Bringing natural light into basement
Discussion
This is the floorplan of a place we’re interested in. As you can see, it has a lower, basement level with no natural light. It doesn't have any exterior walls - it's all underground.
I appreciate that if the basement was longer than the ground floor, you could have fitted in a light well, etc and perhaps even had some fresh air come in naturally. The garden is not very big, so no real scope to extend furher out underground, I think.
What I was hoping PH could help me with, is this:
The basement is the same size as the ground floor. So there is no obvious way that I can think of to get natural light or air in. Am I right or are there well-know solutions for this kinds of thing that I’m just not aware of?
Ideally, we’ll really like to make this into a very habitable, commonly used space and avoid the tomb-vibes!
I'd be very grateful for the experienced builders and designers to pitch in!
I appreciate that if the basement was longer than the ground floor, you could have fitted in a light well, etc and perhaps even had some fresh air come in naturally. The garden is not very big, so no real scope to extend furher out underground, I think.
What I was hoping PH could help me with, is this:
The basement is the same size as the ground floor. So there is no obvious way that I can think of to get natural light or air in. Am I right or are there well-know solutions for this kinds of thing that I’m just not aware of?
Ideally, we’ll really like to make this into a very habitable, commonly used space and avoid the tomb-vibes!
I'd be very grateful for the experienced builders and designers to pitch in!
I have a house that started off like that, it was built into the side of a slope so the ground levels at the rear were built up to make a patio level with the ground floor.
The patio was dug up, ground excavated, French doors & side glazed panels installed in every room along the back (4), and created a sunken patio which then had a few steps back up to the garden.
Then a tanking solution was installed, new internal insulated timber frame skin, and a sump with twin balanced pumps to raise any water under the basement slab (and foul water from new bathrooms) back up to mains drainage.
The space in the property was increased by 50%, but it wasn’t cheap.
The patio was dug up, ground excavated, French doors & side glazed panels installed in every room along the back (4), and created a sunken patio which then had a few steps back up to the garden.
Then a tanking solution was installed, new internal insulated timber frame skin, and a sump with twin balanced pumps to raise any water under the basement slab (and foul water from new bathrooms) back up to mains drainage.
The space in the property was increased by 50%, but it wasn’t cheap.
Sunken patio is the usual solution. Pick a side and excavate down. It doesn't put light into all the space but it's how lots of basements have been opened up in London to create viable flats.
Something else to consider is that bringing air in from the property above and moving it around is pretty simple and modern lighting to synthesise daylight has come on leaps and bounds in recent years.
Something else to consider is that bringing air in from the property above and moving it around is pretty simple and modern lighting to synthesise daylight has come on leaps and bounds in recent years.
I have a sun pipe on the landing to make it feel somewhat lighter and it really makes a difference. No idea how they work in a basement but there is some info here:
https://addlite.co.uk/basement-lighting-solutions/
https://addlite.co.uk/basement-lighting-solutions/
As others have mentioned, light tubes, or digging down to create a light well could both be options (the latter could be challenging and expensive, depending on space/ access and ground conditions).
I’d say the key question is establishing how and what you are planning to use the space for - clearly a bedroom will need a window (for means of escape) and an office or other regularly used room will benefit hugely from natural light (and some kind of view), but a games room or hobbies room might be fine with some borrowed daylight or better lighting.
In terms of the purchase generally, it will depend on the age, construction and location, but I’d want to be satisfied that the basement was well constructed as water ingress defects can be very challenging (read expensive) to remedy. Worth seeking some professional advice.
I’d say the key question is establishing how and what you are planning to use the space for - clearly a bedroom will need a window (for means of escape) and an office or other regularly used room will benefit hugely from natural light (and some kind of view), but a games room or hobbies room might be fine with some borrowed daylight or better lighting.
In terms of the purchase generally, it will depend on the age, construction and location, but I’d want to be satisfied that the basement was well constructed as water ingress defects can be very challenging (read expensive) to remedy. Worth seeking some professional advice.
The guest bedroom looks like it could have a frosted glass panel put in the floor by the kitchen bay windows, but personally, I'd fake it.
https://www.coelux.com/#:~:text=CoeLux%20redefines...
https://www.subterraneanspaces.co.uk/natural-light...
If you recess it into the ceiling, position it where a real skylight might go, eg at the top edge of an outside wall, get it to track natural light, bet it would be hard to tell the difference.
https://www.coelux.com/#:~:text=CoeLux%20redefines...
https://www.subterraneanspaces.co.uk/natural-light...
If you recess it into the ceiling, position it where a real skylight might go, eg at the top edge of an outside wall, get it to track natural light, bet it would be hard to tell the difference.
Edited by wyson on Tuesday 15th October 09:37
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff