Here is a fantastic section from a Telegraph article that we came across, taken from Phil Spencer’s top 20 ways to add value to your home.



“Install a basement conversion

The most expensive form of extension: it costs £200 per sq foot to do the digging, and another £100 per sq foot to do the fitting out. So unless your house is worth £300 per sq ft, you won’t see your money back. It is also the most serious form of extension, as it is going to affect the structural load of your property. Not to be undertaken lightly, or without careful consideration, then. You will need to hire specialists to do the design and the installation, and you will almost certainly have to move out of the house for several months. That said, you can create fantastic spaces underneath your home, and extending your house like this means you can stay in it for longer, enjoy it more and sell it quicker when the time comes. I have just had a basement put in at my home in south-west London. It cost £300 per sq foot to dig and fit out, but houses in the street sell for between £700 and £900 per sq foot, depending on condition – which, in theory, means that for every £1 invested into the house, potentially £3 was added to its value. Also, when I bought the house it was 2,200 sq feet and now with basement and kitchen extension it is 4,000 sq feet – so it has virtually doubled in size. As I say, the real value lies in increasing your living space.”

Here at MacLennan we agree with Phil that a specialist contractor is best suited to the job, and that the benefits of carrying out a conversion can be substantial.

Read the full article here

Newton 103-S is a two-component, cementitious, modified-polymer waterproofing membrane with high adhesion, that can be applied very quickly.



It is designed for the internal and external waterproofing of concrete water-retaining and water-resisting structures such as reservoirs, water tanks and below ground structures.



Here is a MacLennan operative installing it on an upstand of a large commercial property.



Here at MacLennan we design, supply and install all of our waterproofing systems, so having a retinue of products such as these allows us to offer a complete package to nearly any projects specific needs.

Today at MacLennan’s head office, staff underwent a training session with MD Ian MacLennan on the use of and benefits of traditional techniques when undertaking work on a historic building.

During the training Ian taught the history of lime, lime plasters, wattle and daub and the uses of these techniques throughout history, such as the turning point of Eddystone Lighthouse where hydraulic lime was used for the first time and the resurgence of lime based techniques in the 80’s.



Later on the staff watched videos of Ian creating lime putty from scratch, in a kiln he created at MacLennan’s head office when we used to create and sell lime based products.

MacLennan make sure that all staff are trained in this way so as we can approach the delicate subject of repairing a historic building with a conservationist nature in mind, where it applies.