Tag: cellar

Basement, garage or loft conversion – which is best?

Basement, garage or loft conversion - which is best?credit

Are you ready to make a change to your living situation? It might be that spending the past year going in and out of lock-down has left you feeling tired of staring at the same four walls. In which case, perhaps now is the perfect time to do something about it.

However, with the UK’s average house price increasing by 8.6% over the year to February 2021, you may decide this isn’t the most opportune moment to be scouring the market. As an alternative, can you convert a space within your existing property?

It’s undoubtedly a major decision that will require careful consideration and financial planning but once it’s done you might just find that you’ve rediscovered your love for your humble abode. So, which room is best for conversion? Your basement? The garage? The loft? Here are the pros and cons of each conversion option.

Basement iconcredit

Basements

You can find many ideas for a London basement extension online. If done right, converting your basement has the potential to add significant value to your property.

If done right, converting your basement has the potential to add significant value to your property. They can be large areas with high ceilings, which offers a much wider range of possibilities, while there’s also the chance to create a separate access and make it a standalone space. This could be perfect if you have visions of turning it into a self-contained flat that could be rented out. On the negative side, it can be difficult to secure planning permission for basement conversions and if there is lots of work to do in terms of damp proofing and insulating, then the costs can soon mount up.

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Garages

Is your garage little more than a glorified storage cupboard? If so, why not add some value to your home by converting it into an office, a gym or even a games room? Garages can make for an easier renovation while they also offer separate access to the house as well as a natural link to the garden. Like basements, however, it can sometimes prove tricky to get the permission you need from the authorities, and it could make life more difficult if you’re forced to park your car on the street as a result. It’s also important to think about the practicalities of the space, and whether you are opting for a brick built garage that’s attached to the house or separate, you may find it easier to think about how it should work with your home. A small footnote when it comes to the planning and prep, but an essential one nonetheless.

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Lofts

If you don’t have the room to build outwards, why not convert upwards? Loft conversions are a popular option and it’s easy to see why – it’s typically easier to secure planning permission and the end result can create a beautiful space filled with plenty of natural light. The flip side, however, is that you may be forced to deal with smaller dimensions and low ceilings, while the only access is via the rest of the house, which may not be desirable.

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Why a wine cellar adds value to your house

Why a wine cellar adds value to your house | H is for Home

Wine has become the beverage of choice for the people who love their liquor and one of the most favourite drinks internationally. Wine collecting is a hobby for many individuals around the world and one of the primary reasons why some home-buyers prefer houses with wine cellars, there are also accolades associated with wine such as the ‘Master of Wine’ award. People who love wine, want to store their wines correctly and also display their wines in areas in their homes, which is why, if you have the space you should consider a wine cellar.

Things change from time to time and, if you decide to sell your home some time in the future, a beautiful and well-constructed wine cellar will undoubtedly add financial worth to your home.

Home-buyers who are already in the market for new homes with wine cellars will make a beeline for your property when it comes on the market. You’ll be able to call the shots in terms of pricing since you’re sure that your home is exactly what these home-buyers need at that point. A dedicated wine storage room can add anywhere from £10-20,000 to the value of a house, depending on how it’s been constructed and its size. This makes financial sense when thinking about installing a wine cellar as it will more than pay for itself since you also have the opportunity to store hundreds, if not thousands, of wine bottles until you move house.

Rows of bottles on shelves in a wine cellar

To build or install a wine cellar in your home isn’t rocket science; in fact, it’s not even as complicated as you’ve been made to believe. Several options are open to you when it comes to building the wine cellar that will boost the resale value of your home in years to come. You also have lots of wine rack choices, stain choices, wine accessories, add-ons etc. available for you to choose from at any time.

So, all you need to do is to pick yourself up and visit any of the numerous DIY shops as well as hardware stores that sell ready-made kits that you can use for building your wine cellar. This is an excellent option for you if you’re a DIY fan and you have a pretty low budget.

However, the best thing to do when you’ve made up your mind to add a wine cellar to your beautiful home is to seek the help of certified wine cellar construction company. There’s nothing more heart-warming that sitting back and relaxing while a team of building professionals goes to work in your house.

Rows and shelves of wine bottles stored in a room

Not only is this incredibly convenient, but you’ll also be able to chip in your thoughts or plans about the design of the wine cellar while these professionals – with years of building wine cellars under their belts – can advise you accordingly; it’s just like designing a new kitchen!

Nevertheless, whether you choose to build the wine cellar yourself or hire the services of professional wine-cellar builders to do it for you, you’ve made an excellent decision by making up your mind to add a room or two in your house for your priceless wine collection.

Of course, although your primary intent for constructing a wine cellar may be for your personal enjoyment, the resale value of your house will increase significantly, thanks to the existence of the wine vault.

There are lots of options to think about when designing a wine cellar, for examples the racking, humidity and temperature equipment as its critical the wines are stored correctly to make this project viable.  One of the most common additions to a wine cellar, which may seem odd, is a wine cooler or wine cabinet.  These are used primarily to bring a small selection of wines that are ready to drink to their optimum service temperature.  If you’re going to invest in a wine cooler, its best to buy a high quality unit like the range from Elite Wine Refrigeration, as not only will this help save the planet but it will also ensure your wines are stored correctly with less of a chance of a break down which may sour the wines.

Once the wine cellar is constructed, allow the room to run at its set temperature correctly for a period of time to ensure there aren’t any unforeseen breakdowns which may damage your wines.

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