What can a cellar be used for in the 21st Century?

seven-day-weekend

We use ours for storage/games room. It is dry apart from when there has been torrential rain for about a week, when a small pool appears up one corner. Ordinary rain is OK; the cellar is not damp -basically it is when the water table rises.

We have converted the coal shute into an opening window and have electricity and a central heating radiator down there. At one time we had a freezer down there.

We would not be without our cellar.

kforshaw

When me and my ex decided to buy this house, the reason for the purchase was so to have an arcade down there. (His hobby is collecting arcade games/ machines and fixing them)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kforshaw/sets/72157608416960385/

Photos are all over the place, but you'll get the jist

Gazing_On_Sunsets

The house I've just bought has a cellar. Unfortunately the previous occupant decided to convert the cellar to a room...on the cheap. It's an old stone fisherman's cottage, solid walls. He put thick insulation on the walls (in every room} then chipboard cladding over the top. What with double glazing and gas central heating, this poor cottage was thick with damp and mould. I spent a miserable few days ripping it all out and running to the tip a few times. Now, with windows open and the temperature to a reasonable reading, the house can breathe again like it's designed to. To convert this cellar would be an expensive job. It wasn't intended to be another room. I use it for storage; it stays dry as long as it can breathe.

MarieAAP

Hi

My place has a cellar (back-2-back mid terrace c1900), and its great for storage. We dont have a loft, so thats where the stuff all goes.

But it is also great for wine storage (as it has pretty consitent temp), growing mushrooms, camping gear, cat flap in the window rather than the front door. Also great to put the freezer, garden supplies etc down there!

I do have a humidifer going during the winter, to draw out moisture. And it the tub gets filled in about 1-2 days, so damp is not a problem for me.

M

mlz1413

I also have a fear to going into a cellar, but if you can get electric into it then I guess that would make it the same as a loft.

Damp is always going to be an issue as its under ground so you need to ensure you don't store anything valuable or precious in there for long periods.

I think a modern cellar would make a great music room or gym/fitness area.

chappers

There is no reason not to be able to tank a cellar properly, it just needs to be done correctly, expect to pay £30-40K(maybe more in london)to complete a basement conversion on a small victorian terrace.
If you are thinking of buying one to convert, then get as much head height as you can as for every foot you have to dig down you will have to underpin the rest of the house.

Jowo_2

I have a narrow, long cellar and I use it to store my tools and DIY stuff. I wouldn't store fabric objects down there in case they rotted but its fine as the overspill for most junk.

birduk

I used to have a cellar in a damp rented house. Things got ruined down there.

I was most scared of ghosts too and wouldn't go down there on my own. The fun thing was though as it was a coal cellar it had a door that lead under other peoples houses (block of four round the back). Muchos fun!!! Although I always thought that the ghosties hid out through there....

LandyAndy

tabsmagic wrote: »

i would love one for wine storage!!

Gazing_On_Sunsets

For anyone scared of their cellar:

Before I completed on the house I've just bought, which has a cellar, I posted on Facebook something like "I wonder what I'll find in the cellar?"
Someone else replied, "Well, if you get eaten by a Nameless Evil, it'll make a good story."
Another then said, "Call it Kenneth. It won't be a Nameless Evil any more. Problem solved."

So there you go. Just rename your cellar and you won't be scared to go down it any more.

Me and Kenneth are getting on quite well though I had a "Good Luck in your New Home!" card addressed to us both...which confused my boyfriend.