Britain is not often hit by extreme weather conditions, even if the damp and dreary climate of the country can be source of ire to its inhabitants. Of course, when serious storms do strike, the costs of such calamities become apparent. Storm Brendan has been carving a path of destruction across certain parts of the UK this week, resulting in …
The majority of London homes have either a cellar or a crawl-space beneath their ground floor. In either case, it is possible to create versatile new living space suitable for things such as offices, kitchens, gyms and recreation rooms; however, to provide comfortable headspace, it is often necessary to lower the existing floor level. Victorian buildings often have open foundations …
Only 20% of the houses in England were built before 1919 – most of them in the 1890s. Almost everyone who lives in one enjoys it – they have more character and charm than anything built since. Their owners often want more space or better insulation, but they also want to preserve their character, and that’s not always easy to …
Building in the capital is tricky, whether in terms of basement services in London for domestic customers or commercial construction for businesses. In either case, access to utilities is increasingly important. Serving these needs will become easier thanks to the London Power Tunnels scheme, part of which has just been contracted out to HMJV, according to PCB Today. While most …
Basically, sump pumps sit in a hole, ejecting any water that collects there so its level never rises to floor level. Not every basement construction needs a sump or any other kind of pump. If your subsurface is naturally dry and your basement plan doesn’t include anything requiring drainage (sinks and bathrooms), then precautionary tanking of the walls and floors …
With the UK recently hit by serious flooding, damage to property and disruption to transport has revealed the need for greater preparation. While severe weather conditions are relatively rare, the cost of recovery when they do hit can easily outweigh that of earlier investments in preventative measures, such as basement waterproofing for domestic and business premises. There are other parts …
In the near future, most people will work from home. To fulfil family and work commitments a new basement design will often be the answer. According to a recent assessment, half of Britain’s workforce will earn at least some of their income by working at home in 2020. In the United States the halfway point was reached a few years …
Despite costing more than a loft conversion, basement extensions in London are showing no signs of slowing down. There are a plethora of reasons why a basement extension is more costly than a straightforward loft conversion, but the value it adds to your property cannot be overstated. For Londoners caught in the property trap, or for any family wanting to …
Basement construction has become the preferred way to add living space and value to London property. With a pushback from planners in some of the city’s most exclusive areas, planning your basement construction can seem more daunting than ever; however, follow the key regulations and your basement construction should run smoothly. Get a structural engineer’s report If you live in …
Media coverage in Britain has given the impression that a basement conversion in London is a perk of the rich and extravagant. Across the Atlantic, attitudes are surprisingly different. New York, Boston and districts of Canada are all liberalising rules about basement dwellings in order to alleviate the housing misery of their poor to average-income residents. Boston landlord Patrick Barrett …
