ᐅ Additional Costs / Extra Charge for Taller Windows

Created on: 27 Apr 2020 15:54
T
Tolentino
Hello dear forum members,

In the scope of work description of my GÜs, it states that windows up to a maximum size of 2 x 2.25 meters (7 x 7.4 feet) are included as standard. The number of windows does not matter, as long as the structural engineering allows it.

Setting aside the economic practicality of this rule, some questions have arisen during the planning phase:
It now looks like we will have a clear ceiling height of 2.7 meters (8.9 feet) (depending on cost calculations). The architect recommended opting for window heights of about 2.32 meters (7.6 feet).

1. Question: Does that really make such a big difference?
2. Question: What would be a reasonable surcharge for 4 floor-to-ceiling windows?

Thank you and best regards,

Tolentino

P.S.: If interested, here is the house planning thread; from the linked post onward it becomes interesting due to current updates.
11ant29 Apr 2020 15:39
I could imagine possibly increasing the height of rooms and windows only on the ground floor.
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Tolentino29 Apr 2020 15:49
11ant schrieb:

I could imagine raising the height of rooms and windows possibly only on the ground floor.

Yes, I believe that’s how it is in the current plan. So, 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) ceiling height on the ground floor and 2.56 m (8 ft 5 in) ceiling height on the upper floor, if I’m reading the section correctly...
The extra cost for the windows has been requested. The architect kindly presented it in a way that it would look nicer and asked if 2.32 m (7 ft 7 in) would also be possible (so it was more like asking for permission rather than requesting an upgrade).
Tolentino30 Apr 2020 13:35
As mentioned in the other thread, the main contractor completely rejects the taller windows. The reason is that the supplier cannot make them higher than 2.25 meters (7 ft 5 in) because otherwise they would become too unstable... I am now considering leaving out the ground floor room elevation entirely...
11ant30 Apr 2020 13:43
Tolentino schrieb:

I'm now considering leaving out the ceiling height increase on the ground floor altogether...

Not a big deal, but
Tolentino schrieb:

The reason is that the supplier won’t go higher than 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in) because it would become unstable otherwise...

that’s nonsense. 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in), symmetrically divided, is no problem. Our manufacturers only started saying no above 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in), or charged extra. That’s for the element height, by the way, so plus the bottom panel for the floor construction.
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Tolentino30 Apr 2020 14:09
Well, some are only 1.63 meters (5 feet 4 inches) wide. But that doesn’t necessarily make them less stable, right?
Well, I guess he’s not interested in that. Maybe he’s reading here?

My partner and I have seen several show homes with a clear ceiling height of 2.50 meters (8 feet 2 inches), and we were always surprised (well, not anymore after the third time) when we were told that. So by now, I think that would be acceptable for us, especially if the proportion of the window height to the room height also fits better...
11ant30 Apr 2020 14:23
I have just measured for the first time in my apartment: the clear finished ceiling height is 251 cm (99 inches), and the lintel height is 212 cm (83 inches).
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/