Expand the cellar and redesign the cellars

The basement is often used only as a storage room, but it has much more potential. After all, it is also a potential living space. Give previously unused basement spaces a reason to exist by expanding your basement. It’s up to you whether you want to set up your own workspace or you prefer to use the space to pursue your hobbies. In this article you will find inspiration on what you can do with unused basement space, but also tips on what you should pay attention to when converting your basement.

Expanding the basement – this is what you should keep in mind

If your home is not a new construction, the basement rooms may be cool and damp. When expanding, the most important thing is to create pleasant living conditions. Trust your senses here. How does the wall feel? Is the soil moist? Maybe it smells musty? Imagine spending several hours in the room. In this way the necessary restructuring measures quickly become apparent.

The aspects that you should definitely take into consideration when expanding your basement are:

Good air in the basement

Basically there is one in the living rooms Maximum humidity of 60% acceptable. With the help of one Hygrometers – which can be purchased in every hardware store – you can determine exactly the existing value. Increased humidity can easily be caused by a natural air circulation regular. Does the basement have no space or is it just small? Windowwhich make ventilation difficult, it is advisable, if possible, to install larger ones. However, only one can help against persistently above-average humidity decentralized ventilation system. This can be conducted through the wall as part of the basement extension and ensures regular ventilation of the basement rooms.

Rötzer tip: If you are building a new building and plan to extend your basement, it can of course also be connected to a central ventilation system with heat recovery.

Sufficient light

A living room needs light, even in the basement. Windows provides one natural lighting during the day. Therefore, make sure that the windows are large enough to provide you with the necessary brightness, especially in rooms where you work concentrated for long periods of time. If you are expanding your basement, you should do so too Light sources for the evening hours think. Whether LED panels on the ceiling or wall lights, daylight lamps, cool or warm white, you can choose the lighting according to your preferences and needs.

Heating for living spaces

Nobody likes being in cold storage. A finished basement should definitely be yours Comfortable temperature are equivalent to. Heating is therefore an elementary component of basement extension. There’s already one Heating system exists, it should be able to heat additional rooms easily. Therefore, if you later turn your basement into a living space, you often just need it new radiators and adequate pipes. It’s up to you to decide which type of heating to choose: classic radiators, wall heating, underfloor heating, etc.

Insulation against heat loss

It gets cold quickly in basements, especially in winter. To ensure that heating does not lead to disproportionately high costs, you should use a suitable cellar when renovating your cellar. Thermal insulation think. If the basement is used as an additional living space, it is better to calculate it in addition to the standard insulation of the ceiling Insulation of external walls A. Whether the insulation is implemented as perimeter insulation from the outside or as internal insulation depends on the nature of the rooms and the budget. Calcium silicate, polyurethane or mineral foam panels are particularly suitable because these Protect from humidity and prevent the formation of mold. In addition to thermal insulation, also consider this Impact sound insulation in the ceiling. This becomes especially important if you are extending your basement to set up an office or other room where you want to work undisturbed.

Redesigning unused basement rooms: ideas for using space

Anyone who wants to expand their basement faces a choice: What is the additional living space for? For SaunaFor fans, it can be worth having a sweat zone in your own four walls.

The cellar offers space for creatives Workshop AND model maker find enough free space in additional living rooms to present their works. A renovated basement offers numerous possibilities for business and recreational purposes. Other ideas for using the space include:

Party basement:

There’s always a reason to celebrate or just spend a lively evening with friends. With a party cellar, homeowners who enjoy hosting visitors save a lot of time and effort. Chairs and tables, a bar and more are ready here and can easily be left standing for the next meeting. Furthermore, no noise penetrates outside or into the living rooms above the basement.

Home-Office:

An office space in the basement allows you to work undisturbed. It is also separated from the living spaces and thus forms a separate working environment in your own home. This makes a basement office suitable for self-employed workers or employees who regularly carry out their work from home.

Fitness room:

Many sports enthusiasts dream of having a gym in their home. With a renovated basement, this wish can easily be realized. A room specially designed for sports can offer a permanent place for fitness equipment, but also an open space for sports such as yoga or aerobics. If you like convenience, you can also install a shower in the next room to freshen up immediately after training.

Home cinema:

How about a cinema at home? In the renovated basement there is enough space for a large entertainment center or projector screen, as well as a comfortable seating area for long movie nights. The same applies here too: with good sound insulation, loud noises do not penetrate into the living space on the upper floor, so you can enjoy films at full volume without worries.

Bath:

A laundry room in the house is also practical. Here you can store appliances such as a washing machine and dryer and collect dirty laundry. If you expand the basement, you can also use a room as a laundry room and place clotheslines. This means that your laundry dries in the air to save energy, regardless of the weather outside.

Basement extension – When is planning permission required?

If you want to build in Germany, you need it Building permit. This also applies to many expansion measures. If you are a homeowner and want to expand your basement to create a guest room, hobby room or work space, you will not need to submit an application. However, if you want to turn your basement into a granny flat and then rent it out, you need to get approval from the local building authority. The type of use is crucial here: Construction work for Own use it is not necessary to report it, while for conversion to third party use a building permit is required.

Do you want to know more? You can find basic information on the topic in our blog post “Submitting a construction application: things to know about the construction application”.

Conclusion

Have you planned to expand your basement? Then you should start by creating the same conditions that exist in your living space. Basement rooms should be adequately lit and heated, offer pleasant air quality and have good insulation. The goal is to make you feel comfortable in the renovated rooms. It’s up to you whether you use the additional living space for your leisure activities or for work.