ᐅ Single-family house made of precast concrete elements?

Here is a similar project: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/efh-177m2-ohne-keller-hybridbau-in-bw.41901/
I have to say, I quite like the Walser houses with their solid basement levels built into the slope and their heavy timber construction. Exposed concrete on the inside is not really my thing.

WilderSueden schrieb:

Here is a similar project: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/efh-177m2-ohne-keller-hybridbau-in-bw.41901/
I have to say, I quite like the Walser houses with their solid basement levels built into the slope and their solid wood construction. Exposed concrete on the inside is not really my thing.

Thanks for the link.
However, I have to agree with Rick. For our project, due to the lack of expertise in reinforced concrete construction among local tradespeople, we went with a reinforced concrete base and a sand-lime brick construction above.
A BBS (massive wood) ceiling would have made the project easier, but this wasn’t possible because of our span requirements. (Unless we had accepted a 40cm (16 inch) thick wooden ceiling.)

I can’t comment on solid wood construction, but the combination of reinforced concrete and timber frame construction is quite common (usually for the basement plus ground floor/attic). For example, we have a reinforced concrete basement with timber frame for the ground floor and attic.

Looking back, I would have preferred to build everything from reinforced concrete – I also don’t really believe it’s more expensive. However, you need to meticulously pre-plan all electrical and HVAC installations. Ideally, include suspended ceilings from the very beginning, as this allows for adjustments or replanning later on.

Exposed concrete is a whole different challenge – ask beforehand whether it’s even possible or feasible, as many concrete plants are reluctant to deal with it (at least for “small” projects). If you choose exposed concrete, in my opinion it’s wiser to work with in-situ concrete – this way, you can avoid the drawbacks of precast panels (including transportation issues) and end up with significantly fewer joints.

Harakiri schrieb:

In retrospect, I would have preferred to build everything from reinforced concrete – I also don’t really believe it’s more expensive.

Belief can move mountains, but it doesn’t change reality. Building a reinforced concrete house is a special case. And special cases cost money, just like any custom request.

It only becomes affordable in mass production – see German row houses. When it’s a fully custom-designed home, it becomes more expensive.

Harakiri schrieb:

I can’t say much about solid wood, but the combination of reinforced concrete plus timber frame construction is quite common (usually basement + ground floor/attic). For example, we have reinforced concrete for the basement and timber for the ground floor and attic.

In hindsight, I would have preferred to build everything from reinforced concrete – I also don’t really believe it’s more expensive. However, you really have to meticulously pre-plan all electrical and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and sanitation) lines. Ideally, from the start, with suspended ceilings, because this allows for adjustments and re-planning afterwards.

Exposed concrete is a different challenge though – check beforehand whether it’s even possible or feasible. Many concrete plants don’t want to deal with it at all (at least not for “small” orders). If using exposed concrete, in my opinion, it makes more sense to work with cast-in-place concrete – this way, you can avoid the disadvantages of precast concrete panels (including transport issues) and end up with significantly fewer joints.

I don’t want to disagree here, and rick will surely be able to provide a more informed answer. When it comes to exposed concrete, cast-in-place is a bit of a gamble. Precast concrete elements are, on average, noticeably more elegant and uniform in texture. The downside, however, is the larger joints. There are also quite large tolerances that you, as the client, have to accept. Overall, it is always more expensive than standard construction, as mentioned, because only a few providers offer this at an acceptable quality.

In-situ concrete is even more expensive. External insulation is usually required in this case.
With (semi-) precast elements, the usual limit is around 5 meters (16 feet).
Exposed concrete of good quality is offered by only a few companies. Reinforcement bars must be stainless steel, protected throughout the entire construction phase, and so on.
It is significantly more costly.