Are you going to plan on converting your basement? If so, we suggest that you consider some important tips first. Given below are some tips from a specialist that can help you.
Planning permission
First of all, if you want to convert an existing basement for extra accommodation, then you don’t need planning permission. On the other hand, if you want to change the external look of your house, you should get the planning permission.
You may also want to avoid problems by getting in touch with your planning authority. If needed, they will let you know the entire process of getting the planning permission.
Talk to your neighbors
You should talk to your neighbors. As a matter of fact, tons of reports about basement conversions have been reported. The objections include noise and disruptions, tunneling out a lot under your house and so on. As a matter of fact, most of objections are related to the hardships of inconvenience and sound pollution.
If you want to avoid these problems, make sure you let your neighbors know about what you are going to do. Your basement conversion may have a negative impact on the property of your neighbor, especially if the conversion involves structural or underpinning supports.
Call Professionals
Basement conversion is not a DIY project. What you need to do is hire specialists in order to get the reinforcement and excavation done. You may want to do your homework and get recommendations from your friends, family and colleagues. As a matter of fact, good contractors are always ready to talk about the pros and cons of the job with you.
Compared to the loft conversion, basement conversions cost more per square foot. However, the benefit of the conversion is that it can increase the value of your property by 20 to 30%.
Add Light
If you want to make your house more comfortable, we suggest that you let the natural light come into your basement. For an effective solution, you can opt for an outside light well; however, if you want to install one, make sure that it’s on your house and your neighbors have no problem with it.
Also, you can choose interior glazed panels in order to borrow light. To save space, you can opt for fiber optic systems or ducts and panels that make use of angled mirror for trapping and reflecting natural light. Without adequate light, your basement won’t look its best.
Brightness
If you use a bright, neutral color palette, you can boost the airy feel in your living space. What you need to do is keep things free of clutter and streamlined with lots of integrated storage.
So, if you have been looking for some tips to convert your basement, we suggest that you check out these tips first. Also, since basement conversion is not a DIY project, you should never make the mistake of doing the work on your own. Instead, you should always hire the services of a good professional. Hope this helps.