Basement "mini dig out" Post Reply

[CyclingLondon]

Hi
Would be grateful for input.

Been to a few BTC houses where they have dug down a foot to two in the basement but haven't touched the walls etc. They've then put utilities down there, tiled it etc.

Has anyone done this? What else can you get these? Shelves? Sink?

How did you keep it dry? Do you put central heating down there?

Thanks in advance.

[OLBC Group]

Short answer - it can be done.

Answer you do t want is that to do it properly costs a large % of a full basement.

Why?

The walls all need underpinning and that is a cost per linear meter exercise. Coal cellars are long and thin, so have a lot of meters of underpinning for not much floor area.

You will also need the same:-
Structural Engineering; and
Party Wall; and
Building Control; and
Contractor - with basement insurance

as you would for a full project.

There are, I’m afraid, no shortcuts.

The issue with any ‘short cut’ approach is that it could be very hard to mortgage or sell a house where it hasn’t been done by the book.