Q1 I’m planning to build an eco-friendly house but have concerns around the available living space with it being a small plot of land. Is a basement plantroom an option for me?
“Modern eco-homes require more than just insulation and solar panels. Advanced systems like PV, heat pumps, and air ventilation units are essential, but they need extra room to operate efficiently. These systems can quickly take up more space than traditional boilers and radiators, and without proper planning, you could end up sacrificing living space to accommodate them.
A dedicated plant room in your basement can house all your environmental systems keeping your heating, cooling, and ventilation equipment out of sight without taking away from your living area.
In addition, a plant room doesn’t need natural light, so you’re free to use it for everything from storing coats and shoes to even adding a laundry room. All the while, your main living space remains open, clutter-free, and sustainable.”
If this is something at the back of your mind as you’re planning your self build project, why not reach out to the specialists.
Enquire here: https://www.glatthaar.co.uk/contact/
Q2 I would like to include a basement for extra living space in my self-build project, but I’m concerned about the amount of natural light I’ll be able to direct into the space. What options do I have?
“Naturally, when we think of basements, we don’t consider windows as a viable option for natural light to gain access. If the basement walls are exposed in any area around the property, it could be suitable to include a window to achieve this but depending on the topography of the land this may not be a viable option.
If windows are viable, it is always important to consider the size and placement of the window to ensure maximum exposure to natural light in addition to the material used to ensure no heat escapes.
Another solution would be the proper placement of light wells directing light from optimally sun exposed areas into the basement to create a naturally viable living space.”
Here are some success stories where natural light was an important consideration.
Bishop, Hertfordshire – Glatthaar Keller
New Home in Central London – Glatthaar Keller
Wonderful family home in Oxfordshire – Glatthaar Keller
Q3 I’m planning to build my own house which includes a basement. I’m concerned that the project management is going to be unworkable and stressful considering the complexity of a basement build. I’d like to find a reliable basement contractor who can deliver on time with little stress whilst supporting me through the process. Can you help?
“Yes of course, we can do better than that.
At a fixed cost, Glatthaar deliver a full service from demolition of your existing property through groundworks and pilings to engineering and building your basement. We will hand over your site ready for the ground floor and beyond to be built on top without the complexity and stress of managing multiple contractors at one time. Furthermore, our AquaSafe® technology comes with a 10-year insurance backed warranty against water ingress giving you piece of mind beyond the completion of your project.” Glatthaar Keller ltd is also covered with PI insurance.
If this if this is a concern at the back of your mind as you’re moving forward with your project, why not reach out for a free consultation: https://www.glatthaar.co.uk/contact/
Q4 I have purchased some land in an area with a high water table, I’d like to build a basement but feel flooding will be a problem. Would you advise not building a basement in these conditions?
“We have built over 65,000 basements across Europe many in waterlogged areas. Due to our experience and continuous innovation we’re the UK’s only basement construction company that offer a full 10-year warranty against water ingress. Using our patented waterproof Aquasafe basement system we constructed a 313-tonne floating building basement which can be visited in our Schramberg facility in Germany.”
Take a look at our floating house here: Visit Our Demonstration Unit – Glatthaar Keller
Q5 I‘m in the early stages of planning a new build home for me and my family. I would like a basement but have concerns about additional costs further down the line. What should I consider?
This is often the first conversation I have with a client and a typical early-stage concern. With each basement being unique, my first job with any project is to understand the scope of work.
The first step is to collect the correct information including the basement design and soil report along with the site map to understand where and how we need to support the ground to conduct our work. Often neighbouring properties must be supported by pilings which also offer support our plant equipment during construction. Depending on the results from the soil report pilings may also be needed to support the foundations of the basement and above ground structure.
This all sounds daunting which is why we offer a fixed cost including demolition of your old property through to the completion of your basement. We will guide you through the process leaning on our 45 years of experience building basements. Further, there is no obligation by getting a full quotation from us. The only cost to consider is the soil report which is needed for the foundations of your property with or without our services.
The best thing to do is reach out here for an obligation free consultation: https://www.glatthaar.co.uk/contact/
Q6 Can you support with planning permission?
“The planning permission process is no different from a build without a basement, however, it would be an idea to reach out with your ideas for guidance on what is possible. For example, with our type A/B tanking system (external) we do need room around the basement to apply the waterproofing once it is in situ. This means that we may need to bring the walls in slightly on the basement to ensure we do not encroach on neighbouring properties when conducting our work. This is something you should consider during the design of the building.”
Visit us here for inspiration, information or to start a conversation: https://www.glatthaar.co.uk/self-builders
Q7 Is a soil survey necessary?
“Yes, the soil survey helps us understand the ground we are building the basement in it is important to understand how we need to engineer your basement to prevent subsidence and hydro lift. Also, it will allow us to plan the construction of the build effectively. The results of the soil survey are something we must and always pay attention to. That being said, it is not to understand if a basement can be built, it just dictates how we go about it.”
Our partners Land Science provide a great service to our customers with a basement specific package. You can contact them here: www.landscience.co.uk or you can order the soil survey directly by Glatthaar Keller Ltd.
Read a little more about planning and building a basement here: https://www.glatthaar.co.uk/self-builders/useful-information/creating-a-basement/
Q8 My building plot is not flat, what are my options?
“There are many options for you that would come to light through a consultation. It is likely that more opportunities are open to you regarding external access to your basement or even integrating the basement into the land scaping of your garden. There may also be opportunities to bring more natural light into the basement. I see this as an opportunity rather than a problem.“
Our ideas gallery might give you some more inspiration: Ideas Gallery – Glatthaar Keller
