Cellar Conversion Ideas

By Sam D Goddard

If you own a home with a cellar or basement, you could gain a lot of extra living space with a cellar conversion. A cellar or basement conversion is just another term for a remodel, except for the fact that you are not just updating or changing the look; you are converting your basement or cellar to be used for something different.

The only real problem that you may come across with a cellar conversion is the dampness that is found in below ground rooms. This is easily fixed with cellar tanking, so why not make the most of your cellar or basement and convert it to additional living space.

With a cellar conversion the possibilities are endless; you could convert the space into a wine cellar, extra bedrooms, an office area or family room. Even commercial buildings with below ground space could make the most of the area by using that space as additional retail area, or storage.

Some great cellar conversion ideas include,
Additional bedrooms: This is a good idea if you find that you are in need of additional sleeping space. If you have a large family, and find that the children sharing rooms isn't working out so well, you can always convert your cellar or basement into additional bedrooms.

Separate living space: You could easily turn your basement into a separate living area. A small apartment is a good way to give a college aged child some independence, or possibly you may have parents who need to live with you, but also need a measure of independence. Aside from these uses, converting your basement into an apartment could be a means of extra income for your family if you rent it out.

A home theater room: That unused basement space could make the ideal theater room where you can enjoy the latest in high tech entertainment.

A hobby or workroom: Just about any hobby can benefit from a workroom. You can convert your basement or cellar into a photography studio, a place where you can getaway to do your scrap booking, painting, or whatever it is that you love to do. That unused room in your basement is the perfect place to create a haven for your hobby.

A fitness room: Why not take all the unused room in your basement and create a spa and fitness center right in your own home. Use part of your basement for gym equipment; plus enclose an area for a steam room and hot tub.

A game room: Many people opt to turn their cellar or basement into a game room where friends and family can get together to play some pool, video games, etc. Add a bar to one end of your basement and fill the rest with some great home games.

Wine cellar: If you are a lover of fine wines, you may want to do a cellar conversion to create a wine cellar. Basement tanking is important with wine cellars, as you have to ensure that the cellar does not become damp; aside from this you will also want to control the temperature of the wine cellar.

Office space: If you run a home based business, the basement area is a great place to convert to office space. In most cases the basement is at least partially separate from the rest of the home, which provides a peaceful working environment. In the case of office space, where computer equipment may be placed in the area, cellar tanking is extremely important. A damp or wet basement can ruin electronics and computer equipment.

Food Storage: If you need extra room for food storage, a cellar conversion that includes basement tanking is a great idea for added food storage space. As long as you can keep the room dry, you can store canned goods, as well as dried goods in your cellar.

With a basement conversion there are many things you may have to take into consideration that you wouldn't for a basic remodel. Some factors that you may have to think about when doing a cellar or basement conversion include, plumbing, electrical wiring, heating and cooling, telephone, cable TV, and lighting.

For many basements or cellars there is another important factor to converting the area to living space, and that is dampness. Below ground rooms often tend to have a problem with dampness, which is why you should consider waterproofing your cellar if you would like to convert it to living space. Cellar tanking will ensure that your new living space remains dry and free from water damage, or possible mold.

There are a couple different methods of basement tanking, or waterproofing your cellar. One of the best methods of basement tanking is tanking slurry. When you use a multi coat tanking treatments, you can rest easy that your basement or cellar will remain dry, as this is the perfect solution to waterproofing below ground rooms. Another advantage of the tanking slurry method of waterproofing is that it is useful in situations where damp proof course treatment may not be possible.

Slurry tanking treatments are composed of a mixture that provides great water resistance, flexibility, salt resistance, and good adhesion. Tanking slurry is easy to use; all that is necessary is adding water to the mixture and a brush to apply to the surface you wish to waterproof.
If you are in need of extra living or storage space, there is no need to purchase another house, all you have to do is make use of the space you already have available to you with a cellar conversion, but don't forget to protect your investment with basement tanking to keep everything nice and dry.

Sam D Goddard has many years of experience working in the Construction Chemicals industry and enjoys writing articles on the subject.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sam_D_Goddard