Hello Forum,
We are currently planning a basement for our single-family home. In addition to the building services room and a laundry room (washing machine + dryer), there will also be a gym and a study.
The four rooms will cover an area of about 65sqm (700 sq ft). The ground is suitable for this (from approximately 2.5m (8 feet) of medium-density gravel layer according to soil report – load class 2 according to waterproof concrete guidelines). The basement will have perimeter insulation (exterior walls, floor slab, basement ceiling) – the design is currently based on KfW 40 standards, which require thicker insulation according to advice from the forum 😉 The study and gym will have underfloor heating. The study will also have a light well. The gym and laundry room will have light shafts. The building services room will have no windows. The floor will be continuously laid with anhydrite screed, followed by a floor covering. Electrical installations will be surface-mounted on the walls.
The additional construction costs (especially setting out the building grid and excavation of the foundation pit) are not included in the costs. I am currently budgeting about €1250 per sqm (approximately $130 per sq ft), which is about €81,000 for the basement. However, everyone looks at this price as if it were a car and says that €35,000 more than enough? What is your assessment?
Best regards,
Andy
We are currently planning a basement for our single-family home. In addition to the building services room and a laundry room (washing machine + dryer), there will also be a gym and a study.
The four rooms will cover an area of about 65sqm (700 sq ft). The ground is suitable for this (from approximately 2.5m (8 feet) of medium-density gravel layer according to soil report – load class 2 according to waterproof concrete guidelines). The basement will have perimeter insulation (exterior walls, floor slab, basement ceiling) – the design is currently based on KfW 40 standards, which require thicker insulation according to advice from the forum 😉 The study and gym will have underfloor heating. The study will also have a light well. The gym and laundry room will have light shafts. The building services room will have no windows. The floor will be continuously laid with anhydrite screed, followed by a floor covering. Electrical installations will be surface-mounted on the walls.
The additional construction costs (especially setting out the building grid and excavation of the foundation pit) are not included in the costs. I am currently budgeting about €1250 per sqm (approximately $130 per sq ft), which is about €81,000 for the basement. However, everyone looks at this price as if it were a car and says that €35,000 more than enough? What is your assessment?
Best regards,
Andy
Hello,
There are probably regional price differences, but I consider it unrealistic to have a basement built for 35K. We are currently building without a basement, but our various neighbors who are building with basements of similar size all pay around 80-85K.
However, that’s not the whole story, because what many homeowners don’t take into account is that electrical work, tiling, and similar finishes can become quite expensive. While the initial budget might be planned at 80-85K, including the additional work mentioned above, costs can comfortably reach 110-120K.
There are probably regional price differences, but I consider it unrealistic to have a basement built for 35K. We are currently building without a basement, but our various neighbors who are building with basements of similar size all pay around 80-85K.
However, that’s not the whole story, because what many homeowners don’t take into account is that electrical work, tiling, and similar finishes can become quite expensive. While the initial budget might be planned at 80-85K, including the additional work mentioned above, costs can comfortably reach 110-120K.
Regarding whether to build a basement or not, and how expensive it can be, two fundamental points can be made:
1. The decision to build a basement is not a matter of personal preference. The plot of land has a very strong influence. If the land "demands" a basement, then the cost of building a basement is practically the same as the cost of alternative measures to avoid a basement. I have explained this in detail several times in my "basement formula," which interested readers can find using the forum’s search function. ;-)
2. One euro spent underground has a fixed exchange rate of 1:1 with one euro spent above ground. The standard cost is the same on both sides of the ground level, so a finished basement living space doesn’t come with a “discount” compared to above-ground living areas. Conversely, the jars of jam stored in the extension behind the garage cost just as much as in the basement. A basement at basement price would have a surface-mounted wired ceiling lamp like a barred bulb lantern. The marble bathroom is available in the basement too, but at penthouse rates.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
1. The decision to build a basement is not a matter of personal preference. The plot of land has a very strong influence. If the land "demands" a basement, then the cost of building a basement is practically the same as the cost of alternative measures to avoid a basement. I have explained this in detail several times in my "basement formula," which interested readers can find using the forum’s search function. ;-)
2. One euro spent underground has a fixed exchange rate of 1:1 with one euro spent above ground. The standard cost is the same on both sides of the ground level, so a finished basement living space doesn’t come with a “discount” compared to above-ground living areas. Conversely, the jars of jam stored in the extension behind the garage cost just as much as in the basement. A basement at basement price would have a surface-mounted wired ceiling lamp like a barred bulb lantern. The marble bathroom is available in the basement too, but at penthouse rates.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Andi3579 schrieb:
I’ve read that too, but I just can’t make the numbers add up. That would mean construction costs of 162,000 euros for our basement. Could someone maybe explain where those costs would come from? Are wet rooms, etc., included in the calculation? For a simple basement, I calculate/have calculated about 1000 €/m² (93 $/ft²). Nowadays it’s probably closer to 1200 €, and for above-ground living space I estimate 2300 €.
Now you’re talking about light wells and KfW40 standards…
Roughly, I would calculate:
25 m² (270 ft²) x 1300 € unfinished basement
40 m² (430 ft²) x 1700 € finished living space
= exactly 100,000 €
Then I add my “I’m stupid and naive and must have forgotten something” bonus of 10%, which brings me to 110,000 €.
For financing purposes, I’d say 120,000 €. If that’s a bit over, it’s no problem, since the surplus can cover other expenses or be used as an early repayment in the end.
RE-1407 schrieb:
Hello,
There are probably regional price differences, but I consider it impossible to have a basement built for 35K. I have already received a similar offer for my area. To be precise, it was 34,709 euros (received 5 days ago). But most of the necessary elements were included: PVC membrane, grounding system, concrete slab, service pipe penetrations, clear interior height of 2.2m (7 ft 3 in), waterproof basement, precast concrete ceiling, basement stairs (partly poured in place concrete), four windows with light wells, interior walls built with masonry, etc. So basically the basic equipment for a usable basement.
Then, in my somewhat naive way, I checked what proper insulation would cost (100€ / m² (9.3 sq ft) of wall or floor area with 20cm (8 inches) XPS foam), then the floor construction with anhydrite screed plus underfloor heating at 120 € / m² (11 sq ft), floor coverings at 50€ / m² (4.6 sq ft) – as a DIY job, one light well for 14,000 €, 5,000 € for electrical work (surface-mounted wiring, cables in ducting within the installation zone on the wall, as planned). Adding all this, I came to just under 81,000 €. Or am I missing any important point here?
I think the problem is that everyone has a different definition of a usable or livable basement. For me, the above-mentioned features are enough to fit my office and gym room. The ceiling height with 2.2m (7 ft 3 in) clear height is also completely sufficient.
Andi3579 schrieb:
For me, the above-mentioned features are sufficient to accommodate my office and gym room. The ceiling height of 2.2m (7 feet 3 inches) clear height is also completely adequate. What you personally find sufficient may be a different matter. An official workroom is considered a "habitable room" and requires, for example, proper emergency exits, ventilation, natural light, and similar features. Whether you lift weights in a storage room or work on a laptop there may not necessarily be reflected in the floor plan description ;-)
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Andi3579 schrieb:
The ceiling height of 2.2m (7 ft 3 in) clear height is completely sufficient.Is the 2.2m (7 ft 3 in) the structural height or does it already include the floor build-up?
At 2.2m (7 ft 3 in), you are already below or just at the minimum height requirement for habitable rooms in some national building codes.
Depending on the type of sport you want to practice, 2.2m (7 ft 3 in) might also be too low.
Similar topics