Why London Homes Need Basement Construction?

Anyone who has looked at property prices in London will have found out very quickly that the price per square metre can become pretty eye watering. This can be compounded by the property’s proximity to London Underground lines or any of the other transport systems.

Many people find that as they get settled in London, beginning to lay down roots and starting or expanding their families, their homes begin to seem rather small rather quickly, leading to thoughts of home extensions.

Of course, one of the biggest problems in London is the lack of space, which is part of the reason why properties are so expensive in the UK’s biggest city. Properties with outside space are not as plentiful in London as they are in the rest of the country, so most homeowners with a garden find themselves quite reluctant to give it up in the pursuit of additional space in the home. In these cases, they find themselves needing to talk to someone about basement construction in London.

Why do people opt for basement construction in London?

In addition to the extra space in a home, expanding your home with a basement could add up to 20% onto the value of your home. As well as providing you with an extra bedroom, space for entertaining or a home office, your basement can also help to maximise your property investment.

Dig down, not build out

As garden space is so precious, basement construction in London is a growth industry at present. People are increasingly choosing to dig down rather than build out. Here at Noble Construction, we have decades of experience helping people expand their homes with basement construction and conversion services. Let’s take a look at how the process happens.

Site inspection

Once you have decided that going underground may be for you, the first part of the basement construction in London process is a thorough site inspection. During this site inspection, detailed measurements will be taken, with plans considered, including as to how the basement will be accessed from within your home.

Following your inspection, the options available to you will be discussed, based upon how feasible it is for you to go ahead with the basement construction.

Whilst most basements do not need planning permission in order to proceed, there are some projects that will need additional permission. These include those which install a light well or any basements which significantly change the usage of the property.

Estimates and timescales

Once your plans have been drawn up, and any permissions granted, estimates and timescales for the job can be produced. Each basement and home is different, so the timescales will differ from project to project.

Damp and waterproofing

Due to the immense pressure exerted by the subsoil surrounding a basement construction, any imperfection in the waterproofing will be found and render your basement unusable very quickly. Due to this, the first job following excavation has to be waterproofing. Once your basement has been made watertight, the rest of the fitting out can begin. This will include installation of electrical and lighting systems as well as any structural elements.