A note from the original article: this piece is now considered older reference material — for the latest figures, see our updated basement cost breakdown.
After discussing construction cost of normal grey structure and finishing in Episode 3 and Episode 4, Team Overc's in its latest episode will guide its viewers about basement construction cost and costing/budgeting for BASEMENT grey structure of house. Our team has calculated estimated per square foot figures for different materials required during BASEMENT grey structure construction of a house.
Video guide accompanying this article.
Basement construction cost — grey structure
Construction contract type: Labor rate contract
Construction grade: A grade compliance to all technical & engineering specifications
Sample project: Covered area 1000 sq.ft
Item wise per square foot cost calculations:
Bricks — 42 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 42 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 42,000 Rs Brick price = 8.5 Rs per piece Quantity = 42,000 / 8.5 = 4,941 bricks
Crush — 174 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 174 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 174,000 Rs Crush price = 70 Rs per c.ft Quantity = 174,000 / 70 = 2,485 c.ft
Cement — 297 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 297 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 297,000 Rs Cement price = 550 Rs/50kg bag Quantity = 297,000 / 550 = 540 bags
Steel — 440 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 440 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 440,000 Rs Steel price = 80 Rs/kg or 80,000 Rs/ton Quantity = 440,000 / 80 = 5,500 kg or 5.5 tons
Sand — 75 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 75 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 75,000 Rs Sand price = 25 Rs/c.ft Quantity = 75,000 / 25 = 3,000 c.ft
Gravel — 20 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 20 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 20,000 Rs Gravel price = 35 Rs/c.ft Quantity = 20,000 / 35 = 571 c.ft
Labor contractor — 425 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 425 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 425,000 Rs
Steel fixer — 30 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 30 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 30,000 Rs
Plumbing contractor — 15 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 15 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 15,000 Rs
Electric contractor — 15 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 15 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 15,000 Rs
Other items
Electricity items — 20 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 20 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 20,000 Rs
Plumbing items — 45 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 45 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 45,000 Rs
Water stopper — 12 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 12 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 12,000 Rs
Water proofing — 30 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 30 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 30,000 Rs
Anti termite spray — 10 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 10 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 10,000 Rs
Guard Salary — 20 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 20 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 20,000 Rs
Excavation — 35 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 35 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 35,000 Rs
Bitumen — 14 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 14 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 14,000 Rs
Polythene sheet — 6 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 6 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 6,000 Rs
Taxes — 8 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 8 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 8,000 Rs
Electricity bills — 10 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 10 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 10,000 Rs
Random expenditures — 42 Rs/sq.ft
Calculation: 42 Rs x 1000 sq.ft = 42,000 Rs
Let us see what will be the total cost of Basement Grey structure:
| S# | Item | Cost per sq.ft | Total approx. price (Pak Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bricks | 42 | 42,000 |
| 2 | Crush | 174 | 174,000 |
| 3 | Cement | 297 | 297,000 |
| 4 | Steel | 440 | 440,000 |
| 5 | Sand | 75 | 75,000 |
| 6 | Labor Cont | 425 | 425,000 |
| 7 | Steel fixer | 30 | 30,000 |
| 8 | Plumbing | 15 | 15,000 |
| 9 | Electric | 15 | 15,000 |
| 10 | Electric items | 20 | 20,000 |
| 11 | Plumbing items | 45 | 45,000 |
| 12 | Guard salary | 20 | 20,000 |
| 13 | Gravel | 20 | 20,000 |
| 14 | Water stopper | 12 | 12,000 |
| 15 | Bitumen | 14 | 14,000 |
| 16 | Polythene sheet | 6 | 6,000 |
| 17 | Water proofing | 30 | 30,000 |
| 18 | Taxes | 8 | 8,000 |
| 19 | Electric bills | 10 | 10,000 |
| 20 | Anti termite | 10 | 10,000 |
| 21 | Excavation | 35 | 35,000 |
| 22 | Random | 42 | 42,000 |
| TOTAL COST | 1,785 | 1,785,000 |
In case your basement is huge, overall per square feet cost figure can be less and vice versa.
Disclaimer
- Possible ±5% variation is possible in basement construction cost shown in the video.
- Soil testing and piling, if required in certain parts of the country, shall be an extra cost and is not mentioned in these calculations.
- Skills required to achieve this cost:
- Past experience
- Quality & honest labor
- Labor management skills
- Quality, timely & cost effective material procurement
- Factors such as construction inexperience, unusual covered areas, frequent wear & tear, fraudulent labor etc. can affect this cost figure.
- Hire a professional company — which will add a figure of 150 Rs/sq.ft maximum as margin.
- Basement construction methods for which this costing is based upon have been explained in detailed video field guides of Team Overc's, having the following links:
- Episode 2: Marking & Excavation — https://youtu.be/VsAMjfzy9LI
- Episode 3: R.C.C Basement bed — https://youtu.be/gn5trXQCyfo
- Episode 4: R.C.C retaining walls — https://youtu.be/Vh2bXk3E__Q
- Episode 5: Water proofing & slab — https://youtu.be/rn66GmCL8Bo