ᐅ Urban villa or classic pitched roof house? Advantages? Costs?
Created on: 24 Sep 2014 12:07
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Panama17
Hello everyone,
I’m currently going around in circles with my thoughts.
My dream has always been a classic gable roof house with 1.5 floors. However, I also find a townhouse with two full floors quite attractive. We already have a plot of land, and according to the development plan / planning permission, both options are possible, as the regulations are very generous.
As I said, my dream has always been a classic house with a gable roof. I simply find it visually very beautiful, and it feels cozy and comforting to me. The drawbacks for me would be that I don’t want too many sloping ceilings and I’d like plenty of natural light on the upper floor. So we would definitely install many or large dormers. I once lived in an attic apartment with only one vertical window; everything else was roof windows, which I found awful! Apart from the fact that you couldn’t really look outside properly anywhere, I also didn’t like the noise level during rain.
I also like the townhouse style; they are very trendy right now and usually stylish and elegant. The advantage here is that the upper floor would be a full story with straight walls and regular windows. But somehow, I find that a bit cold and less cozy. We wouldn’t convert the roof but would put a hipped roof on top. A townhouse would probably fit better into the neighborhood since there are two 2.5-story apartment buildings on either side of the plot.
Somehow, a townhouse makes more sense, right? But my dream and my gut feeling still remain...
Could someone maybe share some insights about cost differences between the two house types with roughly the same living area (as I said, the gable roof house would definitely include many and large dormers)?
I hope you could follow me and I look forward to some thoughts, tips, and experiences that might help me.
I’m currently going around in circles with my thoughts.
My dream has always been a classic gable roof house with 1.5 floors. However, I also find a townhouse with two full floors quite attractive. We already have a plot of land, and according to the development plan / planning permission, both options are possible, as the regulations are very generous.
As I said, my dream has always been a classic house with a gable roof. I simply find it visually very beautiful, and it feels cozy and comforting to me. The drawbacks for me would be that I don’t want too many sloping ceilings and I’d like plenty of natural light on the upper floor. So we would definitely install many or large dormers. I once lived in an attic apartment with only one vertical window; everything else was roof windows, which I found awful! Apart from the fact that you couldn’t really look outside properly anywhere, I also didn’t like the noise level during rain.
I also like the townhouse style; they are very trendy right now and usually stylish and elegant. The advantage here is that the upper floor would be a full story with straight walls and regular windows. But somehow, I find that a bit cold and less cozy. We wouldn’t convert the roof but would put a hipped roof on top. A townhouse would probably fit better into the neighborhood since there are two 2.5-story apartment buildings on either side of the plot.
Somehow, a townhouse makes more sense, right? But my dream and my gut feeling still remain...
Could someone maybe share some insights about cost differences between the two house types with roughly the same living area (as I said, the gable roof house would definitely include many and large dormers)?
I hope you could follow me and I look forward to some thoughts, tips, and experiences that might help me.
Panama17 schrieb:
Jaydee – yes, I understand that you can put a gable roof on a two-story house. But then you really have two full floors, without the small sloped ceilings that create a cozy feeling on the upper floor. The house also looks much bulkier. We want a basement, so we don’t need extra space in the attic.That’s why I mentioned the example of our friends:
Jaydee schrieb:
Our friends have a knee wall height of 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in), which allows plenty of space for standard windows and furniture placement while still having a gable roof. The attic isn’t converted but has an exposed roof truss structure, which feels very cozy thanks to the wood paneling.At a ceiling height of 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in), the upper floor is considered a full story, even if it’s not a complete floor. That could be a compromise. There’s no need for dormers or roof windows here, since windows usually fit into the eaves side as well.
In our house, we have a knee wall height of 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in), with about 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) inside after floor coverings. In retrospect, I find that a bit too low because we lose space on one side for placing furniture.
However, we also have so-called “knee wall windows” on the upper floor, which provide additional light (see avatar).
Masipulami26 Sep 2014 10:57Bauexperte schrieb:
Good evening Yvonne,
Sorry, this statement is not correct. In NRW, the original poster is allowed to build garages along the property boundary with a total length of 15.00 m (49 feet); unless the development plan explicitly states otherwise. So, for example, 9.00 m (30 feet) on the left and 6.00 m (20 feet) on the right, or 7.50 m (25 feet) on both sides, or any other combination adding up to a total length of 15.00 m (49 feet). It does not matter whether there is a single or a double garage on one side, as long as the building envelope allows it.
Regards, BauexperteIn Saarland, we are even allowed to build up to 12 m (39 feet) along each property boundary per plot. So a maximum of 24 m (79 feet) of boundary construction.
D
Doc.Schnaggls26 Sep 2014 11:00Masipulami schrieb:
In Saarland, we are allowed to build up to 12 m (39 feet) along each property boundary. So, a maximum of 24 m (79 feet) of boundary construction in total.Really? In the extreme case, that would even mean 48 m (157 feet) of boundary construction (12 m (39 feet) × 4 property sides)?
Here in Baden-Württemberg, the regulation allows a total of 15 m (49 feet), with a maximum of 9 m (30 feet) along one property side.
B
Bauexperte26 Sep 2014 11:27Hello Dirk,
Certainly not; only on the right and left sides of the single-family house.
The responsible building authority usually does not mind whether one or two garages are placed on each side, as long as the plot has enough space; at least this is how it is regulated in NRW.
Best regards, Bauexperte
Doc.Schnaggls schrieb:
Really? In extreme cases, even 48m (157 feet) of boundary construction (12m (39 feet) x 4 property sides)?
Certainly not; only on the right and left sides of the single-family house.
The responsible building authority usually does not mind whether one or two garages are placed on each side, as long as the plot has enough space; at least this is how it is regulated in NRW.
Best regards, Bauexperte
What’s with all of you and your required floor space??? Does every room really have to fit a large 3m (10 ft) closet on all four walls? I just can’t understand that... Flexibility is important, but having just one large, tall wall per room is usually enough. Depending on the knee wall height and the room layout, you can also place a bed, dresser, reading or cozy corner, or a sofa under the sloped ceiling. Good planning is everything.
Besides, there are many different house types. Don’t you have any idea of the kind of house you’d like? Haven’t you seen anything that appeals to you? Usually, you do have some kind of vision for your own house, right?!
Besides, there are many different house types. Don’t you have any idea of the kind of house you’d like? Haven’t you seen anything that appeals to you? Usually, you do have some kind of vision for your own house, right?!
Kisska86 schrieb:
What’s with everyone and their required floor space??? Does a large 3m (10 feet) wardrobe really have to fit on all four walls in a room?Not on all four walls, but there does need to be space for a wardrobe at all, and in a way that still allows the rest of the room to be used effectively. The more spacious the house, the easier this becomes, of course. It’s all a matter of budget.
Kisska86 schrieb:
Depending on the knee wall height and the room, you can also place a bed, dresser, reading or cozy corner, or even a couch under the sloped ceiling.You already mentioned it yourself: it depends on the knee wall height. My parents have been renting an attic apartment for many years, which I also lived in for some time. If I remember correctly, the knee wall height was 95 cm (37 inches) with about a 45° roof pitch. Even though none of us are particularly tall, I personally found that too low. Eventually, you stop hitting your head, but you still lose usable space because sofas, corner benches, beds, etc., can’t be placed against the wall. The bedroom closets and kitchen were custom-made, something that should probably be considered in the budget planning.
Since I lived there with my parents for a few years, I can understand the argument for “coziness,” but I’m also very familiar with all the drawbacks. Here are a few additional points not yet mentioned: I would not recommend roof windows for people who are light sleepers or very particular about cleanliness. Heavy snowfall often means that the roof windows are completely covered or require time-consuming snow removal.
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