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Homes with basements
The provision of basements or cellars to new housing can
dramatically improve land utilisation, improve energy consumption 
and provide homes capable
of coping with changes in lifestyle.
Polarwall offers a quick & effective construction with excellent structural and energy performance.
High land prices make it is sensible & feasible to increase the living space within the house without extending its footprint.
A basement can change your home from merely being a place to live, into a lifestyle home with any number of different below ground rooms for a whole host of different uses, such as:
- Gym/fitness suite
- Wine cellar
- Swimming pool
- Home cinema
- Basement car parking
- Office or play room
Difficult sites
There are more and more building plots available where
developing
the site is made more difficult, for instance by a sloping site. Whilst
the land can be cheaper the cost of development may be more than you
expect. By a building a basement, the extra cost in the foundation work
can be offset by creating extra living space.
By introducing a basement into the build, this can not only utilize the slope to its maximum, but also stabilize the site and provide the foundations for the house above.
Polarwall has supplied numerous developments where the owners have done exactly this. The results can provide a practical and beautiful way to increase the living space and create a lifestyle home..
Planning gain
Although most planning authorities will wish to see a planning application for a basement, because it is generally hidden, the visual impact can be reduced. Planning permission can therefore be easier to obtain if you need the extra living space, but can't build higher because of planning restriction.
Building costs
New
basement technologies, such as Polarwall, have quickened the build time
and reduced the cost of basement construction. One of the major costs
of basement construction is the removal from site of the soil, and
though this can sometimes be “lost” on larger
sites, for
compact sites it can be expensive. However, basements do not have to be
fully immersed and basement construction that is partly below ground
and partly above ground can save money and let in natural light.
Sloping sites make for great basements, as one side can be opened to
create a “walk out”, providing lots of natural
light.
Waterproofing
A modern basement should always be dry. There are so many ways to keep the moisture out, (we would always advocate a belt and braces approach). Each basement project needs to be treated in its own right as site conditions will normally dictate the level of protection required. We have undertaken extensive research into various methods of waterproofing, and have access to professionals who can advise on the correct waterproofing methods, so please contact us to find out more.
Warranty
We work with structural waterproofing companies who provide full warrantys on their work. Further cover on a property based insurnace policy can also be arranged. This will guarantee a dry basement from day one. Developers no longer have to worry about the cost of putting a leaky basement right!
Polarwall and basement construction
Polarwall
is ideal for any basement and retaining wall construction. The wall
core can be 200mm, 250mm or 300mm depending upon the structural loading
and the soil pressures. A brick corbel can be formed at the top of the wall to any width which might be required.
Polarwall has advantages over any other ICF system in basements for the
following reasons:
- The formwork is made of Extruded Polystyrene – the most moisture resistant of any insulating board
- The reinforcement can be welded wire mesh – this saves a lot of construction time over the placing and tying of ordinary reinforcement bar
- Wide formwork and low profile ties ensures excellent concrete compaction
Constructing with Polarwall
We are able to offer contact to one of the Polarwall basement specialists in your area to construct your project and to design your waterproofing solution.
For more information on please click here or contact us on
