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
S
SaniererNRW1233 Nov 2022 22:48DominicHannove schrieb:
And did you notice a big difference between centralized and decentralized ventilation?A clear yes and no. 😉Central ventilation can only be noticed in an absolutely quiet house if you know it’s there (except at higher settings/party mode). Decentralized ventilation is noticeable. In my case, it runs on basic ventilation, which is sufficient for me (six units for 120m² (1300 sq ft)). The noise level is not noticeable during normal daily life. If it is quiet, you can hear a slight hum. As soon as you use a higher setting or need to, it becomes more noticeable—I wouldn’t want to have full power as a continuous ventilation.
For new builds, in this order:
1. Central controlled residential ventilation
2. Central controlled residential ventilation
3. Decentralized controlled residential ventilation
4. Decentralized controlled residential ventilation
5. Decentralized controlled residential ventilation
6. Manual ventilation
DominicHannove schrieb:
having a drywall contractor involved is a good idea, can anyone else confirm this from a cost perspective? I can confirm that: drywall or plumbing contractor will handle this.
DominicHannove schrieb:
1. Installation of fittings and sanitary fixtures DominicHannove schrieb:
these sanitary fixtures would be included: The question to ask is: what added value in appearance or quality justifies the extra effort?
DominicHannove schrieb:
3. Installation of a secondary entrance door as a wooden door into the utility room That depends on the floor plan: I barely know any house designs that actually require this exit door. Either the utility room is too small, or there are other, more convenient routes to use.
DominicHannove schrieb:
7. Installation of an additional shower in the guest WC as a flush-floor, tiled design If there is a shower enclosure, I would rather go with a shower tray. Why pay extra for a flush-floor design if it’s going to be separated by a track anyway?
DominicHannove schrieb:
10. Installation of an additional cold water connection in the ground floor WC next to the toilet (for the later on-site installation of a bidet spray)
Additional cost: 290.00 € Why would you need a bidet in a guest WC? Or is it just about the bidet spray?
DominicHannove schrieb:
12. Installation of a laundry chute from the upper floor bathroom to the utility room (ground floor), For one floor I consider a chute unnecessary.
DominicHannove schrieb:
well, you first have to burn through 17,300 euros … says someone in 2022? Politics have been asleep for 10 years, so now can we just waste energy?! Will this actually be a subsidized house?
i_b_n_a_n schrieb:
Using this forum on a smartphone For me, this forum is realistically usable only on a smartphone (Safari). Everything else is basically useless.
A quick note about deep boxes: Aren’t you already planning to meet with the electrician to decide on switches, sockets, and so on? Of course, you can discuss with them what to install there. They might simply provide deep boxes, or you can tell them afterward that they convinced you to go for the deep boxes. This way, you might still have a chance to save some money. And just because I noticed it’s not listed: make sure to clarify early on where you might need 5-core cables.
X
xMisterDx3 Nov 2022 23:09ypg schrieb:
(...)
… did someone say that in 2022? Politics have been ignoring this for 10 years, so now we can just waste energy?! Is this actually a subsidized house?
(...)I thought so too at first. But if you calculate with an annual performance factor of 3 and electricity costs of 50 cents/kWh, you can afford to waste 3,400 kWh more per year for 30 years for €17,000 (about $18,500) before you break even with the ventilation system. And the €17,000 amount is financed—you don’t have that cash sitting around. Especially if photovoltaic panels are installed on the roof at some point (or are already planned), then this centralized solution won’t pay off at this premium even in 100 years.
Therefore, I tend to agree that he should skip this expensive option and instead aim for the decentralized variant for a fraction of the cost.
However, I’m happy to be convinced otherwise. How much heating energy in kWh/m²/a (kWh per square meter per year) does a centralized ventilation system or a decentralized ventilation system save compared to classic ventilation until humidity levels are back within acceptable limits?
X
xMisterDx3 Nov 2022 23:11Pacmansh schrieb:
Just a quick note about deep electrical boxes: Aren't you already planning to schedule a meeting with the electrician to decide on switches, sockets, etc.? He'll definitely install something there. Either he provides you with deep boxes right away, or you let him convince you afterward to go with deep boxes. This way, you might still save some money. And just because I noticed it’s not on the list: make sure to clarify early on where you might need 5-core cables. And always remember:
Tradespeople usually prefer to deal with you directly, bypassing the general contractor/developer. They can charge you higher hourly rates and markups this way, but it will often still be significantly cheaper for you than going through the general contractor.
All the tilers I spoke with wanted to build the niche entirely themselves. The drywall installer was only supposed to mark where the stud frame is located.
That also makes sense to me because the tiler is best able to assess the exact position and size of the niche to ensure the tile layout looks good.
That also makes sense to me because the tiler is best able to assess the exact position and size of the niche to ensure the tile layout looks good.
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