully functioning basement, but many do have an underground space which could be carefully expanded tanked out and turned into viable and useful additional living space.

The uses for such a room depends on the dimensions of the basement you have created. For many it provides a great hang out den for teenagers. As your kids grow up they need to have a space which they can call their own and take their friends. Often their bedrooms are too small (and possibly inappropriate), so a basement is the ideal solution. They can play music, watch films, play games and generally shoot the breeze with their contemporaries without imposing on adult space.

You might also want to use the basement either as an additional bedroom or guest suite for visitors. This is especially viable if you live on a slope and your basement, although underground from the front, opens out at the back onto the back yard.

Flexible and versatile space

Once the kids leave home there is no reason why you can’t then take back possession of the basement and use it for your own pursuits, whether that is as a home gym, a wine cellar, or a dedicated space for your own hobbies.

There are five key steps you need to take when undertaking a basement conversion. Assuming you have adequate space under your house and you use the services of a professional architect or building engineer, below is a basic checklist.

Apply for building permits

Different regions and municipalities may have different approaches to granting building permission for a basement conversion, and it is your responsibility as a homeowner to make sure you have the correct paperwork in place.

Basement tanking

Whether you are located out in the suburbs with plenty of land around you, or in a big city like London, basement tanking will ensure both that your basement avoids potential flooding, particularly during inclement weather, and that damp and condensation is eliminated.

Basement tanking is a specialized service which should only be undertaken by a professional. It involves literally creating a membrane tank with inbuilt drainage to run off any excess water ingress.

Plumbing

Even if you don’t use it immediately, making sure there is access to plumbing services in your basement is essential for its long term use. Not only is it convenient to have an additional bathroom to avoid people traipsing up and down the stairs every time they need the loo, but it gives you the flexibility to change the use of space In the future. Who knows when you might want to install that much longed for sauna room, or create your own gym set up with proper showers.

Lighting and ventilation

Chances are the amount of natural lighting you have in your basement is minimal, so allow for this by investing in some comfortable, low energy lighting solutions which also incorporate a ventilation system to ensure a good air flow.

Insulation and soundproofing

Finally, if you are expecting a steady influx of teenage guests coming to hang out with your own brood, then expect a fair amount of noise. You can’t give them their own space and then expect them to sit in silence without even listening to a bit of music. If you have a home cinema set up you’re going to have to have the sound on at maximum to make the most of it. Insulation and sound proofing is an absolute must!