Basement Remodeling Article:
The Estimate Worksheet
I have created a worksheet called the "Estimate Worksheet." You can download it as a PDF.
Using information from the plan you designed in the Better Homes and Garden software
this worksheet will help you figure out just how much you need of many of the necessary materials.
Figure 3 shows what the worksheet looks like.
Wall Height
Beginning at the top and working down the sheet the first item asked for is the wall height. If you
have an 8' or less ceiling circle the "8." Over 8' and 9' or less circle the "9." I use 8' as a minimum - no
matter what. This is because drywall comes minimally in a 4' X 8' sheet. Even if your ceilings are lower
and some of the length will need to be cut (assuming the sheets will be installed vertically) you still
need to purchase an 8' sheet.
Ceiling Area Workspace
Next, is the box called "Ceiling area workspace." I use this area to compute how big an area is I
am actually finishing. Almost all basements I finish have at least some area left unfinished. I normally do
not finish the furnace room and many times we leave a second area unfinished for some storage space.
Here's how to determine your total ceiling area. You will need to know this whether you plan on a
drywall ceiling (my recommendation) or a suspended one.
First, from your completed plan a message should have appeared that states in a numerical
value the amount of the living area created. That is the total space in your basement.
As an aside when you're designing the space include all the full height spaces. I normally do not
draw the crawl spaces. Write this number down inside the ceiling work area.
Next using the ruler tool measure the length and width of all the unfinished spaces. If your
unfinished spaces are not perfect rectangles get the area of smaller ones to make up the bigger
ones. Write these lengths and widths down in the ceiling work area space.
Once you have completed that multiply all the length and width numbers written down
to create the total area of unfinished space. This number will then be subtracted from the
Living area number you initially wrote down. Once you have arrived at the finished
"Ceiling Area Total" write that number down.
Framing, Drywall and Insulation
Generate a materials list from Home Designer by clicking on the "Tools" tab up at the
very top toolbar. From the drop down list select "Materials List" then "Calculate from all floors."
You should then see a spreadsheet of all the items used in your plan.
Now, from the materials list created by Home Designer you will enter the numbers it gives
you for each of the various wall types you used. Remember that the numbers Home Designer
gives are linear feet.
Trim
Enter the number of doors that will have trim on one side where shown from your drawing.
Do the same for doors with trim on two sides and the windows. Count double doors - such
as for a closet as 2 doors.
Electrical
If you have drawn in the electric on your plan write the quantities shown from the materials
list in these spaces. You may find symbols you've used that are not shown on this list.
No matter, just write those down in the margins. If you are planning on hiring an electrician
to do the electrical work, many electricians work on an opening basis. So it is helpful to know
how many of each type of fixture, outlet etc. that you have. The "box opening" is for the
number of light fixtures you might supply such as a light over a bathroom sink, wall sconce lights
or track lights. Any lights my electrician might add in an unfinished area are included in this count as well.
Doors
Add up the number of doors you intend to install and enter it here.
Access panels are small plastic panels I install in drywall ceilings that allow access to any
shutoff valves for HVAC, water or gas lines. We also install them over all sewer cleanouts that have the
potential of being buried. I use the 6" x 9" panels made by Oatey available in the plumbing aisles
of the big box Home Improvement stores.
Access doors are small plywood doors we create to generally cover electrical panels and/or phone
boxes. As you will be creating these this may not be important to you on the materials list.
It's a separate line item on my quotes.
Heating
Count up how many heat and return runs you plan on installing and enter here.
Now that you have all the information entered into the Estimate Worksheet read on to the next
report that will tell you how to your calculate many of the necessary materials.
Download
To download the Estimate Worksheet as a pdf click here.
To download this article as a pdf click here.
