Check my math and let me know if I am missing something...

My house is a simple rectangle 54 x 32 with 10 foot basement walls.  My poured bid was $18,500 (it's a walkout, so I still have costs to frame, insulate and sheath, about $3,000) for a total of $21,000. 

ICF blocks run $5,500 with 34 yards of concrete at $100 per yard.  Throw in $3,000 for steel, bucks, bracing rental etc and another $3,000 labor for a little help bracing and on pour day, plus $4,000 for footers and my cost for basement will be $18,900. 

The first floor costs will be slightly higher than stick, but with the savings on the basement, it should be very close cost wise.  

Dug,

I think that you left out the pump truck which will add about $500, but I have you at $5500 in block (don't know if freight is going to be a factor, it would on my end), I have you at around 34 yds of concrete. I don't see why you those numbers won't work for you. Although I don't know what size block you are going with, I was assuming 6". Also, I don't know what block manufacturer you are using, but since most are either 16" or 18" tall, hitting 10' will require you cutting the blocks, unless you continue on.

Where are you looking to build?

renangle

Yes, a DIY ICF basement job is generally cheaper than the cost of having someone else pour a conventional basement. The foundation guy has to make some money to live on.

I will be using Logix in 6.25 blocks.  I'll go with ICF on the basement and 1st floor.   My location is 40 miles west of Kansas CIty.

$5,500 includes shipping. 

 

 

 

Dug, I am an ICF contractor located in Shawnee, KS. If you are looking for a contractor for your project give me a call at 913.231.8899. Shane Roach

Dug,

Don't forget rebar and holdowns.  We just spent an additional $2,600 for rebar and anchors for just a basement foundation.  That was more than half the cost of the ICFs.  The price of steel is outrageous.  I am in a seismic design category D in Portland, Oregon, so the structural requirements here are pretty stringent. 

Brint

PS, I envy those who live in parts of the country who don't have the hassel of all or our seismic design requirements -- but we do have beautiful and dramatic mountains and seashores here thanks to the Pacific rim plate tectonics.

Yes and don't forget all the rain. And you don't need sunscreen. LOL

Good point on the steel. A significant part of the cost.

Don't forget to pay the pump