Conversions

Ask not what you can do in your basement… Ask what your basement can do for you. Ever dreamed of that one extra space in your home that would ‘complete’ it? It’s that space that will add the wow factor to your home or the retreat that will transport you to a place of peace and quiet.

So, what can you do with your basement? The answer? Just about anything (within reason of course).

We have built several basements in homes across South West London with a variety of different uses, designs and styles. See our some of our Projects here.

A basement can be unapologetically large, spanning across the entire width and breadth of your ground floor. You are literally spoiled for choice in terms of what you might want to build in your basement.

We see the basement as being used in primarily two ways. Externally; where its use is for entertaining friends and family and internally where its use is for your family as a haven for precious family time with of course some overlap now and again.

If you are thinking about using it as a space for entertaining and guests, think about installing a fully equipped Games Room? One with a table tennis table, pool table, a small golf putting area? Add a bar to one and side and we imagine yours would be the ultimate party house.

We recently built a state-of-the-art cinema room at a home in Fulham. With Hollywood as the theme and a wine cellar boasting some of the finest wines in the world, this basement embodies, style, class and sophistication.

If, like one of our clients, you are a wine connoisseur, you can create a large temperature controlled wine cellar to house and protect your vintage wines and barrels.

Speaking of connoisseurs, one of our clients has converted their basement into an inspired art gallery to showcase his expensive and highly prized art collection.

If, on the other hand, you want a space that is focussed on yourself and your family, you could create a master bedroom with an en-suite, walk in wardrobe and dressing room that could be fit for the Queen. Or you could pack the kids off to their “underground’ playroom, giving them a space to unwind, have friends over and use as a den.

A home cinema with luxurious seating and surround sound systems would be the ideal setting for a Friday night in with the family; popcorn, candyfloss and perhaps The Sound of Music, James Bond or Mamma Mia, depending on your taste.

For those with slightly less dramatic tastes a family/TV room in the basement is exactly what’s needed to relax with in your dressing gown with a glass of wine and watch your favourite TV shows after a long day at work.

We recently built a stunning kitchen/diner in the basement at a home in Wandsworth. Not only was there no compromise on anything they wanted due the expanse of space, but it created a central point for the family to gather in the mornings and evenings away from distractions of homework and TV. This kitchen had two entrances; one from inside and one from outside, which led directly into their stunning garden. This gave this underground kitchen huge amounts of natural sunlight and a sense of space and air.

If you’ve always loved the smell of books and dreamed of living in the British Library, well, you can almost do that by creating a library in your basement. With comfortable seating, a movable ladder across your collections of precious books and maybe some soft music in the background, you could be living your dream.

Do you prefer to work from home and avoid a painful commute? Why not make the basement into your home office? If you have staff, you could create an entrance via your garden so they don’t have to go through the house. Or you could create consulting rooms if you are a medical professional like a physiotherapist or a psychiatrist. It would be easy enough to create cubicles for examinations and privacy.

If fitness is your thing, then how about a fully equipped gym in your basement? You’ll have absolutely no excuses to avoid working out. Weather, time, transport… all these excuses will be deemed null and void J. All you have to do is make sure you are ready to pump up your heart on the treadmill and tone those muscles with the weights.

And whilst you are in fitness mode, you could build a swimming pool in your basement. This is luxury at the highest level. Imagine the feeling of bliss when you enter the heated pool after a session at the gym or after a tiring day in the office.

As evident, the possibilities are endless. Your basement can serve whatever purpose you want it to.

As basement specialists, we know what is possible and not possible when building basements. Give us a call on 0208 191 7595 or email us at enquiries@sdabuildlondon.co.uk to discuss your ideas with us. Or why not book a FREE refurbishment consultation via our website. We’ll be happy to come around to your property, discuss your needs and ideas and share some of our recommendations.

Do you have a growing family and need more space? Or just want a home that has the wow factor? Have you moved into a new home and are thinking about renovating to have your stamp on it? A garden basement may just be what you need. It’s unique and can be used for whatever you want; a playroom, a gym, a swimming pool, a kitchen-diner or a home office.

Not only will it add space to your existing home, but it has also proven to increase the value of property.

Here’ why should you build a basement under your garden & not under the existing structure.

A garden basement, allows for a brighter, lighter space as you can install roof lights, lightwells or terraces and flood the basement with natural light.

External openings directly into the garden allow for fresh air. Basements under the existing structure have limited scope for natural air and sunlight. Garden basements, on the other hand, by their very nature and position on your property are ideal to allow for fresh air and light.

A garden basement can be much bigger than a basement under your home if you have a large garden. There’s nothing to stop you (other than council approval) from creating a basement under your garden that spans across it.

Often, a garden basement is quicker to build than one that’s under the existing property simply from an ease of access perspective. Equipment for a basement conversion is large, heavy and cumbersome and much harder to manoeuvre inside a property than outside. Equipment like the conveyor belt and piling rig can easily be installed outdoors. Want to know how much your basement might cost? Find out here.

One of the most useful facts of a garden basement is its reduced impact to your and your neighbour’s properties from a structural perspective. And with no building added to the back of your house, it’s subtlety, protects your neighbour’s right to light.

We’ve probably got you excited about your garden basement now… is your head spinning with ideas and plans for that amazing space you are going to create? That’s wonderful and please do give us a call if you need someone to help you through it.

However, before you dive into the project, there are some elements you need to consider.

1. Planning – Please speak to your local council to understand the basement planning policies in your borough. Different areas have different requirements and it’s important to be well-informed about what you can and cannot do. Find out more about basement building regulations.
2. Is your property in a conservation area? If so, there are some very specific requirements that you need to adhere to.
3. Trees- check if there are any Tree Protection Orders (TPO”s) on your property. You will also need to assess whether your basement will have an impact on the trees in both yours and your neighbour’s properties.
4. Party Wall Awards –You will need a party wall award if your home is semi-detached or terraced as you will be digging close enough to your neighbour’s property. If you are in a detached home, other criteria come into play. Speak to a party wall specialist to assess whether you need an agreement.
5. Hire a competent and experienced architect. Your architect is the single most important person when you are embarking on any extension or conversion project. Find out how you can find the right architect here. 
6. Of course, your building contractor is as important as your architect. Make sure you appoint a builder who is experienced with building basements. A builder who has never done a basement, may be perfectly capable of building an extension, but a basement has considerations that only an experienced basement builder will know.

At SDA Build London, we have worked on several homes across South West London and have built some stunning basements. Please do visit our Projects page to have a browse of the work we have completed.

If you are thinking about a garden basement or even a basement under your home, do give us a call on 0208 191 7595 or email us at enquiries@sdabuildlondon.co.uk or better still why not book a FREE consultation via our website. We’d be happy to visit your property, assess your needs and give you some recommendations and options.  We look forward to hearing from you.