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[toxictoad]

hey all,

I kid you not when I say I'm a long way away from starting this project, if at all I will start it, however I would like to find out if what I'm thinking of would be possible.

I live in a semi-detached 3 bedroom house that was built around 60-70 years ago. Roughly two thirds of the original ground floor (excluding the kitchen conversion) is timber floored with a gap of approximately 2.5 foot between the floor boards and ground. the rest of the ground floor is the hall and original kitchen which has a concrete floor.

I know that I need to speak to these guys before getting any work carried out. Architect / Structural Engineer / Builder / Building Controls.

I would be looking to build a room that pretty much covers a span of 3.10 m (w) x 6.45 m (l) and this would be under the floor boards.

I guess at the moment my main questions are:

Has anyone has had any involvement on a project of this kind?
Is it at all possible?
What sort of budget would I be looking at?
Would the cost of development add as much value if I sold later?

 

[Nige F]

that`s a "bridge too far" M8.....you `ll probably go below the original footings

 

[breezer]

actually its not a bridge too far, i have seen it done quite a few times, all by the same company, cost , no idea, but its cheaper than moving house to get an extra room, it NOT A DIY JOB

where in the country are you?

 

[Nige F]

Fair point I was thinking that the cost would not be recouped if the house was sold-should have said that and The spectre of damp was behind me like Scrooge`s ghosts

 

[toxictoad]

original footings.... Nige as I'm sure you've guessed from my other posts I haven't a lue when it comes to building, so I'm not sure what you're talking about.

I know the house has to have fondations, this I assumed to be (for want of beter words) a big thick slab of concrete (and other stuff) covering the whole surface area of the house. On top of this would be the outer brick walls but nothing else other than ground / concrete etc to fill the gaps between the foundation and the floor (with the gap under the floor boards for air circulation).

So what are footings and what are there purpose?

breezer, I'm in Coventy mate (you know that little place near Birmingham that got bombed heavy in the war and where that bird rode naked on hourse back, in ye olden days)

I was thinking of getting the shovel out and seeing how far I could dig but then thought, without a wheel barrow I would have a living room of dirt so that wouldn't help...but seriously just out of curiousity and to see if it would ever be possible, do you know the details for that co. ? [/i]

 

[toxictoad]

Fair point I was thinking that the cost would not be recouped if the house was sold-should have said that and The spectre of damp was behind me like Scrooge`s ghosts

yeah damp seems to be the biggest problem that I've seen here where people have converted existings cellars. Also this is a third generation house, my nan was the second owner and although I never saw it in it's original state, I have seen quite a few changes while she had it and then my mum and I'd like to make further (more radical) changes to it and more than likely pass it on to the next generation

I can't go out (extention already maxed out) so I can only go up and down

 

[masona]

everything is possible but to give you some idea, my mate just finish building a garage under the house and cost him so far £38,000 in materials only, size approximatey 12' x 28'. Not a diy job, and even some builders cannot tackle this job.

A lot cheaper if you have the room in the loft with velux window.

 

[breezer]

regarding your wheel barrow, 3 guesses how its done?

yes they have to dig it ALL by hand (cant get a jcb in through the front door) as its dug its thrown onto a conveyor belt, that is aways the give away, conveyor belt sticking up outside in the street going to a skip

company i have seen os the london basement company website and yes all the ones i have seen are in london

but as has been said, its NOT a diy job, dont even think about it.

did you here about the bloke who tried it? it was in the papers, his house colapsed

 

[Nige F]

original footings.... Nige as I'm sure you've guessed from my other posts I haven't a lue when it comes to building, so I'm not sure what you're talking about.

I know the house has to have fondations, this I assumed to be (for want of beter words) a big thick slab of concrete
So what are footings and what are there purpose?
Basically a slit trench under the walls to a certain depth depending on the "fashion" @ the time of build.full o` concrete...the "slab" is the oversite, separate and thinner Y`know I grew up with buildings....used to go and see my Grandad @ work on site after Primary School Sad or what

 

[toxictoad]

nice one guys, I found another company that specialise in this type of work (www.basementforce.co.uk) I figure from what I've read and what I'd like that it would cost around 100,000 - 150,000 well it was a nice thought but I'll leave it there...