ᐅ Hillside House in the Southwest Palatinate – Our Home Construction 2.0
Created on: 9 Sep 2022 18:13
K
kati1337
Good evening everyone
I’m starting a small collection thread here for photos and progress updates on our second building project.
We’ve already moved to the Palatinate region to be closer to the construction site. Now we’re watching eagerly and happily as our (hopefully final) dream home takes shape near family.
One big challenge still ahead of us is the facade design. I really love the Nordic style with brickwork and mullioned windows. That won’t be possible here for two reasons: firstly, no one here can do bricklaying, and secondly, it would stand out too much. We will be going with a rendered facade. How to design the colors of the facade and windows to still create some country house / cottage charm is currently still a work in progress mentally.
Otherwise, I’m sharing our plans here and how it will eventually be built.
The support pillar marked near the kitchen island could be removed for a small extra cost, so that will be gone.
The room for “garden equipment” under the garage will get a partition wall for structural reasons.
It won’t be fully finished living space like in the house, but underfloor heating will be installed, along with a lockable door and a window. It’s meant to store garden tools but also some of the building services equipment, since the utility room (HAR) is quite small, and maybe be used as a party room.
We had three construction companies in the final selection. In the end, we chose the “doer” – a builder recommended to us here by friends and family. No website, no smartphone, but he is on site every day himself working in overalls. He has a very good reputation in this area and now rarely builds single-family homes. We were a bit lucky through personal connections and a very friendly initial phone call to get our foot in the door. So far we are very satisfied with this choice.
I’m starting a small collection thread here for photos and progress updates on our second building project.
We’ve already moved to the Palatinate region to be closer to the construction site. Now we’re watching eagerly and happily as our (hopefully final) dream home takes shape near family.
One big challenge still ahead of us is the facade design. I really love the Nordic style with brickwork and mullioned windows. That won’t be possible here for two reasons: firstly, no one here can do bricklaying, and secondly, it would stand out too much. We will be going with a rendered facade. How to design the colors of the facade and windows to still create some country house / cottage charm is currently still a work in progress mentally.
Otherwise, I’m sharing our plans here and how it will eventually be built.
The support pillar marked near the kitchen island could be removed for a small extra cost, so that will be gone.
The room for “garden equipment” under the garage will get a partition wall for structural reasons.
It won’t be fully finished living space like in the house, but underfloor heating will be installed, along with a lockable door and a window. It’s meant to store garden tools but also some of the building services equipment, since the utility room (HAR) is quite small, and maybe be used as a party room.
We had three construction companies in the final selection. In the end, we chose the “doer” – a builder recommended to us here by friends and family. No website, no smartphone, but he is on site every day himself working in overalls. He has a very good reputation in this area and now rarely builds single-family homes. We were a bit lucky through personal connections and a very friendly initial phone call to get our foot in the door. So far we are very satisfied with this choice.
WilderSueden schrieb:
You’re definitely still north of Stuttgart, so northern Germany 😉
I just measured roughly and it should be about 175 km (110 miles) as the crow flies. If you ever come near the western Lake Constance area, feel free to get in touch.
The main problem is that my general contractor (GC) is poorly organized. A lot is done spontaneously and by word of mouth, which has been quite problematic the last two years because materials don’t arrive at the site within two days. The site management is more like a dithering lemon butterfly. And then the problems only become apparent afterward. The masons were sometimes pretty off, and the house completely drained into the rainwater sewer system. I am still waiting three months after moving in for an acceptable handover report, because no one updates it after the initial version despite ongoing corrections. Stuff like that. I first had to check how far north we really are from Stuttgart. A bit. =)
That sounds really stressful with the GC. Especially the material and such — planning is everything.
Officially, someone else is our site manager, but I think our builder actually handles almost everything himself. He feels even better organized than our first (large) construction company. I didn’t get two DIN A4 pages with a tabulated schedule of planned progress from him, but he regularly calls me to explain what will happen in the next 2–4 weeks. Or also when nothing will happen because, for example, the screed is drying.
We can’t complain about the foresight either. He had already ordered our heat pump when we had only verbally agreed to the contract. And even before construction really started, we had selected bricks so he could order them. That’s important nowadays, both for price and availability.
By “selecting bricks,” with this builder it means he has two of them in the back of his pickup truck, holds them up under our noses, and says, “I basically use these almost everywhere. Are these okay? Really? Then I’ll order them.” So it’s basically a mobile showroom with a limited selection. 😉
Of course, we could have chosen something else — basically, where we had special requests, he pulled out all the stops. But I had to take care of other things myself (bathroom fixtures). So if I had wanted different bricks, I probably would have had to look online myself and then name a model.
W
WilderSueden16 May 2023 09:57Communication has been quite challenging for us as well... I almost always had to chase down updates about the construction progress, and then the information kept changing. Between the rough-in phase and the interior plastering, there was a two-month standstill during which we were repeatedly told it would continue the following week. We’re now facing a similar issue with the exterior plaster. Initially, it was scheduled for early April, then postponed to the end of April. Last week, they finally showed up, taped all the windows on the upper floor, and now progress is very slow again because the plasterers are sometimes here and sometimes not. I understand that the unpredictable weather right now makes working outdoors unpleasant. However, it’s frustrating to be living behind plastic sheeting when nothing is actually happening—not even the remaining preparation work. By now, I’m worried we won’t be able to take down the scaffolding until late June or early July, considering the base coat, top coat, two paint layers, and all the drying times in between... I’m just focusing on doing whatever I can with the landscaping for now... it’s just a bit frustrating.
WilderSueden schrieb:
Communication has also been quite an issue for us... I almost always had to chase up information about the construction progress, and then things kept changing. Between the rough installation and the interior plastering, we had a two-month standstill, during which we were repeatedly told work would resume the following week. A similar problem is happening now with the exterior plaster. Originally, it was scheduled for early April, then late April. Last week, they finally showed up, taped all the windows on the upper floor, and now progress is very slow again because the plasterers sometimes come and sometimes don’t. I can understand that the changing weather conditions make working outside unpleasant right now. But it’s frustrating to live behind plastic sheets when nothing is happening, not even the remaining preparation work. By now, I’m worried we won’t get the scaffolding down until the end of June or early July, with the base plaster, finish plaster, two coats of paint, and all the drying times in between... I’m just trying to get whatever I can done with the landscaping... it’s just a bit frustrating. I can fully understand that; it would frustrate me a lot as well. Doesn’t the builder have any interest in getting their invoices paid? I mean, as long as everything isn’t finished, you probably can’t settle the final invoice, and so on. It can’t be in the builder’s interest to have such a standstill. Did you have a completion deadline in the contract?
W
WilhelmRo16 May 2023 10:55kati1337 schrieb:
If with the 12 kWp system the 6 kW threshold is rarely exceeded, then pure surplus charging for the car battery probably makes more sense than using the storage.If you have the option, you should charge the car during midday. However, very few people have this possibility. Here is how it looks for me:
May 9, 2023, Bavaria
What can be seen:
The storage was not empty and is charging throughout the day.
I come home at 5 p.m. and charge my car.
Scenario:
The car can charge at 6.6 kW.
The storage can discharge at 3.3 kW.
The photovoltaic system generates 2 kW (falling).
Perfect (5 p.m.) would be:
Car = solar + storage + grid supply
6.6 kW = 2 kW + 3.3 kW + 1.1 kW
For example, I could charge at about 8 kW but limited my go-e charger to 4.5 kW.
I also want my car to “sit” at a maximum of 90% charge.
Reason: Significant extension of the car battery’s lifespan.
One downside: The electronics are under longer stress, which affects their lifespan. I accept this (inverter ~1500 € vs. car battery ~7000 €).
Example: If I still have power in the storage in the morning and the car is at 90%, I start charging again with the app. By the time I leave, 30 minutes later, the car is at 94%. At work, the car then sits at about 80% charge in the parking lot.
Normally, I say storage systems are too expensive at the moment, but around €8,000 for roughly 12 kWh storage? Take it! 🙂
Best regards
WilhelmRo schrieb:
If you have the opportunity, you should charge the car around midday. However, very few people have this option.
Here’s my situation:
May 9, 2023, Bavaria
What you can see:
The battery storage was not empty and charges throughout the day.
I arrive home at 5 p.m. and charge my car.
Scenario:
Car can charge at 6.6 kW.
Battery storage can discharge at 3.3 kW.
Solar panels produce 2 kW (decreasing).
Ideal (5 p.m.) would be:
Car = solar + battery + grid supply
6.6 kW = 2 kW + 3.3 kW + 1.1 kW
For example, I could charge at about 8 kW, but I have limited my go-e Charger to 4.5 kW.
Also, I prefer my car to "stand around" at a maximum of 90% charge.
Reason: Significant extension of the lifespan of the car battery.
One downside: The electronics are under load for a longer time – which affects their lifespan. I accept this (inverter ~1500€ vs. car battery ~7000€).
Example: If I still have electricity in the battery in the morning and the car is at 90%, I start charging again using the app. By the time I leave 30 minutes later, the car has 94%. At work, the car is parked with about 80% charge.
Normally, I say battery storage is too expensive, but ~8,000€ for ~12 kWh storage? Take it! : )
Regards With a discount, we are actually closer to 6,500-7,000€ for the storage alone. We will probably take it, yes.
We are even lucky that we can charge the car during the day, as we work remotely. We want to charge only with surplus if possible. We rarely need the car fully charged. In daily use, 90% charge is enough since we seldom travel long distances.
Unfortunately, our car can only charge on AC up to 6.6 kW. With an 11 kW wallbox, we likely wouldn’t exceed 3.3 kW, as someone explained to me. I didn’t fully understand why exactly — something about single-phase vs. three-phase.
kati1337 schrieb:
Only brick slips are used in the new development area up there. Here in the southwest, you won't find anyone who can do that.Especially decorative brick patterns, that's where the real skill shows; corbelled brickwork is often the most you get for special detailing. kati1337 schrieb:
My builder said he has to bring in a bricklaying team from the north to handle that.Alright then, what else would you use in the Palatinate region besides brick slips...https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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