ᐅ Building an End-Terrace House as a Self-Managed Project with a General Contractor
Created on: 27 May 2019 10:48
G
goalkeeper
Hello everyone,
some of you might have already followed one of my threads about us having to or being allowed to build our end-terrace house on our own responsibility – depending on how you look at it. This means that we are buying an end-terrace plot (215 sqm (2315 sq ft)) in a new development area in the Rhein-Neckar district and will be building on it ourselves – but in coordination with our two terrace neighbors.
The municipality, which sold the plots through a local resident model, ideally wanted applicants to apply as a complete housing group with several families and then build accordingly with a general contractor, construction manager, or architect. Of course, that didn’t really work out, so now there are only individual applicants and also homeowners.
After we were awarded the plot, the addresses of the other terrace neighbors were shared to discuss certain matters, such as roof style, whether or not to have a basement, etc. It was immediately clear that everyone preferred to do their own thing. However, we were still able to agree that the housing group will have a gable roof with a pitch of 35 to 40 degrees (within this 5-degree range).
As the end house, we will build without a basement, while the middle house and the other end house will have basements. This obviously presents a challenge as we would have to make a deep foundation or simply skip it, and the middle house would have to support us, as we will start construction first. The current agreement with the middle house is that we will build a deeper foundation at his expense, as supporting our house later on would be considerably more expensive for him.
We are currently close to signing with the construction manager, the notarization appointment for the plot is at the end of June, and we hope to start construction in the fall of this year. Meanwhile, several other freely planned housing groups are being built around us, which might get in the way with their cranes.
I will document the progress here from time to time – such a self-planned terraced house doesn’t come along very often.
some of you might have already followed one of my threads about us having to or being allowed to build our end-terrace house on our own responsibility – depending on how you look at it. This means that we are buying an end-terrace plot (215 sqm (2315 sq ft)) in a new development area in the Rhein-Neckar district and will be building on it ourselves – but in coordination with our two terrace neighbors.
The municipality, which sold the plots through a local resident model, ideally wanted applicants to apply as a complete housing group with several families and then build accordingly with a general contractor, construction manager, or architect. Of course, that didn’t really work out, so now there are only individual applicants and also homeowners.
After we were awarded the plot, the addresses of the other terrace neighbors were shared to discuss certain matters, such as roof style, whether or not to have a basement, etc. It was immediately clear that everyone preferred to do their own thing. However, we were still able to agree that the housing group will have a gable roof with a pitch of 35 to 40 degrees (within this 5-degree range).
As the end house, we will build without a basement, while the middle house and the other end house will have basements. This obviously presents a challenge as we would have to make a deep foundation or simply skip it, and the middle house would have to support us, as we will start construction first. The current agreement with the middle house is that we will build a deeper foundation at his expense, as supporting our house later on would be considerably more expensive for him.
We are currently close to signing with the construction manager, the notarization appointment for the plot is at the end of June, and we hope to start construction in the fall of this year. Meanwhile, several other freely planned housing groups are being built around us, which might get in the way with their cranes.
I will document the progress here from time to time – such a self-planned terraced house doesn’t come along very often.
For planning electrical outlets, I’ve always found it helpful to mentally walk through the house with a vacuum cleaner. Additionally, consider lighting (floor lamps, table lamps), where devices will be charged… Kitchens are usually quite straightforward. The note about the bathroom (hairdryer, electric shaver) has already been mentioned. Just run through your daily routine!
It’s always worth putting serious thought into lighting! I always find it unsettling when the living room’s light above the coffee table is planned as a pendant light or when the entire place is packed with recessed spotlights. Maybe that was done 30 years ago due to a lack of other options.
It’s always worth putting serious thought into lighting! I always find it unsettling when the living room’s light above the coffee table is planned as a pendant light or when the entire place is packed with recessed spotlights. Maybe that was done 30 years ago due to a lack of other options.
Also, maybe consider:
- Two-way switches in stairways, hallways, bedrooms (simulate walking routes)
- Switchable outdoor socket (security risk), possibly a timer switch for the outdoor socket under the entrance canopy (Christmas star)
- Sockets controlled by light switches in the bedroom for wardrobe lighting (possibly also living room)
- Wi-Fi often has poor reception through concrete ceilings! With multiple floors, it’s better to have wired connections with a transmitter on each floor.
- Roller shutters controlled centrally? We have an "all up or down" switch next to the front door.
- Two-way switches in stairways, hallways, bedrooms (simulate walking routes)
- Switchable outdoor socket (security risk), possibly a timer switch for the outdoor socket under the entrance canopy (Christmas star)
- Sockets controlled by light switches in the bedroom for wardrobe lighting (possibly also living room)
- Wi-Fi often has poor reception through concrete ceilings! With multiple floors, it’s better to have wired connections with a transmitter on each floor.
- Roller shutters controlled centrally? We have an "all up or down" switch next to the front door.
LAN? At minimum, in the home office, in the media corner of the living room, and one access point per floor. Beyond that, it’s mostly a matter of personal preference.
Towards the parking space, at least a thick empty conduit or directly 5x4 mm2 (5 x 12 AWG) cables from the main distribution board. It doesn’t necessarily have to be connected immediately.
Towards the parking space, at least a thick empty conduit or directly 5x4 mm2 (5 x 12 AWG) cables from the main distribution board. It doesn’t necessarily have to be connected immediately.
Do you have KNX or another smart home system?
If wall lights are desired as ambient lighting, don’t forget to make the wall outlets dimmable. We forgot this, but thanks to KNX it can be solved with an additional dimmer actuator.
For the work surface lighting in the kitchen, also provide a switched outlet. It’s convenient to be able to turn it on directly at the light switch.
For LAN, also plan a power outlet next to the access point (or use PoE, but access points are significantly more expensive then, and the router must support it as well).
If wall lights are desired as ambient lighting, don’t forget to make the wall outlets dimmable. We forgot this, but thanks to KNX it can be solved with an additional dimmer actuator.
For the work surface lighting in the kitchen, also provide a switched outlet. It’s convenient to be able to turn it on directly at the light switch.
For LAN, also plan a power outlet next to the access point (or use PoE, but access points are significantly more expensive then, and the router must support it as well).
RomeoZwo schrieb:
When planning LAN, also include a power outlet nearby for the access point (or go with PoE, but the access points are significantly more expensive and the router must support it).PoE access points are not much more expensive, and since they do not require power outlets, they are much easier to mount on the ceiling or high on the wall. The router does not need to support PoE—in fact, none of the routers I know have PoE built-in; instead, a PoE injector is used, or for multiple devices, a PoE-capable switch.
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UpperEast18 Dec 2019 10:02RomeoZwo schrieb:
When planning LAN, also include an electrical outlet nearby for the access point (or use PoE, but then the access points are significantly more expensive and the router must support it). Definitely go for PoE. With so many LAN outlets, the power won't come from the router anyway.
I completely agree regarding KNX; if you want nice lighting, then use KNX.