ᐅ Building Your Own House Completely by Yourself

Good day,

I have decided to build a house entirely by myself.
Since the house should not be very expensive, I have chosen the timber frame construction option.
I only have a few questions:

• Am I allowed to build a house completely on my own without a construction company in Germany? (I have no formal qualifications but plenty of experience with house building)
• Is an architect absolutely necessary, or is it possible without one?
• Is a structural engineer absolutely required?
• Do I definitely need a soil tester / geotechnical engineer?

Is there anyone else I might have forgotten?

Now briefly about my house:
Timber frame construction
Single story
No basement
Flat roof
About 140 sqm (1507 sq ft) total - so 12 x 12 m (39 x 39 ft)

This is what it will look like (Unfortunately, I am not allowed to insert links here because of a 200 Euro fine).

I already have a plot of land in view.

Hello,

Konder schrieb:
I have decided to build a house completely by myself. Since the house should not cost much, I chose the wooden house option.

If it is built solidly, I consider it a myth that a solid wood house is "cheaper."

Konder schrieb:
- Am I allowed to build a house completely on my own without a construction company in Germany? (I have no qualifications but plenty of experience with house construction)

You are allowed to some extent, but the question is whether you can manage it without qualified supervision – at least from a site manager – and depending on your available time. For connecting electrical and heating systems to the respective meters, you definitely need a certified craftsman with a master certificate in the relevant trade!

Konder schrieb:
Do I absolutely need an architect? Or can it be done without one?

An architect has to prepare the building permit application, so yes.

Konder schrieb:
Do I absolutely need a structural engineer?

They calculate how what the architect has drawn can be constructed; so yes, definitely.

Konder schrieb:
Do I absolutely need a soil inspector?

If you are a fan of Russian roulette, probably not. But if you want to be sure that your house is still intact in the same place in a few years – definitely yes.

Konder schrieb:
Now briefly about my house:
Wooden construction, only one floor, no basement, flat roof
About 140 sqm (1506 sq ft) total building area – so 12*12 m (39*39 ft)

Due to the large roof area, it is not inexpensive and will probably be in the range of EUR 210,000 – 230,000, depending on the standard and technology used, if you buy it turnkey.

Konder schrieb:
This is how it will look (Unfortunately I am not allowed to insert links here because of a 200 Euro fine)

You can always upload a picture here.

Kind regards

Thank you, building expert,

the house will be very, very light and built on a point foundation
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/attachment.php?attachmentid=296&stc=1&d=1323078635
(do I also need to take samples in this poor soil? – if yes, what would that cost?)

You are allowed to do this to a certain extent; the question is whether you can manage it without qualified supervision – at least a construction manager – and depending on your available time. For connecting electricity and heating to the respective meters, you definitely need a certified craftsman with a master’s qualification in the relevant trade!

I am quite familiar with this construction method, I have built several similar houses before but not in Germany.

Regarding electrical work, can I lay the electrical cables myself and only hire an electrician for the final connection?
Or do I need to hire an electrician for all electrical work?

As for heating, it will be a passive house. So without heating.

Due to the large roof area, it’s not inexpensive, I think it will be around EUR 210,000 - 230,000 depending on the installed standard and technology if you buy it turnkey.

The roof in this design is very simple to build and requires very little material.
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/attachment.php?attachmentid=297&stc=1&d=1323079414

https://www.hausbau-forum.de/attachment.php?attachmentid=298&stc=1&d=1323079446

and here are more pictures.
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/attachment.php?attachmentid=299&stc=1&d=1323079551
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/attachment.php?attachmentid=301&stc=1&d=1323079587

Hello,
You want to build a passive house on your own, without professional support?
Well, good luck with that. What is your profession? You do realize that a passive house is not just a house without a heating system?
Somehow, the house still needs to be heated...
and this heat must be retained as much as possible.

- Can you calculate the structural engineering on your own?
- Who takes responsibility if your house collapses?
- Are you familiar with the current standards for the various trades?

You will definitely need an architect, and that makes sense. You won’t get an electricity meter without a signature from a qualified professional— the same applies to a water meter.

biologist schrieb:
- Can you calculate the structural engineering on your own?
- Who takes responsibility if your house collapses?
- Are you familiar with the current standards and regulations for the individual trades?

You will definitely need an architect, which makes sense. You cannot get an electricity meter without a signature from a qualified professional— the same applies to a water meter.

I already have an architect in prospect who will also handle the structural engineering.

You cannot get an electricity meter without a signature from a qualified professional— the same applies to a water meter.

What are the costs for the electricity meter and water meter here?

What still worries me is my flat roof, because of Section 34.
Is it even possible to get a building permit / planning permission for my house in Germany?