Building a cellar allows you to have extra space that can be used for several purposes and also increase the value of your home. Premier Lofts specialises in loft extensions but we have partnered up with some reputable cellar construction companies so that you can get the best service and product possible. You can get in touch with us by phone, email or simply fill in the form below to get a survey and quotation.
Email us at: enquiries@thepremierloftcompany.co.uk
Our partners can offer a cellar conversion in your home, office or workplace that can be used for the following:
- Spare rooms including bedrooms, TV rooms, gyms and home offices
- Food storage for your restaurant
- Wine storage for any collector
- Keeping stock and inventory for your business
- Basic storage
If you have a cellar at home, there is no reason why you cannot renovate it and turn it into something that improves your quality of life. If you need some space in the home for extra storage or a family fun room, that extra space can be a blessing and as the saying goes ‘why move if you can improve?’ Finding the ideal home is harder and harder but instead, you can build on your existing property and add value to your home by 10 or 20% according to The Telegraph.
For wine enthusiasts, there is nothing cooler (excuse the pun) or more James Bond that adding a hole in the ground wine cellar, mysteriously and secretly placed in your home. Decanter explains that adding a wine cellar can add up to £15,000 to the value of your home and cost only a few thousand to build.
For restaurants that are always looking for places to put their stock, the idea of having a cellar will be essential. There are various cellars that allow for natural cooling, perfect for liquids such as wine and also some foods. Perhaps you have the opportunity to purchase stock and inventory in bulk, so having extra places to put things like cutlery and of course, food, can save you some money.
There is also the benefit of a cellar being more eco-friendly and keep your home better insulated during all the different weathers of the year. As the heat rises in the winter, a well-insulted cellar can warm up the house effectively and when it comes to summer, the cellar can absorb the heat from the upstairs. So construct your cellar efficiently and it could save you 10% off your monthly energy bill.
Building Specifications
There are several things to consider when building your cellar:
Waterproofing: To ensure water cannot seep into your cellar, your builders will look at using tanking or a form of membrane to protect the insides. Tanking works by applying a waterproof coating directly to the inside of the porous cellar walls to prevent moisture from seeping in. They do not remove the water, they simply create a barrier. (Source: Homebuilding.co.uk)
Metals: You can choose what metals and materials you want your cellar to be made out of it, with specific metal available to prevent bugs from entering your cellar – ideal if you have to keep lots of food and drink fresh for your home or restaurant.
Decor: In terms of the inside look of your cellar, you can decide whether you want it to have a rustic stone look or something more in line with the decor of the rest of your home. If you are just looking to storage food and inventory, the decor is less of an issue.
Insulation: Some cellars are able to maintain a consistent temperature without the use of heating or air conditioning. Depending on the use of your cellar whether it is storage or a living area, you can speak to our partners about the best way to insulate the area – including coating, foaming or simply nothing.
Root Cellar Construction and How it Works
A root cellar uses the natural properties of the earth surrounding it and the weather to maintain a constant temperature of 0c to 4c and humidity levels of 85% to 95%. It is ideal for storing fruit and vegetables and was a popular method before refrigeration come along. Most root cellars are attached to the home or kitchen for easy access for homes, but mostly restaurants. (Source: Almanac)
Do I Need Planning Permission For a Cellar Conversion?
Whether you need planning permission to build a cellar depends on the specification. If you are renovating your existing cellar which is currently just full of dust and cobwebs, you may not need planning because you simply give it a ‘change of use.’ This means that you are simply renovating the insides without making any physical changes to the structure or anything that affect your neighbours.
You would need permission from your local council is if you share a wall with a neighbour (Party Wall Act 1996) or you are within 6 metres of a neighbour who will clearly be impacted by any major work you do. But again, this only means if you are doing mega construction. Furthermore, some cellars are very low and if you want to increase the headroom to make the space more liveable, this may require some building work, in which case you would need to seek planning.
The Cost of a Cellar Construction
To construct a cellar can cost the following:
- Waterproof a damp cellar between £40 and £80 per m2.
- Lower your existing floors to increase headroom, which can cost £250/m2.
- Underpinning the walls will come in at around £500-1,000/m².
- £750 to £1,150 per square metre of cellar floor space, according to estimates from Real Homes magazine. This is much cheaper than if you had to dig from scratch – up to £4,000 per square metre.
Of course, the cost of building a cellar will depend on your requirements and things like how your existing cellar looks and your plans for it. Creating something outside of the property for storage may require little work, costing only a few hundred or thousand pounds and taking a few weeks to complete. Something more labour intensive like renovating and restructuring your existing cellar may run in the thousands. However, since every job is unique, it is best to speak to a professional and get a quote tailored to suit your needs – so please get in touch today for a no obligation quotation.
Email us at: enquiries@thepremierloftcompany.co.uk
