FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Question:  Why should I build a basement?
Answer:    A basement can dramatically increase the useable space of your home. It can be far more cost effective and less inconvenient than moving house or building an extension.

Question: How much will this cost?
Answer:   Retrofitting basements is a highly specialised and each project brings different challenges.  Which is why we perform a complete planning and costing phase before we start work on any project.  But with stamp duty at 9%, it can be a lot cheaper than moving! 

Question:  Aren’t basements dark?
Answer:   In most cases we can have as much natural light via light wells as you get in any other room.    In some cases we even include patio doors as the rear of the basement leading into the Garden.

Question:  Aren’t basements damp?
Answer:  No! A well constructed basement will be totally waterproof.

Question:  Do basements suffer badly from Radon Gas?
Answer:   A properly constructed basement is no more affected my radon gas than a regular house, as long as the workmanship and materials are satisfactory.

Question:   Do I need an existing basement/ cellar?
Answer:     No, it is possible in most instances to create a basement space under a home that has no existing basement.

Question:  What can the basement/ cellar be used for after conversion?
Answer:   You can use the rooms for whatever purpose you require: Home office with own door, games room, flat annex, playroom, gym, bedroom, home cinema, kitchen or utility – whatever you want really.

Question:   Would it be easier just to move home?
Answer:    You could gain just as much extra space from converting your basement as you would moving up to the next property size, however there are a lot of associated costs that go with moving like Estate Agents & Solicitor Fees, stamp duty at 9%, add that to moving costs and the price of a larger home, then it makes better financial sense to convert an existing or create a new basement than move home.

Question:   Do I need an architect?
Answer:    Not always, it depends on your specific requirements.  If you do need one, we can provide that as part of the service. 

Question:  Do I need a structural engineer?
Answer:   No, That is part of the service.

Question:  Can my existing basement/ cellar be converted?
Answer:   Most basement or cellar spaces can be made habitable.

Question:  Do I have to move out whilst work is being carried out?
Answer:   No.  While we always try to keep disruption to a minimum, any building work will involve  a degree of noise and dust.

Question:  How much space can we get?
Answer:   We can normally build under all or part of the entire site including house, garden or driveway.  The only limiting factor is the nature of the site, the presence of bed rock, water mains or other services, makes the job more complex and so more expensive.  The only way to find out is contact us for a planning consultation.

Question:  How deep do you go?
Answer:   For a single story basement we normally excavate down 3 meters to get a final floor to ceiling height of 2.7 meters.  For 2 stories we would excavate just under 6 meters. 

In London there is a trend for Mega Basements of four and five stories, with room for pools and climbing walls. Naturally these projects involve deeper excavation.

Question:  Is it hard to get planning for a basement?
Answer:   Planning is a matter for each local authority to decide on. In Irish law basements are treated the same as any other type of construction so for large basements you need planning.

We find that planners are very happy to approve well designed basements. What planners watch out for in basements is that the levels of light and ventilation are appropriate for the intended usage.

Like in most areas of planning, appropriate design is the key.