ᐅ Are additional work items during house construction reasonable and fairly priced?
Created on: 3 Nov 2022 22:00
D
DominicHannove
Good evening,
We have received an offer from a general contractor and are wondering whether the following additional items are reasonably priced and make sense:
1. Compensation for fittings and sanitary fixtures when purchased by the homeowner (warranty only covers up to the rough installation stage; concealed installations remain our responsibility):
Compensation for ground floor WC: Hand basin including faucet, WC including flush control (flush tank remains our responsibility)
Compensation for attic bathroom: 1 washbasin including faucet, WC including flush control (flush tank remains the responsibility of Bösteinhaus), shower faucet and shower set including rail (connections remain our responsibility)
Compensation: €2,420.00
The sanitary fixtures included would be: Brand Vigour series “Derby” or “Derby Style”, alternatively brand Geberit series “Renova Plan” or brand Villeroy & Boch series “O.Novo”; faucets: brand Vigour series “Derby”, alternatively brand Hansgrohe “Talis S” or brand Hansa series “Hansapinto”
2. Removal of the fixed central mullions on double casement windows, replaced by installation of special flush profiles
Additional cost: 3 windows x €160.00 = €480.00
3. Installation of a secondary entrance door as a wooden door to the utility room, offset against the omitted window, including security fittings and insulation matching the front door, solid door leaf, including locking system matching the front door
Additional cost: €2,020.00
4. Installation of a skylight in the attic hallway, approx. 78 x 118 cm (31 x 46 inches), compliant with the energy saving regulations, brand Velux type GGU MK 06 Thermo (pivot window)
Additional cost: €1,360.00
5. Supply and installation of rough tongue-and-groove boarding, 24 mm (1 inch) thick, made of Nordic spruce or fir, dried, staggered installation with screws onto ceiling joists or collar beams
Additional cost: €1,840.00
6. Concrete staircase, white plastered, with beech steps and risers made of washable white Forex panels, with railing according to building specifications and steel handrail or alternatively masonry railing with internal handrail, with storage room and door under the stairs including light outlet and socket
Additional cost compared to standard staircase: €4,800.00
This “standard” staircase would be: A nicely shaped open staircase with solid wood steps in laminated beech, with continuous railing made of modern round tubing
7. Installation of an additional shower in the guest WC as a flush-floor, tiled design approx. 90 x 150 cm (35 x 59 inches) with installation of one floor drain and required large-area sealing, wall enclosure up to 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) height according to drawing, shower area tiled to 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) height; shower faucet and shower set including rail to be provided by homeowner
Note: a shower partition must be installed by the builder on-site
Additional cost: €1,990.00
8. Creation of a tiled niche in the shower in the ground floor WC, approx. 30 x 60 cm (12 x 24 inches)
Additional cost: €340.00
9. Creation of a masonry and tiled shelf behind the washbasin in the ground floor WC, height 1.20 m (4 ft), approx. 0.8 linear meters
Additional cost: €200.00
10. Installation of an additional cold water connection in the ground floor WC next to the toilet (for future installation of a bidet spray by the builder)
Additional cost: €290.00
11. Creation of a tiled shelf next to the bathtub according to drawing, height approx. 50–60 cm (20–24 inches)
Additional cost: €190.00
12. Installation of a laundry chute from the upper bathroom to the utility room (ground floor), 300 mm (12 inches) spiral seam pipe with laundry bag and secured flap for inserting laundry
Additional cost: €1,160.00 (alternative: laundry chute as homeowner’s own work, we provide only ceiling opening 350 x 350 mm (14 x 14 inches), additional cost: €180.00)
13. Installation of all switch boxes in deep form for retrofitting wireless smart home systems by own work
Additional cost: €560.00
14. Installation of AEROPAC SN (Siegenia AUBI) demand-controlled ventilators. Draft-free and whisper-quiet operation, individual air regulation, dust filter function, including core drilling and socket
Additional cost: number of bedrooms 4 x €1,100.00 each = €4,400.00
What do you think?
Are there items that are overpriced?
What would you include and what not? (I know some are very individual. For these, I’m more interested if the additional cost is reasonable.)
Are there individual items I should better leave out initially and commission later with the respective specialist?
We would appreciate any advice.
Best regards
We have received an offer from a general contractor and are wondering whether the following additional items are reasonably priced and make sense:
1. Compensation for fittings and sanitary fixtures when purchased by the homeowner (warranty only covers up to the rough installation stage; concealed installations remain our responsibility):
Compensation for ground floor WC: Hand basin including faucet, WC including flush control (flush tank remains our responsibility)
Compensation for attic bathroom: 1 washbasin including faucet, WC including flush control (flush tank remains the responsibility of Bösteinhaus), shower faucet and shower set including rail (connections remain our responsibility)
Compensation: €2,420.00
The sanitary fixtures included would be: Brand Vigour series “Derby” or “Derby Style”, alternatively brand Geberit series “Renova Plan” or brand Villeroy & Boch series “O.Novo”; faucets: brand Vigour series “Derby”, alternatively brand Hansgrohe “Talis S” or brand Hansa series “Hansapinto”
2. Removal of the fixed central mullions on double casement windows, replaced by installation of special flush profiles
Additional cost: 3 windows x €160.00 = €480.00
3. Installation of a secondary entrance door as a wooden door to the utility room, offset against the omitted window, including security fittings and insulation matching the front door, solid door leaf, including locking system matching the front door
Additional cost: €2,020.00
4. Installation of a skylight in the attic hallway, approx. 78 x 118 cm (31 x 46 inches), compliant with the energy saving regulations, brand Velux type GGU MK 06 Thermo (pivot window)
Additional cost: €1,360.00
5. Supply and installation of rough tongue-and-groove boarding, 24 mm (1 inch) thick, made of Nordic spruce or fir, dried, staggered installation with screws onto ceiling joists or collar beams
Additional cost: €1,840.00
6. Concrete staircase, white plastered, with beech steps and risers made of washable white Forex panels, with railing according to building specifications and steel handrail or alternatively masonry railing with internal handrail, with storage room and door under the stairs including light outlet and socket
Additional cost compared to standard staircase: €4,800.00
This “standard” staircase would be: A nicely shaped open staircase with solid wood steps in laminated beech, with continuous railing made of modern round tubing
7. Installation of an additional shower in the guest WC as a flush-floor, tiled design approx. 90 x 150 cm (35 x 59 inches) with installation of one floor drain and required large-area sealing, wall enclosure up to 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) height according to drawing, shower area tiled to 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) height; shower faucet and shower set including rail to be provided by homeowner
Note: a shower partition must be installed by the builder on-site
Additional cost: €1,990.00
8. Creation of a tiled niche in the shower in the ground floor WC, approx. 30 x 60 cm (12 x 24 inches)
Additional cost: €340.00
9. Creation of a masonry and tiled shelf behind the washbasin in the ground floor WC, height 1.20 m (4 ft), approx. 0.8 linear meters
Additional cost: €200.00
10. Installation of an additional cold water connection in the ground floor WC next to the toilet (for future installation of a bidet spray by the builder)
Additional cost: €290.00
11. Creation of a tiled shelf next to the bathtub according to drawing, height approx. 50–60 cm (20–24 inches)
Additional cost: €190.00
12. Installation of a laundry chute from the upper bathroom to the utility room (ground floor), 300 mm (12 inches) spiral seam pipe with laundry bag and secured flap for inserting laundry
Additional cost: €1,160.00 (alternative: laundry chute as homeowner’s own work, we provide only ceiling opening 350 x 350 mm (14 x 14 inches), additional cost: €180.00)
13. Installation of all switch boxes in deep form for retrofitting wireless smart home systems by own work
Additional cost: €560.00
14. Installation of AEROPAC SN (Siegenia AUBI) demand-controlled ventilators. Draft-free and whisper-quiet operation, individual air regulation, dust filter function, including core drilling and socket
Additional cost: number of bedrooms 4 x €1,100.00 each = €4,400.00
What do you think?
Are there items that are overpriced?
What would you include and what not? (I know some are very individual. For these, I’m more interested if the additional cost is reasonable.)
Are there individual items I should better leave out initially and commission later with the respective specialist?
We would appreciate any advice.
Best regards
D
DominicHannove3 Nov 2022 22:20xMisterDx schrieb:
And you believe heating more for 40 years is ultimately cheaper than a central ventilation system with heat recovery?Well, you first have to burn through 17,300 euros just on heating.. you can spend a lot on heating even with 10,000 euros.. and if you ventilate properly, not that much heat is actually lost.
S
SaniererNRW1233 Nov 2022 22:23DominicHannove schrieb:
Yes, the central ventilation system is supposed to cost €17,300. That is simply too expensive for us... we’d rather just ventilate more often. Then make sure to ventilate frequently and properly. You will have a hermetically sealed house—and you will notice it right away when you wake up in the morning in the bedroom, surrounded by your own stale air 😉 .
However, I can completely understand the argument about the price in current times. But then, definitely go for option 14. You’re not just buying ventilation, you’re investing in living comfort (I know both—central ventilation from my last new build and now decentralized in an older house—never without again).
X
xMisterDx3 Nov 2022 22:26DominicHannove schrieb:
Having a drywall contractor involved is a good idea; can anyone else confirm the pricing?
For us, a recessed mirror cabinet might also be an option instead of the shelf. Does it cost about the same?
Yes... I assume they mean the 68mm (2.7 inches) deep boxes. Maybe I should take that out again.
It should be about 64m² (688 sq ft) of rough-sawn boarding. That’s a great price for rough-sawn boarding. I was charged 790 EUR for 20m² (215 sq ft) of OSB board at the time... so I’m rather skeptical about the 64m² (688 sq ft) price. It seems very cheap to me...
Regarding the boxes: you’ll have to talk to them. If they end up installing standard boxes, you won’t gain anything. But the surcharge is significant if you consider that a 20-piece bag of deep boxes costs about 3 EUR at the hardware store. And whether the electrician drills 46mm (1.8 inches) or 68mm (2.7 inches) deep...
PS:
And beware of mold if you don’t ventilate properly like a pro. Then the 17,000 EUR is just the first installment for the remediation.
I just bought a few square meters of 24mm (1 inch) tongue-and-groove wood panels for the bike shed. The price was fair.
Install roof windows! (For natural light)
No to decentralized ventilation! No, no, no! (It’s not whisper-quiet and will always annoy you.)
I completely agree with @xmisterx regarding the deep electrical boxes.
Install roof windows! (For natural light)
No to decentralized ventilation! No, no, no! (It’s not whisper-quiet and will always annoy you.)
I completely agree with @xmisterx regarding the deep electrical boxes.
D
DominicHannove3 Nov 2022 22:28SaniererNRW123 schrieb:
Then ventilate often enough and properly. You’ll end up with an airtight house – and you’ll notice it right away when you wake up in the bedroom with that own stale air smell 😉 .
But I can totally understand the argument about the price nowadays. In that case, definitely go for option 14. You’re not buying ventilation, but living comfort (I know both – central ventilation from our last new build and now decentralized in the older house – never going back). Have you noticed a big difference between central and decentralized systems?
Does it make sense to have the decentralized ventilation system installed through the main contractor, or can you save money by asking the heating installer directly later on?
The problem is that I really don’t like the look of the decentralized ventilator offered here, but it is quite expensive nonetheless.
xMisterDx schrieb:
For rough construction this would be a great price. Back then I was charged 790 EUR for 20m² (215 ft²) of OSB board... so I’m a bit skeptical about the 64m² (688 ft²). It seems very cheap to me...
Regarding the electrical boxes: you have to talk to them. If they end up using standard boxes, you haven’t gained anything. But the extra cost is quite extreme when you consider that a pack of twenty deep electrical boxes costs about 3 EUR at the hardware store. Whether the electrician drills 46mm or 68mm deep…
PS:
And beware of mold if you don’t ventilate like crazy. Then the 17,000 EUR is just the first installment for remediation. Is the drilling always deep enough for the deeper boxes anyway? So is the actual issue just the plastic boxes themselves with such an “upgrade”?
X
xMisterDx3 Nov 2022 22:31i_b_n_a_n schrieb:
(...)
Decentralized ventilation, no no no! (There is no silent version and it will always! Annoy you.
(...)Not a good piece of advice. I’m not even bothered by the tram that currently passes by my window only 50m (165 feet) away. At least choose decentralized ventilation. If it annoys you too much, you can always remove it later, insulate, plaster, and then it’s quiet.
Installing it afterward involves much more effort and especially a lot of mess.
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