Hello,
My wife and I plan to start building in the first half of 2015 and are currently in the planning phase, looking for a contractor to help us realize our project. We already have a plot of land, so our total budget for the project is set at 300,000€ (approximately $320,000), which should include, for example, the kitchen, garage, and other features—excluding the garden.
Our current requirements are as follows:
- City villa with about 140 sqm (1,500 sq ft) of living space, including a basement
- Heating system: we are currently considering an air-to-water heat pump with underfloor heating and possibly photovoltaic panels (but this may change as we learn more about heating technologies)
- Open plan living/dining area, office, and shower toilet on the ground floor
- Bedroom with walk-in closet, two children’s rooms, and a bathroom on the upper floor
- Storage room, technical room with laundry facilities, and storage spaces in the basement
- External access to the basement
- Garage on the north side of the house with enough space to the house; the garage roof should be connected to the house roof to create a carport (basement access should be located under the carport)
- Possibly building with energy efficiency to take advantage of subsidies, if worthwhile (ideology comes second :p)
If I remember or think of additional details that we want to consider, I will update the list.
We currently have four requests for conventional solid construction and one offer from a prefabricated house manufacturer. We prefer conventional solid construction but wanted to have a comparison with a prefabricated house of the same size.
In the coming days, I will definitely provide floor plans, as I am also hoping for optimization suggestions in that area.
We appreciate any tips or advice.
My wife and I plan to start building in the first half of 2015 and are currently in the planning phase, looking for a contractor to help us realize our project. We already have a plot of land, so our total budget for the project is set at 300,000€ (approximately $320,000), which should include, for example, the kitchen, garage, and other features—excluding the garden.
Our current requirements are as follows:
- City villa with about 140 sqm (1,500 sq ft) of living space, including a basement
- Heating system: we are currently considering an air-to-water heat pump with underfloor heating and possibly photovoltaic panels (but this may change as we learn more about heating technologies)
- Open plan living/dining area, office, and shower toilet on the ground floor
- Bedroom with walk-in closet, two children’s rooms, and a bathroom on the upper floor
- Storage room, technical room with laundry facilities, and storage spaces in the basement
- External access to the basement
- Garage on the north side of the house with enough space to the house; the garage roof should be connected to the house roof to create a carport (basement access should be located under the carport)
- Possibly building with energy efficiency to take advantage of subsidies, if worthwhile (ideology comes second :p)
If I remember or think of additional details that we want to consider, I will update the list.
We currently have four requests for conventional solid construction and one offer from a prefabricated house manufacturer. We prefer conventional solid construction but wanted to have a comparison with a prefabricated house of the same size.
In the coming days, I will definitely provide floor plans, as I am also hoping for optimization suggestions in that area.
We appreciate any tips or advice.
B
Basti15032 Dec 2014 09:42I have a question, as we will be receiving another quote in the next few days. It mentions a wooden beam ceiling above the upper floor towards the roof. In another offer, a reinforced concrete slab similar to the other floor slabs is planned above the upper floor, which will be insulated.
My question is, which is the better option? And what kind of insulation should be applied in the roof area for each of these options?
According to the builder, the wooden beam ceiling will be insulated in a way that the attic becomes an unheated space. Would we need additional insulation at the roof with the reinforced concrete slab?
My question is, which is the better option? And what kind of insulation should be applied in the roof area for each of these options?
According to the builder, the wooden beam ceiling will be insulated in a way that the attic becomes an unheated space. Would we need additional insulation at the roof with the reinforced concrete slab?
B
Bauexperte2 Dec 2014 10:05Hello,
Best regards, Bauexperte
Basti1503 schrieb:Insulation here means that the insulation will be placed on top of the reinforced concrete slab. Besides, the connection between the concrete slab and the exterior walls is already a complex detail and must be executed very carefully. Therefore, additional costs may arise in the quote regarding this.
... In another offer, a reinforced concrete slab similar to the other floor slabs is planned above the upper floor, which will be insulated.
Basti1503 schrieb:That is the sensible option.
According to the developer, insulation will be installed in the timber beam ceiling here, so the attic will become an unheated space.
Basti1503 schrieb:No. But if you are going with a reinforced concrete slab, I would also recommend placing insulation in the sloped roof areas (just laying it loosely on the slab is not ideal in my opinion, mainly due to limited storage space) and considering double casement windows or gable windows for ventilation.
Would we still need to insulate the reinforced concrete slab in the roof accordingly?
Best regards, Bauexperte
B
Basti15032 Dec 2014 10:11Bauexperte schrieb:
No. But if it's a reinforced concrete ceiling, I would also install the insulation in the sloping roof areas (I personally wouldn’t prefer loose insulation lying on the ceiling, mainly because it limits the usable storage space) and consider double-hung windows or gable windows for ventilation.That’s true, it’s very impractical; in that case, you might need to start by installing OSB boards on the floor to make the attic accessible and usable for storage. Since it is going to be an urban villa, gable windows are not an option. But are double-hung windows necessary if the attic remains an unheated space and the insulation is installed in the wood beam ceiling?
D
Doc.Schnaggls2 Dec 2014 11:09Hello,
If possible, you should install the insulation on or within the intermediate ceiling and then make the floor above it walkable.
If you insulate the roof yourself, you also need to regularly ventilate the cold space under the roof to prevent mold growth.
Another option would be to connect the attic space to the mechanical ventilation system, if one is installed.
Best regards,
Dirk
If possible, you should install the insulation on or within the intermediate ceiling and then make the floor above it walkable.
If you insulate the roof yourself, you also need to regularly ventilate the cold space under the roof to prevent mold growth.
Another option would be to connect the attic space to the mechanical ventilation system, if one is installed.
Best regards,
Dirk
B
Basti15032 Dec 2014 11:13Great, thank you very much for the information!
That was pretty much what I had in mind.
That was pretty much what I had in mind.
B
Basti150310 Dec 2014 11:19Exciting pre-Christmas period. We are slowly receiving the drawings from all the companies we contacted and gradually getting the corresponding quotes. Unfortunately, the new drawings are subject to copyright, so I am not allowed to upload them.
However, several floor plans have emerged. They all resemble the one already posted here. Some are slightly larger, but each is more optimized. It’s clear that we have incorporated insights from every conversation into the new floor plans.
On Friday, we have another meeting with the developer of the floor plan posted here. The discussion will focus on alternative heat pumps and further optimization of the floor plan. We have been told multiple times that the approximately 8sqm (86 sqft) kitchen in this floor plan is too small for an island, and that kitchen island, alongside the walk-in closet in the master bedroom, is my wife’s second big wish that she does not want to give up.
So, some adjustments are needed again. There might also be a chance to include a pantry, as others have done.
But it is surprising what 10sqm (108 sqft) more living space means for a higher price...
However, several floor plans have emerged. They all resemble the one already posted here. Some are slightly larger, but each is more optimized. It’s clear that we have incorporated insights from every conversation into the new floor plans.
On Friday, we have another meeting with the developer of the floor plan posted here. The discussion will focus on alternative heat pumps and further optimization of the floor plan. We have been told multiple times that the approximately 8sqm (86 sqft) kitchen in this floor plan is too small for an island, and that kitchen island, alongside the walk-in closet in the master bedroom, is my wife’s second big wish that she does not want to give up.
So, some adjustments are needed again. There might also be a chance to include a pantry, as others have done.
But it is surprising what 10sqm (108 sqft) more living space means for a higher price...
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