Basement Conversion, Knutsford, Cheshire
Remodelling a basement to provide open plan access to the swimming pool, gym, relaxation area, male and female changing rooms, and snooker room.
Project Brief
Our clients loved their basement facilities, but the design of the space raised safety concerns for their family. The family asked us to redesign and remodel their basement to retain all the facilities in a more family-friendly, open plan layout.
This complex basement was a specialist project that other construction companies would not touch. It required a team experienced in basement conversions, a bespoke propping design from the engineers, plus the use of a large crane to overcome access challenges.
The family intended to live in the house throughout the project, so minimising disruption would be a key consideration for our team.
The Build
The planning stage of the project involved detailed discussions with a specialist structural engineer who designed a propping system to take the weight of the large home. This enabled our team to remove the internal basement walls while preserving the safety and integrity of this family home. We also took advice from the engineer on how best to work around the existing elevator shaft from the upper floor.
Our main access point to the basement was via the rear garden which had no vehicle access. To get around this challenge, we brought in a large crane to lift all materials, tools and props to the back of the house. Our team bagged up all rubble and craned this back over the house to minimise disruption and maintain a clean and tidy site.
We removed 80% of the internal walls, took up the underfloor heating, and stripped all floors and plaster to create a single zone. Our team redesigned all the electrics and replaced the underfloor heating to work seamlessly within the space. We worked closely with the client’s interior designer to incorporate their new swimming pool layout and choice of fitted furniture to complement the environment.
The Result
Our clients were thrilled with the result, which exceeded their expectations. They went on to commission Heritage Group to renovate and fit out their open plan kitchen/diner and master en-suite bathroom, all the while ensuring the house could continue functioning as a busy family home.
