English Basement Conversion
I am looking into purchasing a limestone in Prospect Heights. It has an English basement with a bathroom and I would like to convert that very raw space with tons of wires and pipes into two large bedroom. There are doors from the front of the house (beneath the stairs) and to the garden from…
I am looking into purchasing a limestone in Prospect Heights. It has an English basement with a bathroom and I would like to convert that very raw space with tons of wires and pipes into two large bedroom. There are doors from the front of the house (beneath the stairs) and to the garden from the English Basement. Is this legal? Has anyone done this before? How hard was it?
if the ceilings are high enough, it might not be that unusual. excavation is where it gets difficult. also, if this room is the lowest elevation in the house consider how often water might be a problem (more often than you think). Ask every neighbor you can how often they get water from storms. This spring was a good test for water issues. And don’t forget to ask them if the sewer ever backs up!
As Pete says, you’ll need to determine if you have a cellar or a basement. It sounds like you may have a basement. Usually in these cases, an easy way to tell is if you have another level below. That would most likely make it a basement, in which case you can legally make it bedrooms and a full bath. If it’s a cellar, you can do a small powder room (no shower or tub) and a recreation room, which technically cannot be used for sleeping, kitchen, dining.
The other thing to consider is light and air, and minimal room sizes. If you do have a basement and you want to add bedrooms, you’re probably talking about one room in the front and another room in the back. If so, great, each room is probably big enough and has ample light and air.
If you’re trying to do it side by side, then consider that the bedrooms need to be at least 8 feet wide. In a building on a lot 18 feet wide or more, you can do that.
Other than that, it’s a piece of cake.
Jim Hill, RA, LEED AP
Urban Pioneering Architecture
many people use term ‘english basement’ to mean different things….
but if space you are talking about is mostly below grade
(curb level) then would not be to code to make into bedrooms. Does not mean you can’ finish space off.