ᐅ Evaluating Different Options in Single-Family Home Construction
Created on: 1 Nov 2023 11:05
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Schnubbihh
Hello dear community,
We are currently planning the construction of our single-family home and I would like to clarify as many details as possible and make decisions about the equipment before signing the contract.
Here are some of my thoughts; I would appreciate your opinions on each point. I welcome contrasting views (with appropriate reasoning).
(1) Shutter material
Decision: Plastic slats
Reason: We will have white windows, so the extra cost for aluminum shutters is not worthwhile (for better color options)
(2) Shutters vs. Venetian blinds on the ground floor
Decision: Shutters
Reason: Venetian blinds are vulnerable to wind (Northern Germany) and somewhat more expensive; with some automation of the shutters, hopefully we won’t sit in the dark during summer anyway
(3) Heating
Decision: Air-to-water heat pump
Reason: Best price/performance ratio
(4) Ventilation
Decision: Central ventilation system
Reason: Less noise and better efficiency, but higher costs (purchase and maintenance)
(5) Internal walls
Decision: Masonry made of calcium silicate bricks (instead of aerated concrete or drywall)
Reason: Better sound insulation desired (5-person household); additional costs are not significant
(6) Interior doors (sound insulation)
Decision: Upgrade with better sound insulation
Reason: Improved sound insulation by about 3 dB (honeycomb core instead of hollow core) costs approximately €35 (about $35) more per door leaf. (According to general contractor)
(7) Interior door (clear height)
Decision: Clear height 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in)
Reason: I am 2 m tall (6 ft 7 in) and have three sons who won’t be short either; additional cost for 2.10 m clear height in a standard interior door is about €65 (about $65) each. (According to general contractor)
(8) Staircase
Decision: Reinforced concrete staircase instead of wood
Reason: Better sound insulation; closed staircase with storage space underneath
(9) Window security standard
Decision: Not decided yet (RC1 vs. RC2N vs. better)
Reason: According to the general contractor, there are no major differences between RC1 and RC2N; extra costs are not worthwhile
(10) Patio door
Decision: Swing door instead of lift-and-slide door
Reason: Price difference too high; risk of moisture ingress with lift-and-slide door
(11) “Outsourcing trades”
Decision: Exclude certain trades from the general contractor contract to save costs, contract local providers (not self-performed work!)
Reason: Trades like sanitary equipment, flooring, and painting can be obtained significantly cheaper from a local supplier
(12) Bathtub
Decision: No bathtub in the upper floor bathroom, but prepare connections for possible retrofitting and for washing machine use
Reason: We are not fans of bathtubs and want to save costs; however, we want to prepare in case we change our minds or for a higher resale value
(13) Electrical and home automation
Decision: Still quite open
Reason: Would like to do something but solutions quickly become too expensive
(14) TV cable connection
Decision: Still open, possibly omit completely
Reason: We watch a lot of TV over the internet; maybe costs can be saved here (?); is a TV connection necessary in every room anymore?
(15) Second sink in the utility room
Decision: Still open, weighing costs and benefits
Reason: Would be a nice feature for the kids’ dirty shoes or cleaning fish (I am an angler)
(16) Second exterior door from the carport to the utility room
Decision: Still open
Reason: Would be a nice feature to bring less dirt into the hallway (kids, groceries, drinks) and to get dry from the car to the house and vice versa; however, the two doors are only a few meters apart — is this really useful?
We are currently planning the construction of our single-family home and I would like to clarify as many details as possible and make decisions about the equipment before signing the contract.
Here are some of my thoughts; I would appreciate your opinions on each point. I welcome contrasting views (with appropriate reasoning).
(1) Shutter material
Decision: Plastic slats
Reason: We will have white windows, so the extra cost for aluminum shutters is not worthwhile (for better color options)
(2) Shutters vs. Venetian blinds on the ground floor
Decision: Shutters
Reason: Venetian blinds are vulnerable to wind (Northern Germany) and somewhat more expensive; with some automation of the shutters, hopefully we won’t sit in the dark during summer anyway
(3) Heating
Decision: Air-to-water heat pump
Reason: Best price/performance ratio
(4) Ventilation
Decision: Central ventilation system
Reason: Less noise and better efficiency, but higher costs (purchase and maintenance)
(5) Internal walls
Decision: Masonry made of calcium silicate bricks (instead of aerated concrete or drywall)
Reason: Better sound insulation desired (5-person household); additional costs are not significant
(6) Interior doors (sound insulation)
Decision: Upgrade with better sound insulation
Reason: Improved sound insulation by about 3 dB (honeycomb core instead of hollow core) costs approximately €35 (about $35) more per door leaf. (According to general contractor)
(7) Interior door (clear height)
Decision: Clear height 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in)
Reason: I am 2 m tall (6 ft 7 in) and have three sons who won’t be short either; additional cost for 2.10 m clear height in a standard interior door is about €65 (about $65) each. (According to general contractor)
(8) Staircase
Decision: Reinforced concrete staircase instead of wood
Reason: Better sound insulation; closed staircase with storage space underneath
(9) Window security standard
Decision: Not decided yet (RC1 vs. RC2N vs. better)
Reason: According to the general contractor, there are no major differences between RC1 and RC2N; extra costs are not worthwhile
(10) Patio door
Decision: Swing door instead of lift-and-slide door
Reason: Price difference too high; risk of moisture ingress with lift-and-slide door
(11) “Outsourcing trades”
Decision: Exclude certain trades from the general contractor contract to save costs, contract local providers (not self-performed work!)
Reason: Trades like sanitary equipment, flooring, and painting can be obtained significantly cheaper from a local supplier
(12) Bathtub
Decision: No bathtub in the upper floor bathroom, but prepare connections for possible retrofitting and for washing machine use
Reason: We are not fans of bathtubs and want to save costs; however, we want to prepare in case we change our minds or for a higher resale value
(13) Electrical and home automation
Decision: Still quite open
Reason: Would like to do something but solutions quickly become too expensive
(14) TV cable connection
Decision: Still open, possibly omit completely
Reason: We watch a lot of TV over the internet; maybe costs can be saved here (?); is a TV connection necessary in every room anymore?
(15) Second sink in the utility room
Decision: Still open, weighing costs and benefits
Reason: Would be a nice feature for the kids’ dirty shoes or cleaning fish (I am an angler)
(16) Second exterior door from the carport to the utility room
Decision: Still open
Reason: Would be a nice feature to bring less dirt into the hallway (kids, groceries, drinks) and to get dry from the car to the house and vice versa; however, the two doors are only a few meters apart — is this really useful?
X
xMisterDx1 Nov 2023 17:17If you skip the heating loops there because of the bathtub rough-in, you'll have cold feet at that spot even in winter. That shouldn't be overlooked.
If you don't want a bathtub, don't install one. A buyer in 5, 10, or 20 years will just have to accept that. Are you building the house for yourselves or for resale?
If you don't want a bathtub, don't install one. A buyer in 5, 10, or 20 years will just have to accept that. Are you building the house for yourselves or for resale?
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WilderSueden1 Nov 2023 17:19Unfortunately, you can only edit for 4 minutes... so here’s another post regarding the utility room. You are planning without a basement. You do not have space for basement replacement rooms in the outdoor areas. You cannot plan for a large attic. You have very little storage space in the house and will be grateful for every meter of shelving you can fit in. Don’t underestimate how much space the building services equipment can take up, especially how much room the pipes above the appliances require. Simply hanging a shelf above the mechanical ventilation system is not an option. An extra door or a second sink are luxuries you simply cannot afford.
X
xMisterDx1 Nov 2023 18:13And it’s not necessary either. You can roof over the path from the carport to the front door; there are options for that 😉 It doesn’t rain that often anyway, and a paved walkway will just get wet but won’t be muddy after the construction phase.
Schnubbihh schrieb:
(16) Second exterior door from the carport into the utility room
Decision: Still undecided
Reason: It would be a nice feature to reduce dirt in the hallway (children, groceries, drinks) and to stay dry when going from the car to the house and vice versa in the rain; however, the two doors are only a few meters apart, is it really useful? Then you just bring the dirt into the room where laundry for five people is done.
The wasted space has already been mentioned.
Schnubbihh schrieb:
(12) Bathtub
Decision: No bathtub in the upstairs bathroom, but install rough-ins for possible future addition and use for the washing machine
Reason: We are not bathtub fans and would like to save the cost; however, we want to prepare rough-ins in case we change our mind or for a higher resale value Retrofitting a bathtub is impractical. A bathtub is installed in the screed floor, not on top of it. On top of it, it would be too high.
You plan for the next 20 years, not just for now.
A muscle relaxation or cold bath, baths for therapeutic purposes during illness or preventively, soaking hand wash, rinsing blankets or bathing over several hours (yes, people do that), letting a Christmas carp swim, dyeing clothes, washing the dog, collecting laundry, craft projects, etc. Foam baths are fun for children. You have the space; you can furnish it with the tub. The credit you get from the general contractor is minimal anyway.
A budget home is decorated and upgraded like a Christmas tree, but savings are made at the very top.
Schnubbihh schrieb:
Flooring and painting work can be done much cheaper by a local provider That is charged separately anyway.
You will be surprised how low the credits are if you remove something. And you can almost forget about the warranty then.
S
Schnubbihh1 Nov 2023 19:07Thank you very much for all the responses and opinions so far.
You really convinced me about not having a door in the utility room. It doesn’t make much sense, especially because of the parking space.
Regarding the cable connection: That’s where our internet comes into the house, but having the outlet in the utility room with the router is sufficient. I can still skip the many power outlets in the individual rooms since Ethernet will be available. Although I’m not sure how significant the credit for that would be.
You also made good points about the bathtub. We might consider having the washing machine and dryer in the bathroom instead of the utility room. That would also free up some more space in the utility room.
I am still uncertain about the security ratings of the windows. I need to do some more detailed research on that.
You really convinced me about not having a door in the utility room. It doesn’t make much sense, especially because of the parking space.
Regarding the cable connection: That’s where our internet comes into the house, but having the outlet in the utility room with the router is sufficient. I can still skip the many power outlets in the individual rooms since Ethernet will be available. Although I’m not sure how significant the credit for that would be.
You also made good points about the bathtub. We might consider having the washing machine and dryer in the bathroom instead of the utility room. That would also free up some more space in the utility room.
I am still uncertain about the security ratings of the windows. I need to do some more detailed research on that.
X
xMisterDx1 Nov 2023 19:24Invest the money in RC2 security, then you’re on the safe side. Everything else is half-baked and usually compensated with motion detectors, floodlights, cameras, and expensive alarm systems.
I have RC2, no exterior lighting at the moment, and everyone sleeps peacefully, even when I’m away for three weeks on a business trip. And yes, two streets away there was already a break-in shortly after the new houses were occupied.
Having the washer and dryer in the bathroom isn’t bad either, as it allows you to use the space reserved for the bathtub more effectively. The movers will definitely curse 😉
And regarding the space: we recently upgraded from a 1.5m (5 feet) dining table to a 2.6m (8.5 feet) one. It used to be full and now it’s full again. Meaning: the more storage and shelf space you have, the more stuff you accumulate and keep.
It’s not impossible for four people to live in 120m² (1,292 sq ft); it was done in the past as well.
I have RC2, no exterior lighting at the moment, and everyone sleeps peacefully, even when I’m away for three weeks on a business trip. And yes, two streets away there was already a break-in shortly after the new houses were occupied.
Having the washer and dryer in the bathroom isn’t bad either, as it allows you to use the space reserved for the bathtub more effectively. The movers will definitely curse 😉
And regarding the space: we recently upgraded from a 1.5m (5 feet) dining table to a 2.6m (8.5 feet) one. It used to be full and now it’s full again. Meaning: the more storage and shelf space you have, the more stuff you accumulate and keep.
It’s not impossible for four people to live in 120m² (1,292 sq ft); it was done in the past as well.
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