Expert: Dan Griffin - 5/1/2008

Question
Hi Dan, i want to make a daylight basement and i want to do it the cheapest way out, i wanted to know if i can dig down on the slope of my property, lay a 6 inch slab myself with regular concrete, (yes i know it will take a lot of hard work, that's why i have a husband) and then lay cinder blocks on the back wall and the 2 side walls to make the basement. Do you have any tips for us? i know its the long, hard way, but its cheaper. thanks.

Answer
Debbie,

The normal process would be to create a footing sized to carry the structural load with the cement block grouted and reinforced to that footing.  The interior floor would be poured after the walls were installed.  I seriously doubt that a 6" slab would carry the load, and you are inviting a fractured slab.  It also creates a very difficult to waterproof condition at the floor line.

If you are asking about hand batching concrete, you can save some money but the labor is intensive.  The only way to consider it would bulk materials.  The cost of bagged concrete is much higher than ready mix.  I'm just not clear about your term "regular concrete".

Any subgrade occupied space should have damp or water proofing and a drainage system on the exterior.  If you know you have moisture problems, I would add a capillary break and sump system on the interior also.