Wykamol Group are regularly contacted by customers who want to know more about basement conversion. These are customers who ask a full range of questions however we have recently noticed that there have been a few common ones popping up.
We have decided to publish these common questions along with our answers so our customers can get the answers they need and so here goes...
Do I Require Planning Permission For A Basement Conversion?
On the whole there is no need to seek planning permission for a basement conversion from your Local Authority. What we recommend is that you check whether or not the property which you are doing the work on is not a listed property or that it isn’t situated within a Conservation Area. Also you need to check whether there is a need to move any walls as all these will require planning permission.
Our advice is to simply check with your Local Authority and in addition whilst you check you may well get some useful information from them concerning the local area and the water table level which can help the basement contractors involved with the project.
What Does A Basement Conversion Involve?
This is a really common question and in reality there are so many answers to this. A basement conversion project involves a number of items however because each and every single one is different it is sometimes hard to generalise what your individual basement conversion will involve until we have visited and assessed it for ourselves.
Common things a basement conversion will involve include are:
- Basement waterproofing which will involve fitting specially designed damp proof membrane to the walls and these will stop any excess water or moisture from entering.
- Basement finishing so that the basement will be just like any other room in your home.
- Basement Excavation may be required if there is no current basement in place or if the basement which is already in place doesn’t have the required head height.
What Systems, Methods Or Options Are Available To Me?
At the moment there are two common options available to you when thinking about basement conversion and in particular the most important part of basement waterproofing. These are known with the basement conversion industry as:
- Basement Tanking – this involves lining the basement to stop water getting in and in most cases the basement is lined on the inside and involves lining the walls and floor area. This is not something which should be taken lightly; if this is not carried out properly then it can lead to a buildup in pressures and may even cause damage through flooding and further deterioration. Make sure you bring in a professional.
- Dry Lined Drainage System – this involves draining the basement of any water, moisture and removing any dampness within the walls to diffuse it to a sump pump. This is located at a lower level, usually within the floor of the basement.
Basement conversion most definitely should be carefully planned and thought out. When you have decided that you want a basement conversion you do need to ensure that you work with professionals whose work will come with an insurance backed guarantee should anything go wrong.
For more information then please contact Wykamol Group Ltd on 0845 4006666 or email salesdepartmentwykamol.com
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