Hello everyone,
Currently, we have two fairly final offers from two general contractors (GCs). One GC is a regional company that is reportedly very well rated online (4.7 out of 5 stars according to Google). All our discussions with them were very convincing, and we felt very comfortable. On the other hand, we have a well-known and respected GC, especially in the northern region, called Viebrockhaus. Our advisor there is very dedicated, and you can tell you are dealing with a professional salesperson, which does not mean we did not also feel comfortable with the regional GC. The house in question was designed almost identically by both, so we can compare very well. Nevertheless, both have their differences here and there in terms of house construction, building services, etc. Price-wise, Viebrockhaus is predictably about €6,000 cheaper. We are still very torn. For us, the price is not necessarily decisive, but mainly the quality of the final home, which is why I am seeking advice and opinions on the mentioned differences between the offers here in the forum.
In detail, the following points can currently be compared. The costs for the sampling/customization selection are not yet clear.
Currently, we have two fairly final offers from two general contractors (GCs). One GC is a regional company that is reportedly very well rated online (4.7 out of 5 stars according to Google). All our discussions with them were very convincing, and we felt very comfortable. On the other hand, we have a well-known and respected GC, especially in the northern region, called Viebrockhaus. Our advisor there is very dedicated, and you can tell you are dealing with a professional salesperson, which does not mean we did not also feel comfortable with the regional GC. The house in question was designed almost identically by both, so we can compare very well. Nevertheless, both have their differences here and there in terms of house construction, building services, etc. Price-wise, Viebrockhaus is predictably about €6,000 cheaper. We are still very torn. For us, the price is not necessarily decisive, but mainly the quality of the final home, which is why I am seeking advice and opinions on the mentioned differences between the offers here in the forum.
In detail, the following points can currently be compared. The costs for the sampling/customization selection are not yet clear.
| Comparable Services | Viebrockhaus | Regional GC |
| Insulation/Wall Construction | Double-shell wall construction 15 cm aerated concrete masonry, 12 cm thermal insulation, 1.5 cm air gap, 11.5 cm clinker brick veneer approx. 40.0 cm total wall thickness | Double-shell wall construction 17.5 cm backing masonry (aerated concrete PPW 2 or PPW 4, e.g., from Ytong or H&H), 18.0 cm core insulation (with thermal conductivity rating WLG 032), approx. 1.5 cm finger gap, 11.5 cm facing brick, approx. 1.5 cm textured plaster (grain size 2-3 mm, white color), approx. 50.0 cm total wall thickness |
| Attic (Wall Construction) | Drywall partitions | Solid aerated concrete (wall thicknesses of 11.5 cm and 17.5 cm, PPW 2–4) |
| Building Services | Air-to-water heat pump and controlled ventilation system Indoor unit: Nibe VVM S320, outdoor unit: Nibe Fighter 2040-6 | Air-to-water heat pump including controlled ventilation system with heat recovery Indoor unit: Stiebel Eltron, model LWZ 5 S Plus. |
| Photovoltaic System | 2.6 kWp with 6.5 kWh battery storage | 3.25 kWp with 4 kWh battery storage |
| Roof Structure | Studio truss roof with purlins | Purlin roof including concealed steel supports |
| Living Area | 152.40 m² (1,641 sq ft) | 151.47 m² (1,630 sq ft) |
| Warranty | 10 years | 5 years |
Without knowing your house design, it’s difficult to assess. I don’t necessarily see lightweight walls as inferior. Is external thermal insulation system (ETICS) your specific preference?
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
O
Osnabruecker24 Jun 2020 18:33Am I reading this wrong, or is one of them brick veneer and the other rendered? I find brick veneer to be significantly higher quality and more durable.
T
T_im_Norden24 Jun 2020 18:35An 11.5 cm (4.5 inches) brick facing is most common here in the northern region.
Ah, this one also includes plaster, hmm...
Ah, this one also includes plaster, hmm...
J
jwhick_0724 Jun 2020 19:15Joedreck schrieb:
Tends to be regional, especially due to the massive construction on the upper floor.
But the 18cm (7 inches) core insulation also sounds good. Unfortunately, I can’t adjust the first post anymore. The wall construction from Viebrockhaus is a little different.
Double-shell wall structure 15 cm (6 inches) aerated concrete masonry, 16.0 cm (6.3 inches) core insulation, approximately 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) air gap, 11.5 cm (4.5 inches) outer shell, trowel plaster (two-layer plaster system), approximately 44.0 cm (17 inches) total wall thickness.
T_im_Norden schrieb:
Photovoltaics are too small, remove the battery unless these are KfW40+ houses.
Make an Excel sheet and compare the complete building service specifications. Both offers are designed for 40+. I have the overview in Excel and can share it later.
11ant schrieb:
Without knowing your house design, it’s hard to assess. I don’t necessarily see timber-frame walls as inferior. Is external insulation your specific preference? I can post the house design again here. As a reference, we have the Maxime 430 model from Viebrockhaus.
We deliberately chose a double-shell masonry structure because friends, family, and other builders told us it is higher quality and more energy-efficient than conventional external insulation systems (ETICS / EIFS). Personally, I do not consider timber-frame walls to be inferior either.
Osnabruecker schrieb:
Am I reading this wrong, or is one brick and the other plastered?
I find brick much higher quality and more durable. The house will be plastered later. My wife insists because she finds it visually more appealing and modern. Brick certainly has advantages, but I don’t want to hear complaints for the next 30 years.
T_im_Norden schrieb:
11.5 cm (4.5 inches) facing shell is usually brick up here in the north.
Ah, it also has plaster… hmm... Yes, we are building in Schleswig-Holstein. My wife was born and raised here. She is fed up with the brick look, so she specifically wanted plaster – in two colors, of course.
T
T_im_Norden24 Jun 2020 19:29Without going into detail now, remove the photovoltaic system from your calculations and get external quotes from solar installers. This will almost certainly be cheaper and provide better performance.
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