Basement conversion and renovation - EPIC project!

[BlueC]

Hi everyone

Thought I'd start a thread here to give some real-time updates on our project. Hopefully you'll find it interesting and we can pick up some tips along the way!

We're converting a basement in a Victorian flat and renovating the rest of the property. Architects' plans are drawn up and ready to go to building control - quite a lot involved, removing some walls, adding new walls, tanking basement, basement floor, new staircase, new bathroom, new kitchen, digging out the garden, re-landscaping, rewire, new central heating, the list goes on. It could be a LONG project!

Doing a lot ourselves, or plan to, all depends on costs. We have good tradesmen we know for plastering, plumbing and electrics so we'll see how we get on.

We've started a bit of prep work already while we wait for final plans so here goes:

Exploratory hole in basement floor. We're trying to keep the tiles for a new patio.

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There was all sorts of redundant wiring everywhere...

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... so we ripped it all out.

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Exploring the crawl space is really cool. Loads of ancient stuff down there.

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This wall needed to come out!

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And it's gone!

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Old coal cellar. At this stage we have removed all ceilings and door frames.

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The main basement hallway area

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And a view into the main basement room

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Reverse view of current basement hallway showing existing stairway.

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That's it for now. All ceilings and door frames are out, all old wiring is gone. Next stage is moving gas, electric and water services. Removing all old central heating. Then the floor comes up!


This is the existing layout of the flat. There is a lot of scope for changes but we wanted to keep the original physical layout as much as possible. It is a beautiful Victorian property with well proportioned rooms and we don’t want to spoil that.

The basement is a bit of a blank canvas consisting only of a coal cellar, hallway, storeroom and large front room.

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More updates to follow. You can see even more here: http://www.renovationblog.co.uk/

Chris

[moderator6]

I'd love to do something like that!

Nice blog

[Jammybstard]

And I thought I had a lot to do! I love victorian buildings. What's the function of the cellar going to be?

[Gadget]

Blimey, you've got a task on your hands there!...

[BlueC]

I'd love to do something like that!

Nice blog :thumbright:

Thanks!

And I thought I had a lot to do! I love victorian buildings. What's the function of the cellar going to be?

Yes we love Victorian buildings too... it has some amazing original features which we will preserve.

The basement will be a kitchen leading on to an open plan family room with informal dining area. If we have time/money we'll dig out and open up the front with french windows onto a courtyard that is below ground level with steps rising up into the front garden.

The big feature will be that we're cutting away the ceiling at the front of the basement room so that it creates a double height area and mezzanine with the room above. This will provide a lot of light into the basement as there is a huge 3 panel bay window above. I'll post some plans once we have them finalised!

Blimey, you've got a task on your hands there!... :thumbright:

I know! But we're fairly confident we can do a lot ourselves... we'll see!

[bean]

whats your depth in basement at present? and what do you expect to be headroom after plasterboard/ tanking and flooring depths?

what are you doing for drainage? sump and pump?

[BlueC]

whats your depth in basement at present? and what do you expect to be headroom after plasterboard/ tanking and flooring depths?

what are you doing for drainage? sump and pump?

hi bean. can't remember current height off the top of my head, it's about 220+ I think. i'll have a look later.

no drainage, it is not a wet basement and the ground is sand/sandstone so extremely well drained. sump and pump would be total overkill. we're just going cavity drain dpm on walls with vented circulation and draining into the sand/sandstone below.

[Wes]

Great project Chris Absolutely love the mezzanine idea! Can't wait to see this thread develop...Thanks for posting..

[wine~o]

Great project Chris Absolutely love the mezzanine idea! Can't wait to see this thread develop...Thanks for posting..

Who is Chris ??? have I missed summat...

[pud1771]

Great project Chris Absolutely love the mezzanine idea! Can't wait to see this thread develop...Thanks for posting..

Who is Chris ??? have I missed summat...

the blog is Chris and Claire's so i think that is where Wes got the name from

Wes it could be Claire who is posting in which case they may want to have a word with you

[Wes]

Who is Chris ??? have I missed summat...

You sure did Wine~o,,,You missed Chris sign out at the bottom of his first post

Wes it could be Claire who is posting in which case they may want to have a word with you

pud1771, I'm pretty sure it's Chris that posted, unless Claire likes to sign off with Chris's name

Keep up lads

[pud1771]

Wes it could be Claire who is posting in which case they may want to have a word with you

pud1771, I'm pretty sure it's Chris that posted, unless Claire likes to sign off with Chris's name

Keep up lads [/quote]

Dam it i missed that bit Wes lol will blame old age (33 )and umm tired and umm a week of being a white van man so only seeing what I want

[pud1771]

back on to the topic i would love to get involved on a project like that Bluec have saved your blog in my bookmarks and am looking forward to the updates

[BlueC]

It's definitely Chris! If you're lucky Claire might make an appearance too although she spends most of her time day-dreaming about buying expensive furniture and choosing the colour of curtains while I have to ponder the more practical things!

The mezzanine is a bold move and we're a bit nervous about it, but it will make the basement feel part of the house which we think is really important... we wanted to avoid it feeling like an annex (or basement!).

Not much progress this week. Getting the water main moved and the electric mains/CU moved which should be completed next Thursday. Meanwhile we're applying for building regs and planning permission. Will post some plans once we have finalised them.

[royaloakcarpentry]

Lets hope you get the planning...............!! As you have already started.

I take it neighbours have done similar?