ᐅ What features did you include in your house, and what did you decide to leave out?
Created on: 30 Jan 2015 14:18
W
willWohnen
Hello,
When planning and building a house, you focus on the essentials and the budget. Some wishes get dropped along the way. But certain small luxuries or nice features are important to you, even if they are not strictly necessary, and you end up including them anyway.
For us, a heated conservatory was an unattainable dream. However, we treated ourselves to tiled, walk-in showers, even though they take up more space.
I would love to hear what you have given up and what you managed to include.
Best regards
When planning and building a house, you focus on the essentials and the budget. Some wishes get dropped along the way. But certain small luxuries or nice features are important to you, even if they are not strictly necessary, and you end up including them anyway.
For us, a heated conservatory was an unattainable dream. However, we treated ourselves to tiled, walk-in showers, even though they take up more space.
I would love to hear what you have given up and what you managed to include.
Best regards
willWohnen schrieb:
@Weimy: Didn’t you plan a room for washing and drying? This week, we even bought a ceiling-mounted dryer, which was briefly on offer at a “small price.” Since I’ve never used it before, I can’t really share any experience yet. It’s definitely meant as a solution that still allows you to use the center of the room for drying when needed. With 200 sqm (2150 sq ft), maybe you can even use a guest room for a portable dryer in winter, right? You can be a bit flexible after all.Hi,
yes, of course we have a storage/laundry room planned. That’s where the laundry will be dried in the future; most of it ends up in the dryer anyway. I just hope the space is enough. With 4 people – including one female in puberty – quite a lot accumulates. We don’t have a guest room... but I do have an extra storage room upstairs, that could work too...
@Bauexperte
We could have built a basement, but on the one hand our costs would have increased significantly and on the other hand we don’t need such a large basement. We have about 55 sqm (590 sq ft) of basement now and it’s already quite cluttered with unnecessary stuff. So we decided against it, and I’m also looking forward to not having to run down to the basement all the time and having everything on one level.
We planned our rooms (bedroom, dressing room, bathroom) and living room, kitchen, guest toilet all on one level, the ground floor, and moved the two children’s bedrooms, children’s bathroom, and study upstairs. Thanks to the very large ground floor, we have a very spacious first floor.
W
willWohnen15 Feb 2015 18:08@Bauexperte: You’re the one who said it yourself—the small amount of moisture from laundry doesn’t make a significant difference to the dryness of the air. So where exactly is the problem if I dry my clothes indoors? (And I don’t understand why you even consider the energy-consuming dryer as a better alternative.)
@Weimy: For the storage room, it really depends on what’s permanently stored there, haha. I also like it when the main rooms are all on the ground floor.
@Weimy: For the storage room, it really depends on what’s permanently stored there, haha. I also like it when the main rooms are all on the ground floor.
B
Bauexperte15 Feb 2015 18:22Hello,
Please do not take this out of context. I wrote: “And yes, controlled mechanical ventilation often causes dry air; a bit of moisture in a room—especially in a utility room—doesn’t really change much.” That is different from saying: “the small amount of moisture from laundry doesn’t make a relevant difference regarding dry air.”
With that attitude, in my opinion, you shouldn’t be washing, drying, blow-drying your hair, running a refrigerator, driving a car, or doing anything other than building a truly passive house.
Wet laundry adds moisture to the house. Since, due to the very airtight construction methods nowadays, controlled mechanical ventilation has become almost indispensable—especially to avoid moisture-related risks—it seems illogical to me to deliberately undermine the installation of controlled mechanical ventilation without a good reason.
Foolish regards
willWohnen schrieb:
@Bauexperte: You yourself said that the small amount of moisture from laundry doesn’t make a relevant difference regarding dry air.
Please do not take this out of context. I wrote: “And yes, controlled mechanical ventilation often causes dry air; a bit of moisture in a room—especially in a utility room—doesn’t really change much.” That is different from saying: “the small amount of moisture from laundry doesn’t make a relevant difference regarding dry air.”
willWohnen schrieb:
... And I also don’t understand why you present even the energy-hungry dryer as a better alternative.
With that attitude, in my opinion, you shouldn’t be washing, drying, blow-drying your hair, running a refrigerator, driving a car, or doing anything other than building a truly passive house.
Wet laundry adds moisture to the house. Since, due to the very airtight construction methods nowadays, controlled mechanical ventilation has become almost indispensable—especially to avoid moisture-related risks—it seems illogical to me to deliberately undermine the installation of controlled mechanical ventilation without a good reason.
Foolish regards
B
Bauexperte15 Feb 2015 18:30Hello,
If you read construction diaries where homeowners describe their projects with partners other than low-cost providers, you won’t encounter the problems you outlined. The vast majority of GCs, general contractors, construction managers, and architects in Germany work in the best interest of their clients, as they depend on recommendations.
Where there are reports of substantial additional costs, the low initial offer price was usually the trigger for signing the contract. I do not want to condemn low-cost providers here, as in my view they have their legitimate place. However, it is also important to recognize that some clients are completely resistant to learning and hope “their project will turn out fine,” even though the internet is full of contrary reports. Or how else would you explain that there are still construction diaries with the kind of issues you described?
Foolish regards
Mycraft schrieb:Believe me – it only makes sense when seen from the other side!
I am also aware that there are many "good" general contractors (GCs) out there... we would build with ours again anytime... but most companies operate differently... at least, that’s the impression I get when reading homeowners’ diaries and such... but I digress...
If you read construction diaries where homeowners describe their projects with partners other than low-cost providers, you won’t encounter the problems you outlined. The vast majority of GCs, general contractors, construction managers, and architects in Germany work in the best interest of their clients, as they depend on recommendations.
Where there are reports of substantial additional costs, the low initial offer price was usually the trigger for signing the contract. I do not want to condemn low-cost providers here, as in my view they have their legitimate place. However, it is also important to recognize that some clients are completely resistant to learning and hope “their project will turn out fine,” even though the internet is full of contrary reports. Or how else would you explain that there are still construction diaries with the kind of issues you described?
Foolish regards
B
Bauexperte15 Feb 2015 18:32Hello,
I just wanted to point out that a basement—even if it stands in water—does not have to become a money pit if the foundation recommendations from the soil expert and structural engineer are followed.
Best regards
Weimy schrieb:I'm with you on that.
We could have built a basement ...
I just wanted to point out that a basement—even if it stands in water—does not have to become a money pit if the foundation recommendations from the soil expert and structural engineer are followed.
Best regards
W
willWohnen16 Feb 2015 13:05Okay, I don’t have anything further to add about warts.
@Bauexperte: Sorry, but the repeated explanation still doesn’t convince me and doesn’t change the fact that I will confidently dry my laundry in the utility room inside the house.
@Masipulami: About the motorized lock—I’m asking if you mean at the front door? Can you probably lock it from your phone and things like that? Or is a motorized lock simply safer than a mechanical lock?
This is a really interesting thread.
@Bauexperte: Sorry, but the repeated explanation still doesn’t convince me and doesn’t change the fact that I will confidently dry my laundry in the utility room inside the house.
@Masipulami: About the motorized lock—I’m asking if you mean at the front door? Can you probably lock it from your phone and things like that? Or is a motorized lock simply safer than a mechanical lock?
This is a really interesting thread.
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