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 |
I’m not an expert in building materials, but if you’re already looking at a total wall thickness of 44 or 50cm (17 or 20 inches) and your wife wants exterior plaster anyway, wouldn’t it be worth considering a monolithic construction method? I could imagine that with 50cm (20 inches) insulating blocks, you could also achieve KfW 40 standards...
J
jwhick_0724 Jun 2020 22:38Tolentino schrieb:
I’m not an expert in building materials, but if you’re already considering a total wall thickness of 44 or 50cm (17 or 20 inches) and your wife prefers exterior plaster, wouldn’t it be worth thinking about a monolithic construction? I could imagine that using 50cm (20 inches) thermal blocks might also meet KfW 40 standards...Thanks for the suggestion. To be honest, I haven’t looked into that yet and have so far only followed advice focused on cavity walls or external insulation systems (ETICS). I will definitely research whether it’s possible to build energy-efficiently or according to KfW 40 Plus standards using that method.
J
jwhick_0724 Jun 2020 22:44Ben-man schrieb:
Have you compared the construction specification documents from both companies? Which costs are included in the price, and which are not? How do the electrical fittings, tiles, floor coverings, etc., differ?I compared the construction specifications of both general contractors in Excel and noted the main points and items briefly, so it’s quite clear where the differences lie. The prices given so far are only estimates from the two contractors. Attached is the overview—perhaps you have some additional comments. For me, both are almost equally matched.PyneBite schrieb:
My preference is leaning towards regional G. Joedreck schrieb:
Preference for regional, especially due to the massive construction on the upper floor. But the 18cm (7 inches) core insulation also sounds good. That’s also my preference.
jwhick_07 schrieb:
My wife was born and raised here. She is completely fed up with the clinker brick look. I can totally understand that.
I would also go for a monolithic build, definitely. That insulation with Styrofoam or whatever is annoying. If I had known better, I wouldn’t have chosen it now.
J
jwhick_0724 Jun 2020 23:00ypg schrieb:
That’s also my tendency.
I can totally understand.
I would also definitely go for a monolithic approach. That insulation made of Styrodur or whatever is annoying. If I had known better, I wouldn’t have it now. I wasn’t keen on polystyrene either, so we consciously chose mineral wool. Both options are included in their offer. Do you know if it’s possible to achieve KfW 40+ standards with the monolithic construction method?
I searched around a bit:
Also, try searching on Google for "U-values of monolithic Ytong wall constructions."
You'll find a table followed by a legend with colors indicating recommendations for the energy efficiency class of the houses.
It seems feasible with a special Ytong block of 42.5cm (16.7 inch) thickness.
Bauexperte schrieb:
KfW 40 and KfW 40+ are really no problem at all with monolithic construction. However, you will most likely have to give up trying to achieve this with a 36.5cm (14.4 inch) block. Since you mentioned 3 residential units at the start, the slight loss of floor space from using a 42.5cm (16.7 inch) block shouldn’t be an issue.
Also, try searching on Google for "U-values of monolithic Ytong wall constructions."
You'll find a table followed by a legend with colors indicating recommendations for the energy efficiency class of the houses.
It seems feasible with a special Ytong block of 42.5cm (16.7 inch) thickness.
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