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.
kati1337 schrieb:
I don’t think so, his last comment was that it’s no longer fun because of the price increases. *because of the tighter margins and the so-called Z-celebrities … ehhh … nobody hires tradespeople anymore
guckuck2 schrieb:
*because of the tighter margins and the Z-level workers … ehhh … nobody hires craftsmen anymoreI don’t quite understand what you mean by that?
Well, tighter margins are mostly self-inflicted. Either the margins get tighter, or the price increases are passed on – which many do. I actually find it commendable that he doesn’t want to do that.
As for craftsmen not being fully booked, I don’t see that happening here at all at the moment.
kati1337 schrieb:
I don’t quite understand what you mean by that?
Well, tighter margins are definitely self-inflicted. Either margins get smaller, or price increases are passed on – which many do. I actually think it’s commendable that he doesn’t want to do that.
I don’t see craftsmen being underutilized here at the moment at all.The boom is simply over. In the last 12 to 13 years, company owners were able to make significant profits, but now it’s either no longer possible or more difficult. If even butchers start “professionally” building houses, you can say there was a real gold rush atmosphere.
However, anyone who delivers only mediocre quality will quickly have no work at all when orders decline in the industry.
But what does this have to do with my general contractor? I wouldn’t say that they deliver only mediocre quality.
It’s also not that they are running out of work. They rather say they are stopping because it is becoming increasingly difficult to estimate costs due to price fluctuations.
It’s also not that they are running out of work. They rather say they are stopping because it is becoming increasingly difficult to estimate costs due to price fluctuations.
kati1337 schrieb:
But what does that have to do with my builder? I wouldn’t say that he delivers only mediocre quality anywhere.
It’s also not like he doesn’t get any more work. He actually says he’s stopping because it’s getting increasingly difficult to estimate costs due to price fluctuations. But what is he doing instead then? Is he going to become a butcher now?! 😳 😳
filosof schrieb:
But what is he doing instead then? Is he becoming a butcher now?! 😳 😳He has been doing that for over 20 years and owns quite a few properties himself. I think he’s not been doing it for a long time because he needs the money. 😀