ᐅ Manufactured wood house providers for single-family homes in Lower Saxony

ypg schrieb:

If you have a house design, you can request quotes for both solid construction and prefabricated methods. There will be some modifications later on, but that’s standard with any construction company. Both can meet energy efficiency requirements.

The best basis for an initial inquiry is the preliminary draft (similar to what you would use for a building permit/planning permission pre-application), representing a highly flexible early stage of the design process. EnerPHit 55 (EH55)/Building Energy Act compliant houses can be built at roughly the same price with similar specifications. It’s only from EnerPHit 40 (EH40) onward that timber frame builders generally have an edge, mainly due to the better upgrade potential of external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS/ETIS, also known as WDIS). Additionally, projecting elements and cantilevers are more cost-effective to insulate in timber construction.

Ben3001 schrieb:

I’m trying to understand this correctly: does that mean the preliminary design/performance phase 3 should basically be tailored to either wood or masonry construction (“point of decision”)?

From the perspective of the initial inquiry, this is submitted using the preliminary draft, i.e., the result of performance phase 2 (embryo stage); the outcome of performance phase 3 (design development, fetus stage) is already too advanced for this purpose. If the design has already progressed to phase 3 at the time of the inquiry round, that’s not harmful but unnecessary. You can still use the design for both purposes.
From the perspective of the “point of decision,” it usually makes the most sense to use the feedback from the inquiry round to decide whether to proceed with the preliminary design as timber or masonry for the final design. In the drawings for the building permit/planning application (performance phase 4), walls are often still shown as seemingly homogeneous/monolithic “black boxes” differing only in total wall thickness. This often leads to the misunderstanding that the switch to a different construction method is minor, since, for example, a wooden wall could be built at overall thicknesses like 365 or 425mm (14 or 17 inches). However, by the design phase, the concept is no longer as flexible as a stem cell; the designer should have already dealt with and decided whether the house will be constructed as wood or masonry due to fundamental construction differences. Only arrogant academic architects ignore this and leave such “minor details” to the “working level” (= drafters).

Ben3001 schrieb:

So it’s basically nonsense if I request masonry houses with my wooden design and don’t receive comparable or any offers? I had assumed that aside from the generally thicker exterior shell on masonry houses, I would receive roughly similar offers.

Requesting with a design instead of a preliminary draft isn’t critical, as recipients can be asked to interpret the design as a preliminary draft and translate it into their own building system. If construction details that are easier to solve in the “other” building method have already been incorporated into the design, this can lead to costly detours in implementation planning. Adapting a masonry design for timber construction usually requires more effort than the other way around. And only in the case of “wood to masonry” does your assumption hold true—that the exterior wall would tend to be thicker. The most accurate results occur if the inquiry basis contains no preconceived elements favoring one building method, which might be closer to the other depending on the participants’ perspectives.
From the designer’s perspective, the results of the initial inquiry round should be given the opportunity to provide guidance on which construction method will be the most cost-effective route to realization.

However, it would be exaggerated to expect this “point of decision” to always act as a “game changer”!
In this case, the preference for a (particularly full) brick veneer is a strong indication of a higher likelihood of choosing masonry construction.

Ben3001 schrieb:

In the end, despite my initial preference for renewable raw materials, I’m not dogmatic, or as our former finance minister would say, “technology open,” and could live without specific separate offers for masonry vs. wood.

Excluding one of the “two camps” from the inquiry would certainly mean losing the potential impact of the “point of decision” and might exclude the potentially more favorable option from the start in the individual case.

Ben3001 schrieb:

It has also been noted elsewhere that timber houses and full brick veneer might not necessarily be natural partners. The disadvantage for masonry houses would remain the lack of QNG (quality assurance for sustainable building) funding. [-] Yes, I’ve understood: “no brick slips with ETICS” and “don’t interfere with the builder’s material choices.”

Because brick slips are applied as a surface finish rather than being laid as in masonry, in an ETICS the insulation layer serves as the substrate for the cladding. There are composite products for energy-efficient renovations that do this, which in my opinion are not ideal for new builds. You can apply full brick veneer equally well to timber walls or masonry walls. It is more the desire for QNG that conflicts with full-surface brick cladding. However, the assumption that a masonry house automatically excludes BEG (building energy act funding)/KFN (climate-friendly construction) or QNG is incorrect.

Ben3001 schrieb:

That’s a pity, so I guess we’ll have to take matters into our own hands.

The only ones who definitely lose are those who delay the preliminary discussions. As an inexperienced “toreador,” you will never finish earlier than those who have had advice—even if you rely on the assumption that a larger group of invitees will include the fastest responders. Contact me—emails can be sent even on Saturdays. Preliminary discussion appointments are still available for next week.

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/

ypg schrieb:

I estimate €2,000 for a basement within the thermal envelope, but with lower-quality finishes compared to comfortable living areas. NiedersaChosen is still a relatively affordable building site – sometimes €2,800 per square meter (sqm) of living space is sufficient.

That would mean an additional €60,000 for the basement in our case, so I could still stay within budget up to about €3,250 per square meter (sqm) of living space.

ypg schrieb:

but with lower-quality finishes compared to comfortable living areas.

I roughly calculated that, depending on the family member, we would spend no more than 10-15% of our waking time underground. So I am willing to accept some compromises regarding comfort in the basement space.

ypg schrieb:

You didn’t mention anything about yourself or the house residents. So it’s hard to give any advice.
For example, I would not recommend a hip roof if you have children, because you lose storage or reserve space. I’m also not a fan of basements if they can be avoided. I’d rather plan extra space in the attic. However, sometimes the building regulations or planning permission don’t allow that.
With three or more children, a basement makes sense if you can afford reserve space for hobbies, etc.
With 650 square meters (sqm) there’s a lot possible. I can say that we built this 650 sqm with a ground floor area of over 100 square meters (sqm), including a large forecourt. There is still plenty of garden space left.

We are four people (children aged 7 and 9) and regularly have overnight guests from the family. Our current design features a hip roof with a pitch of 30°. There is some storage space, but it’s hard to access. Our ground floor area is around 100 square meters (sqm) (12.3 x 9.2 meters (40 x 30 feet), including the bay window) and, with the terrace, a 9 x 3.5 meter (30 x 11.5 feet) carport and driveway, we are making full use of the buildable area. The basement is planned about half for sports/hobby use and half for storage/laundry/technical rooms. What I like most about the basement is that no space is lost on the ground floor for the technical room. We wanted a study or guest room on the ground floor. That would not have been possible without sacrificing space in the living room.

ypg schrieb:

If you have a house design, you can request quotes for both masonry construction and prefabricated building systems. There will be some modifications later on, but that’s common with any construction company. Both options can meet energy standards.

Got it. Thanks!

ypg schrieb:
Which district is the build site in?

We are in the district of Lüneburg.

Ben3001 schrieb:

There are four of us (children aged 7 and 9) and we regularly have overnight guests from family. Our design currently features a hip roof with a 30° pitch. There is some storage space available, but it’s difficult to access. Our floor area is around 100sqm (12.30 x 9.20 meters (40.4 x 30.2 feet) including the bay window), and with the terrace, a 9 x 3.5 meter (29.5 x 11.5 feet) carport, and driveway, we are definitely making full use of the buildable area. The basement is planned to be split 50:50 between a sports/hobby room and a storage/laundry/technical room. What I especially like about the basement is that it frees up space on the ground floor for other purposes. We wanted a study or guest room on the ground floor, which wouldn’t have been possible, or only possible with compromises, if we had allocated floor space to a technical room there.

Ouch. To me, this reads strongly like "a layperson burdening themselves with false assumptions before consulting an architect and then using those results as part of their design requirements." Guests from family sleeping on a different floor — that immediately triggers the cliché in my head about the “senior bedroom.” The plot is flat enough to argue against a basement, and the loft — where you could also place a utility room — is actually large enough to render a basement completely unnecessary; yet the loft space is "difficult to access" (probably meaning an attic hatch, since the staircase — despite the bay window! — is awkwardly located). The house design is already quite fixed, with no opportunity to discuss or incorporate improvements suggested by the community. You must have inherited quite well if money isn’t a big concern to you?

ypg schrieb:

Personally, I wouldn’t build a hip roof with children because you lose storage or flexible space. I’m also not a fan of basements unless they’re unavoidable. I’d rather plan for reserve space in the attic. Sometimes the site plan or local building regulations (building permit / planning permission) don’t allow for that, though.

At 30° roof pitch (and a gable roof hasn’t been ruled out yet), the plan could yield fully usable attic space, and I would especially want to keep the gable ends with the option to add windows. Could the hip roof be the reason why the staircase can’t extend all the way up? A half-hip roof (Dutch gable) could bring the best of both roof types and fits the regional style around Lüneburg quite well.

By the way, following me here gains you exactly zero points on the waiting list (and it’s the same with the colleagues). I won’t say it again. If I don’t hear from you by Tuesday before the Rosenheim Cops start, I’ll close the calendar for the week.

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/

11ant schrieb:

You are mistaken if you think a masonry house excludes BEG/KFN/QNG funding.

With certain providers, at least a masonry house with a prefabricated basement is possible. In 2023, shortly after buying our plot, we made plans with Viebrockhaus. They told us that if we wanted a basement, we could forget about the funding. However, maybe the sales representative was poorly informed. That was one reason we initially started leaning more towards a timber house. A representative from Kampa said at the time that a timber house has the necessary reserves to compensate for the poor carbon footprint of the concrete basement, but only just.

11ant schrieb:

Get in touch, emails can be "dropped in" on Saturdays too. There are still preliminary appointment slots available for next week.

Thanks, the mail has been "dropped in"!

11ant schrieb:
Ouch. To me, this sounds strongly like “A layperson fills up on misconceptions before consulting the architect and then presents their results as part of the design brief.” Guests from the family, but still sleeping on another floor – that triggers in my mind this nonsense about a bedroom for older people. The plot is flat enough to vote against a basement; the attic (where the utility room can also be placed) is generally spacious enough to make a basement completely unnecessary; but the attic is “hard to access” (probably means attic hatch, because a staircase – despite the bay window! – is awkwardly located). The house design is already a very concrete idea, but it was not discussed here, so the opportunity to include improvement suggestions from the community was missed. How well do you have to inherit to not care so generously about your money?

You only recognize misconceptions in hindsight. The guests already sleep upstairs with us. The room downstairs is strictly an office. When I’m older and can’t manage the stairs, I’ll move to a nursing home or assisted living. The basement doesn’t just house the utility room, but also serves as storage for supplies, laundry, and general storage. I can’t quite imagine moving all that into the attic. The pros and cons of basements are certainly judged differently. As I mentioned, my background is mainly influenced by Mr. Beuler/ prefabricated house experts. Their videos and podcasts have a strong bias in favor of basements, with arguments that I can understand as a layperson, although I can also understand the counterarguments. Hopefully, the inheritance will take a few more decades.

11ant schrieb:
With a 30° roof pitch (and a gable roof has not yet been excluded), the plan offers a fully usable attic space, and I would not want to give up the gables including their window possibilities. Could the hip roof possibly even prevent the staircase from going all the way up? With a half-hip roof, you might have the benefits of both roof types, and regionally around Lüneburg that fits very well too.

I lack the visual understanding to answer that question! Our architect was initially also against a basement. The option of an attic space was not discussed. Unfortunately, there was no opportunity to submit preliminary designs here for discussion.

11ant schrieb:
By the way, “following” me here gives exactly zero points on the waiting list (and it doesn’t work any differently with colleagues). I won’t say it again. If I don’t hear from you by Tuesday before the Rosenheim Cops start, I’m closing the calendar for the week.

That wasn’t the intention anyway 🙂 The email is already sent.

Ben3001 schrieb:

We are in the district of Lüneburg

Greetings from the neighboring district of Harburg.

Ben3001 schrieb:

A timber house has the necessary reserves to compensate for the poor environmental footprint of the concrete basement, but only just.

That would make me think twice if I were you.

Ben3001 schrieb:

The basement not only houses the HAR system but also serves as storage, laundry room, and general storage space.

But that also means you have to carry laundry up and down two flights of stairs— with four people, that’s a lot of floors each week.
Plus, at least one level will need a utility closet for quick access to the freezer or broom.
In the end, you’re planning to use at least half of the basement just for storage. An expensive hobby.

Ben3001 schrieb:

Our design currently features a hipped roof with a 30° pitch. There will be some attic storage space, but it’s difficult to access.

Designs can be changed—after all, they are only designs. I think you are aiming for impractical townhouses, two stories without sloped ceilings. People often don’t realize they are working against themselves when planning a house like this. Alternatives with a gable roof offer more space, still within budget. You can also waste money in other ways, and then the landscaping budget suffers. Then you realize the lawnmower or bicycles won’t fit in the basement either.

Anyway, I’m not trying to persuade anyone here.