How our cellar was transformed into an exciting additional room
By David Podesta
Like many people in Mapperley Park our house has a cellar which we used for storage. However, it was not ideal due to the damp penetrating through the floor and walls and the limited head room. We decided to investigate our options to make better use of the space, initially to improve the storage conditions. However, our plans quickly changed with the realisation we can have more space and add additional rooms. A subterranean music room with great sound insulation, a children's den, gym or a home cinema room were just a few options we considered.
The foundations of our house lie directly on the sandstone rock which proved to be good news when a structural engineer confirmed that we could excavate down into the rock to improve the headroom of the cellar without the added cost of having to underpin the foundations. He also confirmed we could remove the non-load bearing internal walls of the cellar. We planned to remove the walls and excavate the rock to provide a room measuring 4 x 4 metres with a 2.1 metres headroom. We would use the old coal shoots into the cellar to provide daylight, ventilation and an emergency escape, as required by planning but hopefully never to be used. We asked a company called Basement Conversions who specialise in conversions to do the work and they started in September. Thankfully most of the mess was confined to the cellar; the bricks, rock and sand excavated went out through the coal shoots minimising the disruption in the rest of the house.
Twelve Weeks
Once the preparation work was complete the next job was to waterproof the cellar. This was accomplished using polythene cavity drain membranes with an aqua drain and sump system to pump into the foul drain any water that hits the membrane. Looking like tough large bubble-wrap it covered the floor and walls to create a water vapour impervious lining. Properly maintained (annual sump pump service) this should last the life of the structure and has a 10 year guarantee. Insulation and the concrete floor are then followed with more traditional plaster board and skim with plaster. Our room was decorated and ready for use 12 weeks after we started.
We have gained an exciting additional room that has a real wow factor and even in the current climate as added value to our property over and above the cost of the conversion. We have lost a damp cellar used to store unused furniture and Christmas decorations. The furniture has gone and the Christmas decorations? Well they have moved to the loft waiting for the next project!