At Archer-Hoblin we pride ourselves on our expertise, and will be adding to our “News and Views” various articles which display our knowledge. We would love this to become a forum and a help section for people in the industry and those who are interested in learning more. One of the key features we will concentrate on is our in depth knowledge of basements and basement construction. Basements were a popular feature before and during the Victorian era, mainly due to the dense inner city population, and the shortage of suitable space for building. After WW1 low cost housing became a priority, and large areas of land were released to accommodate this.
The British basement was neglected for much of the last century but the last decade has seen a big revival in basements, and now they are back in style. Modern construction methods and waterproofing techniques have been key factors in this, allowing basements to be designed and created in various ways; New build, Refurbishment, and Retrofit. With rising land costs and shortage of prime sites, even some of our National house builders, and the self-build sector have recognised the benefits of basements, and are maximising the space available. Larger homes can therefore be built competitively on smaller sites.
Property owners looking to ‘up-size’ have also realised that in this overpriced market, the basement option is hard to ignore. If you have unused space partially or completely below ground, the investment in a basement refurb can add a complete new floor to your property, providing quality space for living, leisure, utility or storage. It will also add value and saleability to your property.
Urban home owners without subterranean space are not left out of the basement boom, far from it. Retrofit basements are well established in the UK. This is the method of micro tunnelling under your property, and creating a completely new floor underground, following the footprint of the building. Archer-Hoblin offers the complete package, working with our own or your Architects & Structural Engineers. Excavation, underpinning & other structural work is carried out with military precision. Drainage, waterproofing, and insulation are carried out with a high level of expertise, as are the decorative finishes. Natural light & ventilation are designed into the basement, to make it an attractive addition to the property.
If you are interested in finding out more, please feel free to contact us. We are the friendliest contractor you will ever call.
Tags: Archer-Hoblin, basement retrofit, basements, cellars, English Heritage, excavation, Graded buildings, heritage restoration, listed buildings, underpinning