xu maia

Basement Conversions: The Ultimate Guide

Is a basement conversion worth it… financially?

Opting for a basement conversion is a strategic approach to utilise the untapped space beneath your property, thereby increasing its utilisation and market value. While you might initially question the financial wisdom of such an undertaking, existing data generally underscores its value. Typically, such a project not only enhances the monetary value of your home but also substantially elevates your quality of living.

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Why spend time and money on technical design after obtaining planning permission? What does the technical design stage entail?

The technical design stage is crucial in the overall architectural process as it’s the phase where we, along with other design team consultants, produce the comprehensive design for every part and component of the building. During the technical design stage, we focus on developing intricate architectural details. This includes construction specifications for areas like the rear extension, new floor build-ups, and roof buildup.

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Can I start with technical design before I have planning permission?

It is always possible to proceed with the technical design while the planning application is being assessed by the council. The importance of a solid technical design cannot be overstated. We will evaluate and advise you on the risk of the proposed design in terms of the likelihood of planning approval. Often, it makes sense to begin developing the technical design drawing packages when most of the works proposed in the planning application are considered low risk. If there’s a need to redesign elements of the proposal to accommodate council-requested changes, there will be a small amount of abortive work and additional fees.

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Will you be able to provide interior design services?

Every project involves interior design services such as choosing and specifying the finishes, light fittings, sanitary ware, furniture layouts, designing pieces of joinery, and obtaining quotes. Additionally, as part of our interior design services, we will need to collate the information and produce the sanitary drawings, electrical drawings, and joinery drawings.

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