Basement Conversion Costs
What are the costs of installing water management in my basement or cellar?
This is like asking a doctor to give you a health check without visiting him! Let’s take a look at three different scenarios to get an idea of approximate costs…
Each underground area is different, and costs do vary depending on what is required. We would highly recommend a site visit and evaluation by our company owner and specialist Structural Waterproofing CSSW surveyor to provide you with specific and professional advice on your below-ground water management needs.
If underpinning or excavation is required, then the cost can increase considerably.
What Do I Need to Consider?
There are varying factors that need to be considered when thinking about converting a below-ground room. Here are just a few…
- Is there currently enough headroom? – consider that laying membranes, underfloor heating and new ceilings will reduce height.
- Does the space require ground excavation – is digging out to lower the ground level needed?
- What is the space going to be used for? – wine storage, white goods storage, utility or a dry usable extra room?
- What is the current floor level – what is it made up of? – earth, brick, concrete or blocks?
- Is the mains electricity present in the space, or are new electrics required?
- Will a fire escape be needed?
- Is the current access down to the space structurally sound, or is a new staircase required?
- Will running water be needed in the area or drainage for a shower room?
- Does the area currently flood – up to what level?
- If the sump pump is installed, do you require a battery backup in case of electrical failure?
- How many light wells are required, and how large do they need to be?
These are some of the factors that you need to consider if you wish to make changes to an underground room. All these items can be discussed and options reviewed at the time of the survey with certified structural waterproofing surveyor and company owner Dean Webster.
Servicing & Maintenance
With every system we install, we offer a free site inspection after 3-6 months of completion, followed by recommending a service company to carry out regular annual inspections and maintenance – the cost is from £216, incl VAT, for a one-pump installation service.
Scenario 1
Recently a customer in Tenterden with a very small narrow cellar under the entrance hallway, which measured approximately 1 meter x 7 meters, had an air gap cavity membrane system installed to walls and floor areas and a sump pump station introduced.
The walls were insulated, dry lined and plastered, and a new insulated ceiling was applied incorporating downlighters, and a new sand and cement floor screed was laid.
Total Cost: £10,500 plus VAT
Scenario 2
We attended a dentist’s surgery in Tunbridge Wells, after the basement had flooded. A non-specialist had carried out the refurbishment works, including the waterproofing. Unfortunately, the original contractor’s lack of knowledge and expertise meant the system was not sufficient, resulting in the area used as treatment rooms flooding.
We attended, inspected, designed and installed a water management system suitable to cope with large-scale ingress and the area was refurbished and is currently being used again for treatment rooms within 8-9 weeks of the original flood.
Total Cost: £45,000 plus VAT.
Scenario 3
Earlier this year, a large basement (measuring 5 meters x 6 meters) that regularly filled with up to 4ft of water, leading to the area being completely unusable, was the subject of a multi-pump station project (three individual pump stations were installed). A 20mm membrane was laid over the floor, and a reinforced sand and cement screed was laid over the full area. The result is a now dry, usable area which is being used for wine storage.