Basement conversionsin Torquay & South Devon
Turn a damp, unused cellar into dry, usable space. We carry out the structural conversion and waterproofing to the system specified for your project.
- Director: 18 years' trade experience
- 11+ years trading in South Devon
- 1-year indemnity-backed guarantee
- Public liability insured
- City & Guilds bricklaying & carpentry
Usable space that's already under your feet
A basement conversion turns an existing cellar or under-house space into a habitable room: a playroom, gym, office, utility or guest bedroom. Torquay's many Victorian and hillside properties often have cellars or lower floors that are rarely used.
This service is for homeowners with a cellar or lower ground floor who want to use it properly, and who have drawings in place for the layout and any structural changes.
You need a basement conversion when the space is damp, too low, or structurally unsuitable to live in. It's often a way to add space where an extension isn't possible because of plot size or planning.
Below-ground work is unforgiving. Waterproofing has to be continuous, structural changes have to protect the house above, and drainage has to be thought through. We handle the structural conversion and tanking/waterproofing as one job, so responsibility doesn't fall between trades.
Why cellars stay damp and what it costs
A basement that's simply plastered and decorated will usually fail. Water ingress can damage a basement without a suitable waterproofing design.
Returning damp and mould
Without a continuous waterproofing system, moisture comes back through walls and floors, ruining finishes and creating unhealthy air.
Structural risk
Lowering floors or removing walls in a basement affects the foundations of the whole house. Done wrong, it can cause movement above.
Wasted fit-out spend
Flooring, plaster and electrics installed on an unprotected basement are often the first things to be ripped out.
Drainage problems
Without the right drainage and, where needed, pumping, water collects at the lowest point of the property.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Painting on a damp sealer and calling it waterproofing.
- Digging down without a structural engineer's design.
- Leaving waterproofing to a separate trade after structural work is complete.
- Ignoring ventilation and condensation once the space is in use.
Our basement conversions process
Step 1
Send your plans
Share your approved drawings and any structural calculations. We'll arrange a free site visit.
Step 2
Clear written price
You get a written quote for the work, with any fit-out priced separately if you want it.
Step 3
Structural work and tanking
We carry out the structural conversion, including any excavation, new openings or supports, and install the tanking/waterproofing system specified for the space.
Step 4
Building Control liaison
We can liaise directly with Building Control officers on site where inspections are required.
Step 5
Completion and guarantee
We hand over the finished work, covered by our 1-year indemnity-backed workmanship guarantee.
What you get with JB Carpentry and Building
Dry, usable space
The goal is a room you can actually use, with waterproofing built in from the start.
Structure and waterproofing together
One team handles both, so details are coordinated rather than patched.
Protects the house above
Structural work follows your engineer's design and Building Control requirements.
Space without a bigger footprint
Gain room where an extension isn't practical, without losing garden.
Your choice of finish
We can finish the room, or hand over to your own trades once it's dry and sound.
Guaranteed workmanship
Completed work carries a 1-year indemnity-backed workmanship guarantee.
Basement waterproofing and structure explained
Waterproofing below ground generally uses one or a combination of established approaches. Your designer will specify the right system for the site.
Barrier (tanking) protection
A barrier system applied to walls and floors (such as cementitious slurries or bonded membranes) resists water entering the structure. It needs a well-prepared, sound substrate and continuous detailing at corners and junctions.
Structurally integral protection
Here the structure itself resists water, for example new concrete walls or floors designed to be water-resisting. It's more common where new structural elements are being built.
Drained cavity protection
A cavity drain membrane lets any water that gets through the wall run down behind the membrane into a drainage channel, often leading to a sump and pump. It manages water rather than trying to hold it back.
Lowering floors and forming openings
Increasing ceiling height or connecting a basement to the rest of the house can involve excavation, underpinning and new steels or lintels. This is structural work and is designed by an engineer before it starts.
Cellars, lower ground floors and hillside homes
A traditional cellar fully below ground needs different treatment from a hillside lower floor with one side open. The level of protection needed depends on how the space will be used.
Related services
Based at 156 Newton Road, Torquay, Devon. Basement Conversions across Torquay, Paignton, Totnes, Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Salcombe, South Hams, Teignbridge.
Planning your basement conversions project
Start with approved drawings
We work primarily from existing client plans, so the best time to contact us about basement conversions is once your architect's drawings and any planning consent are in place. Drawings fix the size, layout and specification, which helps us define the scope of the quote; any assumptions or changes should be agreed for your project. If your engineer has produced structural calculations, include them too; they set the foundation sizes, steel sections and fixings we'll build to.
Working with your architect and engineer
We regularly work alongside client architects and structural engineers. When a question comes up on site (an unexpected drain, softer ground than expected, or an existing wall that isn't what the drawings assumed), we can discuss it with your designer before proceeding and agree any necessary changes.
Building Control from first dig to sign-off
Most structural work needs Building Regulations approval and inspections at key stages, such as foundation excavations, damp-proof courses, drainage and structural elements before they're covered. We liaise directly with Building Control officers on site throughout the build, where required; inspection timing and approval depend on the relevant Building Control body.
Shell handover or full finish
Our core strength is the ground, the structure and the watertight shell. Once that's complete you have a choice: we can price and manage the internal fit-out (kitchens, bathrooms, doors, decorating) through our vetted specialist trades, or we can hand over at the shell stage so you can bring in your own finishing trades and control that part of the budget yourself. Either way, the structure your finishes sit on has been built by one accountable team.
Building in South Devon conditions
Site conditions vary across South Devon. Sloping plots, restricted access, existing drains, coastal exposure and older structures may affect your basement conversions project. Your architect or engineer can specify the measures required, and we can discuss the site conditions and agreed scope when preparing a quote.
What happens after you get in touch
Call Jake or send your drawings through the contact page. We'll look over the plans, arrange a free site visit at a time that suits you, Monday to Saturday, and walk the site with you to understand access, ground conditions and how you want the project finished. You'll then receive a clear, written quote setting out what's included, so you can compare it properly and decide with confidence.
One team, managed start to finish
A core in-house team of six handles groundworks, brickwork, blockwork and structural carpentry, growing to as many as 15 with long-standing subcontractors on larger projects. Director Jake Brown brings 18 years of hands-on trade experience and the company has been trading across South Devon for over 11 years. You get one point of contact, clear communication and strict quality control on every stage.
Want to know more about the team? Read about us or go back to the homepage.
Basement Conversions questions
Got your plans?Get a clear price.
Free site visit and a written quote. Director Jake Brown brings 18 years of trade experience. All completed work carries a 1-year indemnity-backed workmanship guarantee.