The existing head height isnt sufficient, can the floor be excavated? What about underpinning?
To determine whether excavation is possible, it is important to determine the depth of existing wall footings, because if headroom is low but close to acceptable, and if the footings are relatively deep, the floor can usually be lowered enough to achieve reasonable head height without expensive underpinning. It should be noted that where residential basement conversion is undertaken there is a requirement to comply with part L (conservation of fuel and power) of the building regulations, which means including insulation within the floor construction, which obviously has an implication in respect of finished floor to ceiling height. It is helpful for the client to arrange for a number of exploratory holes to be dug out adjacent to the walls before surveyors visit, including at external, internal and party walls. If the footings are shallow, then underpinning may be a requirement. Trace work with several specialist underpinning contractors and can provide this service where necessary. Al
