ᐅ Which House Concept? Fundamental Questions for Building a Home
Created on: 20 Sep 2019 11:53
L
Luftpumpe
Hello everyone,
We are fortunate to own a building plot and are now facing the difficult choice of how to proceed. For several months, we have been researching, visiting model homes, and actively reading forums. When it comes to layouts and features, opinions vary greatly, and depending on budget and taste, the possibilities seem endless.
But when it comes to the fundamental question of how to build today in an affordable, efficient, and above all healthy way, there should at least be a rough consensus! From everything we have read so far, we would probably prefer to build a Thoma house (36cm (14 inches) Holz100 walls), but financially that probably won’t be possible.
When we look for alternatives, we are often told that KFW40 (KFW40 / Passive House standards) is not achievable, that breathable construction is impossible, and that a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system is absolutely necessary. Then, you keep searching and come across more “alternative” options like LowTec Bio Solar houses, which seems a bit too extreme for us.
We want to build a house free of harmful substances, and avoiding various materials is the best way to be sure that in a few years, nothing new will be found to be problematic. In this sense, a pure timber house does make some sense.
Then, the advice is that solar thermal systems are not worth it, so photovoltaic systems on the roof should be used instead. To make good use of that, a heat pump is necessary, and then air-to-air heat pumps are offered because geothermal with underfloor heating is so much more expensive. So, it’s either robbing a bank or making compromises.
And that’s exactly the kind of compromises we are looking for now. Who has chosen a particular building concept and for what reasons? Is a vapor barrier really necessary in the building envelope? Which heating and insulation technologies are still cost-effective today? And how do I create the healthiest possible indoor climate?
Thank you & best regards,
Luftpumpe
We are fortunate to own a building plot and are now facing the difficult choice of how to proceed. For several months, we have been researching, visiting model homes, and actively reading forums. When it comes to layouts and features, opinions vary greatly, and depending on budget and taste, the possibilities seem endless.
But when it comes to the fundamental question of how to build today in an affordable, efficient, and above all healthy way, there should at least be a rough consensus! From everything we have read so far, we would probably prefer to build a Thoma house (36cm (14 inches) Holz100 walls), but financially that probably won’t be possible.
When we look for alternatives, we are often told that KFW40 (KFW40 / Passive House standards) is not achievable, that breathable construction is impossible, and that a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system is absolutely necessary. Then, you keep searching and come across more “alternative” options like LowTec Bio Solar houses, which seems a bit too extreme for us.
We want to build a house free of harmful substances, and avoiding various materials is the best way to be sure that in a few years, nothing new will be found to be problematic. In this sense, a pure timber house does make some sense.
Then, the advice is that solar thermal systems are not worth it, so photovoltaic systems on the roof should be used instead. To make good use of that, a heat pump is necessary, and then air-to-air heat pumps are offered because geothermal with underfloor heating is so much more expensive. So, it’s either robbing a bank or making compromises.
And that’s exactly the kind of compromises we are looking for now. Who has chosen a particular building concept and for what reasons? Is a vapor barrier really necessary in the building envelope? Which heating and insulation technologies are still cost-effective today? And how do I create the healthiest possible indoor climate?
Thank you & best regards,
Luftpumpe
B
boxandroof23 Sep 2019 07:16haydee schrieb:
I meant a wood heating system fueled with your own wood.Yes, both.L
Luftpumpe23 Sep 2019 11:53hampshire schrieb:
The Isowood house in both Frechen and Cologne made a very positive impression on us. That would have been a viable option for us, but we ultimately realized our house with more complexity and detailed input through local craftsmen – timber construction, clay plaster, masonry heater, photovoltaic system. We also liked Stommel Haus and Baufritz.We visited Isowood over the weekend, and their concept and price seem suitable so far. We also have an appointment at Stommel Haus for a factory tour and to receive a quote. Baufritz was not yet on our radar.
At Isowood, they advised against a controlled residential ventilation system, saying they rarely sell or install it due to their consulting approach. However, I am quite convinced by the idea of mechanical ventilation, especially at night in the bedroom, at least from a technical perspective. Additionally, they recommended against a central vacuum system and emphasized the roof insulation. The heating is recommended as geothermal with deep drilling.
It’s good that almost everything is included in the offer. From the site toilet to insurance and the base slab, everything seems solidly based. The wall and roof construction also sounds good, and they are flexible as well. The biggest questions will be the selection and placement of supply lines, power outlets, switches, number and size of windows, and roller shutters/blinds... and I’m not sure if you can really get good-quality tiles and parquet flooring for 25€/sqm (we have skilled buyers).
Although you really can’t compare everything directly, how do you think Baufritz and Stommel Haus compare to Isowood? If you didn’t know that a controlled residential ventilation system was installed, do you think you would still feel worse off? We were told that plant leaves would dry out and drop... but that is just a matter of humidity, and if I have a modern system with an enthalpy heat exchanger, that shouldn’t be an issue anymore! Perhaps also combined with an earth-air heat exchanger... and you can always switch off the expensive system if needed.
R
RotorMotor23 Sep 2019 12:24Luftpumpe schrieb:
Isowood advised against a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, saying they very rarely sell or install them because of their consulting approach. What reasons did they give against mechanical ventilation with heat recovery?
Would they still install it? If yes, at what cost?
Luftpumpe schrieb:
We were told that the leaves of the plants would dry out and fall off... a Was that the statement from the Isowood consultant?
Does Isowood install trickle vents in the window reveal then?
Why do leaves fall from plants?
What does the Isowood ventilation concept look like without mechanical ventilation with heat recovery?
Window frame vents or a ventilation plan and multiple daily short-term airings.
Is deep drilling possible at your location?
Sounds good if a lot is included in the scope of work. Compare the scope of work with others and check the financing section here, then you should get an idea of the total costs.
Tiles for 25 euros per square meter (about $27 per square yard) are possible; there is nothing special, but it is sufficient for many rooms.
These are items where you can spend a lot of money regardless of the manufacturer.
What does the Isowood ventilation concept look like without mechanical ventilation with heat recovery?
Window frame vents or a ventilation plan and multiple daily short-term airings.
Is deep drilling possible at your location?
Sounds good if a lot is included in the scope of work. Compare the scope of work with others and check the financing section here, then you should get an idea of the total costs.
Tiles for 25 euros per square meter (about $27 per square yard) are possible; there is nothing special, but it is sufficient for many rooms.
These are items where you can spend a lot of money regardless of the manufacturer.
hampshire schrieb:
The material collected in the filters has plenty of time to ferment, mold, and react there, which does not happen as much in the indoor air. haydee schrieb:
If you clean and replace the filters, the ducts should remain clean. Filters primarily trap particles that are too large to pass through—what remains is not necessarily any more benign. It sticks to edges, corners, and transition points, building up there and waiting for more to join. On one hand, it reacts with suitable airborne particles, and on the other hand, it accumulates into larger clumps that are eventually carried further by a "gust of air." All this happens behind the filters in areas that are difficult to clean. I strongly suspect that the new solution, which works well now, will be criticized in ten years.
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