Hello everyone,
From the beginning, it was clear to us that we wanted a house with a basement so that rooms like the utility room or heating room could be located there, providing enough storage space and possibly allowing for a hobby basement or even a guest room.
Considering the additional space you get, the costs for a basement generally seem reasonable. I recently read about the alternative of a “raised basement,” meaning a basement that partially rises above ground level and thus allows for larger window areas. This is said to save costs due to less excavation.
Here in NRW, the basement is allowed to protrude 160 cm (63 inches) on average above ground without being considered a full floor—measured from the top edge of the ceiling. So, practically, it can stick out about 140 cm (55 inches) when taking the basement ceiling thickness into account. That should enable fairly large window areas.
Of course, I wonder if it really saves money or if the additional costs end up being higher. For example, you need stairs at the main entrance and also need to find a solution for the garden exit (stairs or raising the terrace). Certainly, more plaster is required for the basement part that rises above ground, as well as insulation for the basement and better basement windows. Am I forgetting anything? Has anyone calculated this in detail or has experience?
I also came across an interesting plot where the front edge of the house must be built directly on the sidewalk (central location). What could be a solution there? You probably aren’t allowed to place the entrance stairs on the sidewalk? Would an internal solution inside the house be possible? But that would affect all floors above.
I look forward to your insights and suggestions.
Best regards,
HB1
From the beginning, it was clear to us that we wanted a house with a basement so that rooms like the utility room or heating room could be located there, providing enough storage space and possibly allowing for a hobby basement or even a guest room.
Considering the additional space you get, the costs for a basement generally seem reasonable. I recently read about the alternative of a “raised basement,” meaning a basement that partially rises above ground level and thus allows for larger window areas. This is said to save costs due to less excavation.
Here in NRW, the basement is allowed to protrude 160 cm (63 inches) on average above ground without being considered a full floor—measured from the top edge of the ceiling. So, practically, it can stick out about 140 cm (55 inches) when taking the basement ceiling thickness into account. That should enable fairly large window areas.
Of course, I wonder if it really saves money or if the additional costs end up being higher. For example, you need stairs at the main entrance and also need to find a solution for the garden exit (stairs or raising the terrace). Certainly, more plaster is required for the basement part that rises above ground, as well as insulation for the basement and better basement windows. Am I forgetting anything? Has anyone calculated this in detail or has experience?
I also came across an interesting plot where the front edge of the house must be built directly on the sidewalk (central location). What could be a solution there? You probably aren’t allowed to place the entrance stairs on the sidewalk? Would an internal solution inside the house be possible? But that would affect all floors above.
I look forward to your insights and suggestions.
Best regards,
HB1
Hausbauer1 schrieb:
It says, "The house plinth should not exceed the height of the paved access area by more than 50 cm (20 inches).” To put it simply: the floor tiles on the ground floor should be no more than half a meter (20 inches) higher than the paving stones of the path leading to the front door.
Hausbauer1 schrieb:
It could be measured up to the basement ceiling, or up to the ground floor slab, or it might just refer to a distinct element on the facade. As I mentioned earlier: the plinth doesn’t have a special shape. You don’t need to imagine any additional construction element underneath, and certainly not a color differentiation. “Plinth” simply means the difference between the top of the terrain and the top of the finished ground floor slab. I have already explained what counts as terrain in this context.
Your raised basement is off the table. Red.
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No matter how I look at it, these considerations feel to me like an abuse of the property.
What is the point of it?
The expected savings on the basement will easily be spent again on the landscaping, just to build stairs to the front door and the terrace, which also needs to be raised...
My wife’s grandparents had exactly this kind of house, and I really don’t know anyone who would voluntarily want something like that in their own home.
Aside from the fact that it looks bad...
If you definitely want windows in the basement, I would rather consider light wells and the like than unnecessarily create height differences that I then have to overcome several times a day.
What is the point of it?
The expected savings on the basement will easily be spent again on the landscaping, just to build stairs to the front door and the terrace, which also needs to be raised...
My wife’s grandparents had exactly this kind of house, and I really don’t know anyone who would voluntarily want something like that in their own home.
Aside from the fact that it looks bad...
If you definitely want windows in the basement, I would rather consider light wells and the like than unnecessarily create height differences that I then have to overcome several times a day.
matte1987 schrieb:
Apart from the fact that it looks bad... ... I believe this discussion leads nowhere.The topic here is about raising a house to gain living space. In another thread, the original poster is exploring what else can be added on top.
The problem seems to be that there are space requirements that cannot be fully met within two full stories. So the building is supposed to be expanded—if not upwards, then downwards—with a two-point-something living floor. This path will not lead to a successful outcome.
I suggest the original poster simply shares their room layout and plot details, and then we can all critique it together until it fits.
This does require a lot of patience to go through the whole process. The soprano hums the cloakroom melody, and the bass drones with sand-lime bricks in between. But in the end, you get a house that fits the plot. With the staircase oriented in the most convenient direction, the house wrapping perfectly around the prime spot for the shower, and even the downpipe locations optimized here.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
You’ve mentioned the magic word: room layout!
A house should be designed according to individual space requirements rather than maximizing floor area at all costs.
If someone wants a basement plus two full floors plus a recessed top floor for a family of four, a suitable townhouse could also be the solution.
Best regards in brief
A house should be designed according to individual space requirements rather than maximizing floor area at all costs.
If someone wants a basement plus two full floors plus a recessed top floor for a family of four, a suitable townhouse could also be the solution.
Best regards in brief
H
Hausbauer120 Jun 2017 22:2611ant schrieb:
In plain language: the tiles on the ground floor should not be more than half a meter (1.6 feet) higher than the paving stones of the path to the front door.I tend to believe you. But it would be even better if you could tell me where I can read about this.
11ant schrieb:
The problem seems to be this: there are space requirements that cannot be fully accommodated in two full stories. So, if you can’t build upwards, the building volume is expanded downwards with a partially above-ground basement level. This path will not lead to success.Yes, everyone has certain space requirements. And it’s good to have a little extra room as a reserve. A hobby room in the basement with proper daylight windows would simply be nicer. The same applies to an additional spare room that could be used as a guest or study room. So I do think the option of a raised basement is quite attractive, although I do see the disadvantage of the stairs.
Since we want to build somewhat centrally, we cannot buy a huge plot that offers enough space on just one or two floors. So we should make the best possible use of the space by optimizing the attic and the basement.
ypg schrieb:
You mentioned the magic word: room layout!
You should plan your house according to your individual space needs, not necessarily to maximize every square foot.At the moment, no plot is set. And of course, we have already roughly estimated what we imagine.
Hausbauer1 schrieb:
But I would find it even better if you could tell me where I can read about that. ... exactly here:
Hausbauer1 schrieb:
It says, "The base of the house should not exceed the height of the paved access system by more than 50 cm (20 inches).” ... since I didn’t have the appropriate specialized Langenscheidt dictionary, I tried to translate this excerpt for you from official municipal language into plain English.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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