Convert Loft or Cellar for clean storage?

indielad

I'm deliberating the pros and cons of converting my cellar or attic for storage for my part time business. I have a business selling clothes, so the storage needs to be clean, light and well ventilated. I'm the end terrace of a 2 up, 2 down Victorian house. I've had builders to look at the cellar and attic and both have the correct dimensions to be convertible to rooms. With the attic, I have the option of spending 6 k to convert the attic to room with a skylight and drop down ladder. or a proper conversion which will require a new door to be fitted at the bottom of the ground floor stairs, and a stairwell taking out some of the space in one of the bedrooms this will meet building regulations and I will have the option of using it as a bedroom that I'll never need as I live on my own, also I'm not that interested in raising the house value than I am as having the storage space. This option will triple the cost. Failing that, converting the untanked cellar is an option, but has less space than the attic. It needs more than tanking really as the storage space needs to be clean as well as damp free. I don't need the rooms for living in or bedrooms, so is having a buildings regulated attic conversion just a waste of money when the rooms are clean storage only in comparison to the cheaper conversion option or cellar conversion?

Doozergirl

I wouldn't even consider the cellar.

Loft, every time.

FreeBear

indielad wrote: »

converting the untanked cellar is an option, but has less space than the attic. It needs more than tanking really as the storage space needs to be clean as well as damp free.

A cellar will always be cold and damp even if you tank the floor & walls. The floor & walls will be at a lower temperature than the rest of the house, so the warm (damp) aor will condense. The walls will always be damp behind the tanking, and the moisture will find a way out - Typically, where the joists are set in to the walls. Damp timbers will rot, so you'd be having to replace the floor sometime in the future.

A better option - A well insulated shed come office come workshop in the garden. It could be turned in to temporary living space in the summer should you have guests over. If/when you move, the structure could be dismantled and taken with you. Depending on size, you wouldn't need planning permission or building regs (unless you are in a conservation area).

indielad

FreeBear wrote: »

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A better option - A well insulated shed come office come workshop in the garden. It could be turned in to temporary living space in the summer should you have guests over. If/when you move, the structure could be dismantled and taken with you. Depending on size, you wouldn't need planning permission or building regs (unless you are in a conservation area).

I don't have a garden just a shared passageway for the adjoining houses. No room for a garage or driveway either.

getmore4less

How big is the current unused bedroom if it can take a set of stairs and still have some use?

You can pack a lot of clothes into a full hight solution(rails and shelves) on wheels that allows easy access to different sections.

indielad

getmore4less wrote: »

How big is the current unused bedroom if it can take a set of stairs and still have some use?

You can pack a lot of clothes into a full hight solution(rails and shelves) on wheels that allows easy access to different sections.

The unused bedroom is a small double 10ft x 10. The builder said the stair well will make it into a box room.

getmore4less

With a 10'x10' room you could fit 5x6' double hanging rails

That would be around £250 for 60' of hanging space using heavy duty shop fitting rails

That would also leave enough room for any photo work selling on-line.

The loft will probably be restricted to single height hanging.

more custom solution against the walls with hanging and shelves with some on wheels could more than just hanging choices.