Estimating Daylight Basements

Use the BidMagic construction estimating software to estimate concrete and masonry foundation costs.

Daylight Basement Estimating

If building a basement that is partly above grade (with some of the basement exterior as wood frame rather than masonry), follow these steps:

1. Enter the full basement on the Basic Dimensions card (or on one or more room cards, if doing a remodeling project).
2. Enter the length of all basement walls into the Basement/Stem Wall portion of the Foundation Dimensions card. NOTE: Include all walls, even those that are framed--so the stem wall underneath the framed walls will be included.
3. If Foundation Wall Area is not locked, lock it so you can see the 'suggested' amount of basement wall, measured horizontally. This is the amount of masonry wall you would have in a full basement.
4. Unlock Foundation Wall Area, and reduce its area by the area of basement wall that is framed instead of masonry.
5. Next, on the Structural Dimensions card, increase the length of Exterior Wall framing by the lineal footage of framing that is being done in the basement. NOTE: This will make sure that the basement framing is included in the suggested quantities for exterior framing.
6. On the Finish Dimensions card, increase the gross area of Exterior Walls by the square footage that you subtracted from the foundation area in step 4.

NOTE: This will make sure that the area of additional framing is included for plywood, siding and insulation areas.