Except for Britain, Australia and New Zealand, cellars are popular in most western countries. In the United Kingdom, almost all new homes built since the 1960s have no cellar or basement due to the extra cost of digging down further into the sub-soil and a requirement for much deeper foundations and waterproof tanking.
What is basement called in UK?
cellar
Amongst the estate agents and property professionals in the UK, the term ‘cellar‘ is often used to describe residential projects while the term ‘basement’ is used to describe new build and commercial projects alike. A cellar is often a smaller space than a basement.
How common are basements UK?
While basements are often a standard feature of new homes in other countries, such as the USA, this isn’t the case in Britain. There are simply not enough basements being built here, which is a shame because they can increase the size of a house by up to 50% without requiring more land.
Why do houses not have basements anymore?
Basements built in California are often below sea level, so extra measures must be taken to prevent flooding and other water-related issues. Most contractors working in California try to reduce expenses wherever possible, and excluding basements from homes fulfills this goal.
Are there basements in London?
Some of the largest builds reach 18 metres deep and are larger than the home above ground – hence the nickname icebergs. You’ll find basements like this across a swathe of London, from Kensington and Chelsea through Westminster, coming up into places like Highgate and Hampstead.
Can a basement be a bedroom UK?
A basement conversion project allows you to make use of space below ground, and you don’t necessarily even need an existing cellar or basement area to create a new bedroom. Existing basements can be converted into bedrooms, or your house can be underpinned and a new basement bedroom can be excavated.
Why dont we build basements in the UK?
In a lot of areas, especially in northern England, basements are fairly common, although, in older houses, they tend to be areas previously used as coal cellars and aren’t exactly spacious. It’d be hard to convert this sort of space into an American-style ‘finished basement’.
Is it healthy to live in a basement?
Living in a basement apartment may cause several diseases, owing to molds and radon. Mold is a type of fungi that grows very easily in damp places. Radon, an odourless and colourless gas that causes lung cancer, is commonly found in basement apartments and is harmful to human health.
Why do London houses have basements?
A lot of countries have houses with basements because it gets so cold that they have to have deeper foundations, so it doesn’t make much different to the build cost to put in a basement while they’re working down that far anyway.
How much value does a basement Add UK?
10% to 20%
Boost Your Home’s Value
There is no reason your basement conversion should not add serious value to your home. It is generally accepted that it can add from 10% to 20%.
Is it better to have a house with or without a basement?
You can have a fully functional and structurally sound house with and without a basement. However, unless you live in an area with sandy or clay soil or where the water table is high, there is no reason why you should not have a basement.
Is it cheaper to build a house without basement?
Cost savings is one of the biggest advantages. In many cases, the home buyer can shave as much as $10,000 off the cost of the house. If it is built on a slab there is no crawl space or basement to budget for.
Why are there no brick houses in California?
There are several reasons why brick isn’t predominant: The climate: California’s weather is pretty temperate-we don’t get subzero temperatures like back East or in the Midwest, so we don’t need the extra insulation. On top of that, in parts of California, it can get very hot, and brick holds heat in.
Are basements worth it UK?
In recent years, an increasing number of UK homeowners have been waking up to the subterranean potential of their properties. It’s easy to see why; according to Savills, basement conversions can add between 10-15% to your property’s value, while the Home Owners Alliance claims it can add as much as 20%!
Why do English have basements?
English basements can provide an extra living space for family or friends. It can provide rental income for homeowners. The separate entrance provides some privacy as the occupant doesn’t have to go through the main living area of the home. Basement units can be more affordable.
What is an English basement in a house?
An English basement is a common type of housing in Washington, DC. Though it isn’t really English or a basement, the English basement is the lowest floor of a townhouse that has its own front entrance, which is usually just below the sidewalk.
How big can a basement be UK?
Basements must not exceed the property footprint, plus a maximum of 50% of the garden. They must not be more than one storey. Further basement floors will not be approved where there is an existing implemented permission or one built through permitted development rights.
What makes a bedroom legal UK?
The minimum sleeping room floor area sizes are: 6.51 m2 for one person over 10 years of age. 10.22 m2 for two persons over 10 years. 4.64 m2 for one child under the age of 10 years.
What is legally a bedroom UK?
There’s no legal definition for a bedroom in the UK. However, it’s used to describe a room where someone sleeps and you’d find furniture such as a bed. According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), a fair indication of a bedroom is a space which can fit a small single bed and has a window.
Why are all houses brick in the UK?
There’s a reason why brick has been the UK’s building material of choice for so long. Clay brick can withstand the broad shifts in temperature and weather we have here, are resistant to damp and also don’t need much maintenance.
Can I dig a tunnel under my house UK?
If you’re just looking to convert your existing basement, it is possible that you won’t need any permission, unless the outside appearance of your home is being altered. But, if you’re actually digging into the ground below your home, you most likely will need planning permission – which is relatively easy to get.