The following is an overview of the energy conservation benefits of carrying out a basement conversion. At LABS we have 4 main offerings, starting from a straightforward pump install with a floor membrane, the purpose of which is solely to get water out of a basement. Although basic and not fully damp proofed, this measure is often requested when budget is of the essence and the individual simply wants not to be dredging through water when they are going to read the meters. Building on from this, we have our entry level storage basement, that has all the basic science that goes into waterproofing and damp proofing a basement. This is a very practical option for individuals who want to store items in a safe and dry place. A level up from this is our intermediate storage level conversion, that includes insulation to all the walls and plaster boarding in addition to the floor. This is for individuals that want a more aesthetically pleasing finish akin to other rooms in their respective property. Our fully habitable basement differs from this option in that it receives insulation to the ceiling also. The full conversion option is for individuals who want to add an additional living space to their property, to use as utility, extra bedroom, home gym and so forth for more information visit our website www.l-a-b-s.co.uk.
The walls, floor and roof of a house are known in the insulating world as the thermal envelope and an uninsulated property has an ineffective thermal envelope.[1] The UK has roughly 27 million homes and the majority of them are poorly insulated.[2] This is because the housing stock in the UK is some of the oldest in the world. All new builds have to be insulated to the standard required by Building Regulation L1A. However, when these older properties were built, the same specification was not required and the only option available is to retrofit them. Insulating existing dwellings is guided by Building Regulation Part L1B.
10 million UK dwellings have suspended timber ground floor homes and most of them are not insulated. Local government studies have found that 10-15% of heat loss of a home is through the floor.[3] When you take into account that 30% of the UK’s carbon footprint derives from the energy consumption of dwellings; from an environmental perspective, that is quite a worrying amount of floors that are potentially uninsulated. Insulating the floor is a cost effective and noninvasive strategy to bolster the base of the thermal envelope. Depending on the size of the property it can take 1-5 working days to complete, and the home-owner won’t have to worry about disruptions to their domestic environment as the craftsman will be working in the cellar.
There are 100’s of thousands Basements in the UK, especially in Hilly areas like Sheffield. The 2nd law of thermodynamics is that heat will travel to cold. It is most commonly understood that heat will rise and this is correct. But the fact that heat is drawn to, and subsequently lost through, cold areas is often overlooked. A previous government initiative to improve the carbon footprint made by dwellings recommended that 200,000 suspended timber floors should be insulated to meet energy efficiency targets but the uptake was only 0.5%, or 9000. The overlooking of the second law of thermodynamics is the arguably the reason why. Furthermore, it is widely accepted in the damp proofing world that a wet wall is a cold wall. Having a damp cold space underneath a property is axiomatically going to affect the thermography of the property. A basement can become what is known as a ‘heat sink’. It can draw the heat of a home, creating discomfort and adding to energy bills. Creating a warm cushion of air under your property through a basement conversion is going to positively influence the thermography of your home. As a minimum you could just insulate the ceiling of your basement, regardless, any work in the cellar is going to have a positive impact on the carbon footprint left by your home.
Furthermore more, poor ventilation can create humidity and can make the space feel colder. Under PAS 2035, the new standard for insulating dwellings, adequate ventilation is required. Additionally, insulating a property can reduce the air flow so this must be compensated for with the installation of mechanical ventilation such as a Heat Recovery Vent. These have been specifically designed to eliminate excessive moisture and have heat retention cores that ensure any heat is retained and then extracted. They are fit as standard in all of our basement conversions. Another alternative is a Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) unit. The unit is designed to help ventilate a home using the well-established PIV principle. It works by drawing external air into the unit, which then passes through a filter before entering the home, removing moisture laden air from the property. Additionally, airflow and temperature of the air is regulated via an integral temperature sensor and heat exchanger. This optimises the energy benefit while ensuring sufficient air is supplied to help control moisture. With the combination of adequate ventilation in the basement and floor insulation, this can contribute to the decrease of heat loss through the base of the thermal envelope.
In summary, we have looked at the energy efficiency benefits of converting your basement. Floor insulation is an overlooked measure and the benefits of insulating suspended timber ground floors have been discussed in respect to the direct impact to the home-owner and to the national carbon footprint. The fact that basements are cold and damp contributes to the heat loss through the thermal envelope of a home as they can become a heat sink. Converting your basement into a warm and dry area will negate this problem. Also, insulating the floor is a cost effective and non-invasive way to tackle the problem. In order to prevent the exasperation of condensation resulting from the installation of energy efficient measures, a mechanical ventilation system in the form of a HR Vent or a PIV unit must be installed. Follow the link below to get in touch with a member of our friendly team today for more information www.l-a-b-s.co.uk.
[1] Thermal Envelope – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
[2] [1] DECC, The Energy Efficiency Strategy: The Energy-Efficiency Opportunity in the UK, London, 2012
[3] 18] WCC, Retrofitting Historic Buildings, Westminster City Council, 2012, pp. 17.
Is your basement not quite doing the job it’s supposed to? Are you finding that your cellar or basement is pretty much just a breeding ground for damp and mould, and not much else? It may well be time to start thinking about fixing those damp conditions for the sake of your health and at the same time: you might want to think about getting in touch with a basement conversion specialist!
There are plenty of great reasons why you might want to get in touch with a specialist in basement construction. There’s a whole space at the bottom of your home which could be massively useful when it comes to hosting guests or even when it comes to storing everyday items. How you use your basement is up to you! However, before you make a start on any kind of renovation of your own, always make a point of getting in touch with experts in basement conversion Sheffield that families and homeowners already know and trust.
There are plenty of reasons why delegating basement conversion to a specialist just makes sense, but ultimately, it can be a pretty fiddly and complex job! There are plenty of different things you need to keep in mind when it comes to converting a basement, meaning it is less about just tidying up a place and is more about making sure that your space is structurally sound and waterproofed.
The base of your house is perhaps more at risk of water ingress and damp than any other. That’s why many people, unfortunately, find themselves struggling with nasty mouldy conditions that are often a pain to handle on your own. When you call someone to help with basement conversion Sheffield or elsewhere, you are investing in the best tools, as well as years of intensive knowledge and training.
LABS’ team of basement conversion experts make a point of carefully analysing your space before taking up any physical work. We always make sure to carry out conversion and proofing work in line with BS 8102 standards. This means you can always be sure that with LABS, you’re receiving expert support that’s governed by a strict code of conduct.
You might have plenty of great reasons for wanting to convert your basement. If it’s just sat there doing nothing, then you could turn it into a completely new room. You could install a guest bedroom, for example, or you might even fancy setting up a utility space or extended kitchen! There are also plenty of people up and down the UK who convert their basements into dining rooms, games rooms and more.
However, to achieve this new dream space, your basement is going to need to be fit for purpose. As mentioned, damp proofing your basement is a must. A basement conversion specialist will take the time to consider the practicalities of converting and refurbishing your space and will therefore approach you with a realistic plan of action.
We make sure to be as meticulous, yet as concise, as possible. There’s an awful lot of jargon and confusion floating around regarding basement conversions and waterproofing – which is why it’s all the more reason to get the facts straight. We understand that basement conversions take time and effort to get right – and you can be sure that we are never going to cut corners.
LABS offers a comprehensive basement conversion service, along with expert advice and guidance across spaces of all shapes and sizes. We don’t just waterproof and damp-proof basements and cellars. We help to transform them!
Getting your head around the finer details of basement conversion can take a lot of time and effort to get right. That’s why it’s all the more worthwhile approaching a basement conversion specialist in your local area. Otherwise, you’d be at risk of causing yourself a real headache – and increasing costs along the way!
Call LABS now to learn more about basement conversions – we will educate you on the technical ins and outs of the process and provide you with ideas on how you can maximise the potential of your space in the most cost-efficient way possible. If you’re suffering with a damp basement and really want to make the most of it, do get in touch with us as soon as you can – and we will make a point of steering you and your home in the right direction.
