ᐅ Comparison of Solid (Masonry) Houses and Prefabricated Houses
Created on: 29 Aug 2012 13:32
V
VanTide
Hello everyone,
we are currently planning a 140 m² (1,507 ft²) house on a 500 m² (5,382 ft²) plot of land.
There are only two providers left in the running: one prefab house supplier and one traditional masonry builder.
We want to build with an air-to-water heat pump and underfloor heating, including a 4 kW photovoltaic system to balance out electricity costs in the long term.
The prefab house provider builds to the KfW 55 standard and estimates monthly operating costs for the heat pump at 35 euros.
The masonry builder uses conventional bricks and advises against insulation according to the KfW 70 standard, which would cost 12,000 euros more. Their argument is that heat pump costs would be around 65 euros per month, and with KfW 70 insulation, only about 6 euros per month could be saved. To recover the 12,000 euro investment, it would take 200 months, so it is not worthwhile.
What is your opinion on this topic? Do you have any experience, and how do you assess my approach? Would you plan the house differently?
Thank you very much and good luck,
Andre
we are currently planning a 140 m² (1,507 ft²) house on a 500 m² (5,382 ft²) plot of land.
There are only two providers left in the running: one prefab house supplier and one traditional masonry builder.
We want to build with an air-to-water heat pump and underfloor heating, including a 4 kW photovoltaic system to balance out electricity costs in the long term.
The prefab house provider builds to the KfW 55 standard and estimates monthly operating costs for the heat pump at 35 euros.
The masonry builder uses conventional bricks and advises against insulation according to the KfW 70 standard, which would cost 12,000 euros more. Their argument is that heat pump costs would be around 65 euros per month, and with KfW 70 insulation, only about 6 euros per month could be saved. To recover the 12,000 euro investment, it would take 200 months, so it is not worthwhile.
What is your opinion on this topic? Do you have any experience, and how do you assess my approach? Would you plan the house differently?
Thank you very much and good luck,
Andre
Hello,
So you mean: A solid brick-and-mortar house costs 119,500 euros less with the same features, size, quality, floor plan, and scope of work? Did I understand that correctly? And do you have actual offers for that? Or is this your amateur estimate?
Regards
Claus schrieb:
However, with all the trades combined, I come to a price of about 360,000 euros. With the current offers for a solid brick-and-mortar house, I get about one third cheaper.
So you mean: A solid brick-and-mortar house costs 119,500 euros less with the same features, size, quality, floor plan, and scope of work? Did I understand that correctly? And do you have actual offers for that? Or is this your amateur estimate?
Regards
This is not an amateur calculation; I actually have real quotes for this. The plan is, of course, the same. However, I will not be installing external thermal insulation (ETICS / external wall insulation); instead, the structural clay bricks will have a mineral filling. The U-value difference between a solid masonry house and a timber frame house is naturally notable here, but in my opinion, the additional costs do not pay off.
@Der Da
That your house was only built three weeks ago was not obvious anywhere :P
I also considered timber frame construction, but I was quite shocked by the quoted price. I’m aware that you can of course contribute labor yourself. But how much would that be?
I also had an offer for a fully finished wooden house for about the same price including a garage (however, without usable space above it; that would at most be used as a roof terrace), but 1. that would have been effective living space of 108 m² (1160 sq ft), and 2. as I mentioned, I’m not a fan of Polish “skilled workers.” It can work out well, but it might not.
If you are happy with your house, then I am too 😉
And as you said: Everyone is the architect of their own fortune.
Somewhere you have to find the right compromise without driving costs too high, while still getting decent quality.
That your house was only built three weeks ago was not obvious anywhere :P
I also considered timber frame construction, but I was quite shocked by the quoted price. I’m aware that you can of course contribute labor yourself. But how much would that be?
I also had an offer for a fully finished wooden house for about the same price including a garage (however, without usable space above it; that would at most be used as a roof terrace), but 1. that would have been effective living space of 108 m² (1160 sq ft), and 2. as I mentioned, I’m not a fan of Polish “skilled workers.” It can work out well, but it might not.
If you are happy with your house, then I am too 😉
And as you said: Everyone is the architect of their own fortune.
Somewhere you have to find the right compromise without driving costs too high, while still getting decent quality.
Der Da schrieb:
Are you aware that the listed price usually doesn’t equal the actual cost?I’m sure that good Claus has two quotes with different scopes of work and quality. I’ll only believe the one-third cheaper claim once I’ve seen it myself.......
E.Curb schrieb:
I'm sure that Claus has two quotes with different scopes and qualities. I’ll only believe it’s one-third cheaper once I’ve seen it for myself…I’m saying the same—I can imagine many things, but not that a solid construction house with the same specifications would be one-third cheaper.
With Claus’s previous statements, we can’t really make any conclusions.
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