We probably all know families (or perhaps you’re there yourself) who have reached that BIG decision time when it comes to living space. The house is bursting at the seams – you need another bedroom, the children want a playroom, you’d give anything for a kitchen that actually fits the whole family…

The good news is, rather than pack up and move out of London in search of space, excavating your basement to increase the size of your current home has just become a much easier, less stressful and more practical local solution.

Qualitas Construction and Pure Basements (you’re bound to have seen their branding outside houses around the area) have now joined forces. This means the painful project-management with the planner, builders, structural engineers and interior designer is all handled through one business, with one liaison person on your side.

Qualitas spokesperson Nick Woodworth told us, “We understand families’ needs for minimal disruption and the ability to remain in their houses while work is done. Our merger means we now oversee all aspects of a basement development – from advising on planning permission and building regulations through to construction and design – and will assign each project its own manager to oversee the entire process. We work more efficiently co-ordinating the various contractors, which in turn passes on working efficiencies to our the homeowner and minimises disruption.”

It goes without saying that digging under the footprint of the house (and, for the truly brave, going beneath the garden as well) can make a dramatic difference to your home. A basement conversion generally adds another full storey to the existing space and Qualitas say that a basement conversion can be done on just about any terrace, semi or detached house in the area.

And as for the common fear that your basement will seem dark and cold, Nick Woodworth assures us they’ve developed all sorts of clever solutions to make your new space appear as bright as possible, including light wells, glass in the floor above and lots of windows and doors. The interior designer will also advise on the best way to light and decorate your basement, in order to maximise the feeling of space and light.

As with any building work, some disruption is inevitable. But though the average length of time taken to transform a basement is between 26 and 35 weeks, excavation can be carried out without entering the existing property. So you can carry on living in your home, rather than rely on the goodwill (and spare beds) of family and friends.

Starting at £150,000, a basement conversion is an expensive exercise, but when matched against the costs and hassle of moving, and lack of properties on the market in the current climate, it’s clear to see why the basement trend is emerging and that it can really pay to dig deep.

To discuss in more detail with Nick Woodworth on how Qualitas Construction can transform your home or for a free on-site consultation, just call 020 88744921 or email info@qualitasconstruction.com

www.qualitasconstruction.com

Before suggesting Qualitas, we wanted to get some genuine feedback from recent customers …

“Qualitas came highly recommended to us by local friends who they had carried out work for, and they did not disappoint. From the outset Nick Woodworth and his team were exceptionally professional and a pleasure to work with. Having a two-year-old, being pregnant and living in the house during the build was relatively stress-free due to the Qualitas team being so accommodating throughout. The high standards they produced in terms of build quality and overall finish were outstanding. We are thrilled with the results which were on budget and on time.”

Mr and Mrs Price, Thurleigh Road, 2011

“We could not recommend Qualitas more highly. From start to finish they made the whole process as easy as possible, no request or question went unanswered. Everyone working on the project was a pleasure to have in our home, showing great respect for the fact that we were living in the house whilst the works were being carried out. A year on, we are still over the moon with the finished product and have gone on to recommend Qualitas to friends who have also been delighted with their extensions.”

Mr and Mrs Burke, Geraldine Road

 “Qualitas did a fantastic job on our new basement. Jonathan, Nick and their team were very professional throughout and a delight to work with.  I would thoroughly recommend them to anyone considering an extension to their home.”

Mr and Mrs Burden, Swanage Road

“Having used Qualitas to restore my Victorian house, I can only say that their workmanship and professionalism during the project was to a very high standard. I’m very happy with the quality of the work and would highly recommend them to others.”

Ms Carruthers, Brodrick Road, 2011