ᐅ Price difference between windows, fixed glass panels, and masonry?
Created on: 19 Aug 2023 17:51
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Hausbauer4747
We have planned a floor-to-ceiling double door on the ground floor layout (approximately 215 cm high and 150 cm wide, around 3.2 m² (34.4 sq ft) of glass area, two opening doors) and would like to replace this double door or double window with a fixed window to create a built-in window seat on the inside through a carpenter.
This means the position on the floor plan would remain the same, as well as the width and the top edge. The fixed glass element would then no longer be floor-to-ceiling at the bottom, but would end approximately 50 cm (20 inches) above the floor (then about 2.5 m² (27 sq ft)).
I expected a lower price because the window area would be about 20-25% smaller and the entire door mechanism would be eliminated. However, the construction company is now quoting an additional cost of 400 euros net / about 480 euros gross, because the extra 50 cm at the bottom requires additional masonry work, an exterior windowsill, and the fixed glass element is large and heavy in one piece.
The windowsill cost makes sense to me, though in the building specification we don’t have particularly expensive windowsills (exterior windowsills made of aluminum including anti-drumming foil with side closure profiles and drip edges). I did not expect about 0.8 m² (8.6 sq ft) of additional masonry to be a major cost factor, at least not more than the potential savings from the smaller window.
Does anyone have experience or advice on how to assess these costs?
This means the position on the floor plan would remain the same, as well as the width and the top edge. The fixed glass element would then no longer be floor-to-ceiling at the bottom, but would end approximately 50 cm (20 inches) above the floor (then about 2.5 m² (27 sq ft)).
I expected a lower price because the window area would be about 20-25% smaller and the entire door mechanism would be eliminated. However, the construction company is now quoting an additional cost of 400 euros net / about 480 euros gross, because the extra 50 cm at the bottom requires additional masonry work, an exterior windowsill, and the fixed glass element is large and heavy in one piece.
The windowsill cost makes sense to me, though in the building specification we don’t have particularly expensive windowsills (exterior windowsills made of aluminum including anti-drumming foil with side closure profiles and drip edges). I did not expect about 0.8 m² (8.6 sq ft) of additional masonry to be a major cost factor, at least not more than the potential savings from the smaller window.
Does anyone have experience or advice on how to assess these costs?
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xMisterDx20 Aug 2023 17:59Strange logic. If he makes 20% profit, you do it; if he makes 50%, you don’t?
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Hausbauer474720 Aug 2023 18:14This is a somewhat simplified explanation, but yes, it is certainly one aspect of the decision-making process. All other experiences from the past more than 2 years also play a role. If everything had been reasonable, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second over 300 euros more or less now.
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Gerddieter20 Aug 2023 18:39For us, the casement window was more expensive than the fixed panel...
Otherwise, with every size change, whether larger or smaller, the standard phrase was "wall against window balances out," meaning there was no price difference.
Gerddieter
Otherwise, with every size change, whether larger or smaller, the standard phrase was "wall against window balances out," meaning there was no price difference.
Gerddieter
Hausbauer4747 schrieb:
We have planned a floor-to-ceiling double door on the ground floor layout (approximately 215 cm (85 inches) high and 150 cm (59 inches) wide, about 3.2 m² (34.4 ft²) of glass area, two operable casement doors) and would like to replace this double door or double window with a fixed window, so that a carpenter can create a window seat inside.
That means the position in the floor plan would remain the same, including the width and the top edge. The fixed glass element would no longer be floor-to-ceiling at the bottom but would end about 50 cm (20 inches) above the floor (resulting in about 2.5 m² (27 ft²) of glass).
I was assuming a price reduction because the window area becomes around 20–25% smaller and the entire door hardware is eliminated. The construction company is now quoting an additional cost of 400 euros net / about 480 euros gross, because the 50 cm (20 inches) at the bottom require extra masonry work, an exterior window sill is needed, and the fixed glass element is large and heavy in one piece. .
NatureSys schrieb:
Furthermore, as my predecessor pointed out, this is quite tedious. If you’re lucky, you might be able to negotiate around 100 euros with the general contractor. Most likely not though. You should better spend your energy on other things. I assume that position A or B as shown in https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/grundriss-planung-einfamilienhaus-230-235-m-auf-zwei-vollgeschossen.39797/page-12 is meant. As a former window manufacturer, I see roughly comparable pricing for the window elements, and as a freelance building consultant, I estimate the additional work for the general contractor would be about the surcharge mentioned.
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Bertram10020 Aug 2023 21:10I wouldn’t pay extra and would leave everything as it is. You can always add something in front later. In this forum, it’s a bit frowned upon to place furniture in front of a floor-to-ceiling window or door.
Where I’m from, this is quite common. It can look good if it’s done deliberately and looks intentional. I wouldn’t worry about it now.
Where I’m from, this is quite common. It can look good if it’s done deliberately and looks intentional. I wouldn’t worry about it now.
Bertram100 schrieb:
Placing furniture in front of a floor-to-ceiling window or a door.I would do that too. But then it’s no longer a window seat. Homeowners these days are strange—everything has to be exactly the same and called what everyone else currently has.The expensive part here is the difference between a double-leaf window and a single fixed window. The structural support is what makes the difference!
Also, the label “window seat.” If I go to the hairdresser and want my hair pinned up, it costs $25. If I say: pinned-up hair for a wedding, it costs $40. If I’m a bride, it becomes a bridal hairstyle, and I pay $65.
At least 50% of these window seats are never actually used. Wherever possible, I would build garden exits instead. Even if there’s only an armchair next to it, I get a) more comfort and b) more long-term flexibility.