ᐅ Assessment & Assistance for a Semi-Detached House, Approximately 180 sqm, DIY Floor Plan
Created on: 10 Feb 2023 13:28
M
Mar_Mar
Hello everyone,
we have purchased a 337 m² (3623 ft²) plot on which we now want to build our semi-detached house. We are in discussions with various construction companies, but their approaches vary widely. Since we are often presented with floor plans based on our key specifications that we don’t like at all (often a standard run-of-the-mill semi-detached house), we have started to think about it ourselves. It’s also quite different that one company has a problem with the structural engineering for a ground floor measuring 8 x 12 m (26 x 39 ft), while another does not. Our wish is also to have the technical equipment on the attic floor (see separate thread).
Now I would like to get your opinion on our DIY floor plan. Does it make sense? What have we overlooked? Constructive suggestions are welcome, as I don’t really like, for example, the bathroom/office solution on the upper floor.
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 337 m² (3623 ft²)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio: 0.35
Floor area ratio: 0.7
Building envelope, building line and boundary: 12 m length (39 ft), plot is 11.5 m wide (38 ft), so effectively 8.5 m (28 ft)???
Edge development
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2.5
Roof style: pitched roof, 30 degrees, no knee wall
Architectural style
Garden side facing fully south
Maximum heights/limits: 12 m length (39 ft), 6.5 m eaves height (21 ft)
Further requirements: adjacent semi-detached house will also be built later without a basement with dimensions of 8.5 x 10.1 m (28 x 33 ft), smaller than ours
Homeowners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof shape, building type: no special requirements
Basement, floors: no basement, 2.5 floors
Number and age of residents: 38, 38, 2, x 😉
Room requirements ground floor, upper floor: ground floor airy, bright, spacious; upper floor 3 bedrooms, bathroom, office
Office: family use or home office? Home office
Number of overnight guests per year: a couple every three months or so
Open or closed architecture: open
Traditional or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: open with island
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: no
Music/sound system wall: no, TV on wall
Balcony, roof terrace: terrace (added later)
Garage, carport: none, as garage space here is very disadvantageous
Utility garden, greenhouse
Additional wishes/special features/daily routine, including reasons why something should or should not be
- House technology preferably in the attic since we usually spend most time on the ground floor and want plenty of space there
- Avoid standard floor plan with U-shaped staircase if possible, therefore the compromise of a V-shaped staircase with glass railing on the ground floor, open without storage under the stairs, winding stairs connecting ground floor and attic
- Lots of window area, lift-and-slide windows on the ground floor with external blinds because of south-facing side
- Kitchen and lounge somewhat separated and not too close to each other
- Ceiling height on the ground floor at least 2.65 m (8.7 ft)
- Make use of sloped ceilings in the attic space
House Design
Who designed it: DIY
What do you like most? Why? Open living space, open stairway
What do you dislike? Why? Bathroom/office on the upper floor
Price estimate according to architect/designer: 450k
Personal budget limit for house, including fittings: 550k
Preferred heating technology: heat pump
If you have to give up on something, which details/extensions
- Can be waived: pantry on ground floor, “even more” windows
- Cannot give up: separate office
Why is the design the way it is now? For example,
A mixture of many examples from various magazines…
What do you think makes it especially good or bad? Good because it is not standard and conveys a generous, bright sense of space
we have purchased a 337 m² (3623 ft²) plot on which we now want to build our semi-detached house. We are in discussions with various construction companies, but their approaches vary widely. Since we are often presented with floor plans based on our key specifications that we don’t like at all (often a standard run-of-the-mill semi-detached house), we have started to think about it ourselves. It’s also quite different that one company has a problem with the structural engineering for a ground floor measuring 8 x 12 m (26 x 39 ft), while another does not. Our wish is also to have the technical equipment on the attic floor (see separate thread).
Now I would like to get your opinion on our DIY floor plan. Does it make sense? What have we overlooked? Constructive suggestions are welcome, as I don’t really like, for example, the bathroom/office solution on the upper floor.
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 337 m² (3623 ft²)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio: 0.35
Floor area ratio: 0.7
Building envelope, building line and boundary: 12 m length (39 ft), plot is 11.5 m wide (38 ft), so effectively 8.5 m (28 ft)???
Edge development
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2.5
Roof style: pitched roof, 30 degrees, no knee wall
Architectural style
Garden side facing fully south
Maximum heights/limits: 12 m length (39 ft), 6.5 m eaves height (21 ft)
Further requirements: adjacent semi-detached house will also be built later without a basement with dimensions of 8.5 x 10.1 m (28 x 33 ft), smaller than ours
Homeowners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof shape, building type: no special requirements
Basement, floors: no basement, 2.5 floors
Number and age of residents: 38, 38, 2, x 😉
Room requirements ground floor, upper floor: ground floor airy, bright, spacious; upper floor 3 bedrooms, bathroom, office
Office: family use or home office? Home office
Number of overnight guests per year: a couple every three months or so
Open or closed architecture: open
Traditional or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: open with island
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: no
Music/sound system wall: no, TV on wall
Balcony, roof terrace: terrace (added later)
Garage, carport: none, as garage space here is very disadvantageous
Utility garden, greenhouse
Additional wishes/special features/daily routine, including reasons why something should or should not be
- House technology preferably in the attic since we usually spend most time on the ground floor and want plenty of space there
- Avoid standard floor plan with U-shaped staircase if possible, therefore the compromise of a V-shaped staircase with glass railing on the ground floor, open without storage under the stairs, winding stairs connecting ground floor and attic
- Lots of window area, lift-and-slide windows on the ground floor with external blinds because of south-facing side
- Kitchen and lounge somewhat separated and not too close to each other
- Ceiling height on the ground floor at least 2.65 m (8.7 ft)
- Make use of sloped ceilings in the attic space
House Design
Who designed it: DIY
What do you like most? Why? Open living space, open stairway
What do you dislike? Why? Bathroom/office on the upper floor
Price estimate according to architect/designer: 450k
Personal budget limit for house, including fittings: 550k
Preferred heating technology: heat pump
If you have to give up on something, which details/extensions
- Can be waived: pantry on ground floor, “even more” windows
- Cannot give up: separate office
Why is the design the way it is now? For example,
A mixture of many examples from various magazines…
What do you think makes it especially good or bad? Good because it is not standard and conveys a generous, bright sense of space
Hello again everyone :9
The last two weeks have been very intense. We have been talking with all the suppliers again to narrow it down to three.
The floor plan was optimized once more (stairs, attic, etc.), but this has somewhat taken a back seat. We want to focus on it again now.
We now have three offers that couldn’t be more different. For the “same” house (with some variations), there is a price range from 480,000 EUR to 680,000 EUR. Can anyone give me advice on how to make a proper comparison? I’ve started creating a detailed Excel sheet and already noticed points like the thickness of the foundation slab, earthworks, etc.
Two of the candidates build with expanded clay, one claims that 42.5cm (17 inches) walls correspond roughly to the KfW55 standard, and that a ventilation system wouldn’t be necessary (though I managed to get from him that window ventilation is used — which leaves a bad impression). The other expanded clay provider was quite surprised and asked how that should work. He said he could only achieve an ex-KfW55 standard with 49cm (19 inches) walls.
We are now a bit torn. The cheapest supplier builds with 42.5cm (17 inches) walls, which would naturally also provide more living space. However, distant acquaintances also bought a house from the same builder 10 years ago and shared their experiences with us, which unfortunately suggest that communication wasn’t entirely honest. We want to avoid surprises that could end up costing us dearly after saving 200,000 EUR. I also have a bad feeling when things seem too cheap.
The last two weeks have been very intense. We have been talking with all the suppliers again to narrow it down to three.
The floor plan was optimized once more (stairs, attic, etc.), but this has somewhat taken a back seat. We want to focus on it again now.
We now have three offers that couldn’t be more different. For the “same” house (with some variations), there is a price range from 480,000 EUR to 680,000 EUR. Can anyone give me advice on how to make a proper comparison? I’ve started creating a detailed Excel sheet and already noticed points like the thickness of the foundation slab, earthworks, etc.
Two of the candidates build with expanded clay, one claims that 42.5cm (17 inches) walls correspond roughly to the KfW55 standard, and that a ventilation system wouldn’t be necessary (though I managed to get from him that window ventilation is used — which leaves a bad impression). The other expanded clay provider was quite surprised and asked how that should work. He said he could only achieve an ex-KfW55 standard with 49cm (19 inches) walls.
We are now a bit torn. The cheapest supplier builds with 42.5cm (17 inches) walls, which would naturally also provide more living space. However, distant acquaintances also bought a house from the same builder 10 years ago and shared their experiences with us, which unfortunately suggest that communication wasn’t entirely honest. We want to avoid surprises that could end up costing us dearly after saving 200,000 EUR. I also have a bad feeling when things seem too cheap.
11ant schrieb:
I haven’t received anything from you yet, not even in the spam folder.Oh, sorry, I thought no one had replied in the thread anymore and just noticed it now. Should I send you a private message? Or am I missing something? 😳 🙄For completeness, here are the revised DIY floor plans. Most of the providers have now mostly adopted them as well. However, I don’t have them here because they keep being removed 🙄 🙄
I always find Katja’s suggestions very good, but in my specific case, a home office would be missing on the upper floor.
I always find Katja’s suggestions very good, but in my specific case, a home office would be missing on the upper floor.
Mar_Mar schrieb:
For the "same" house (with some variations) there is a price range from 480,000 EUR to 680,000 EUR. Can someone give me a tip on how to make a comparable assessment? Compare the construction and scope of services descriptions.
This will take several evenings. Also, be careful about what is not included or what needs to be provided by the builder/client.
Alternatively: get expert advice involved (for example, an architect).
A lot has already been said about the floor plans, but I still find them unsatisfactory (stairs, hallway, attic, etc.).
Mar_Mar schrieb:
Now we have three offers that could not be more different. For the "same" house (with some variations), there is a price range from 480,000 EUR to 680,000 EUR. Could someone give me advice on how to make these comparable? I have started creating a detailed Excel spreadsheet. Excel spreadsheets for comparing various points that cannot be represented purely parametrically, combined with the necessary addition of comment fields, are the best way to further develop an “apples to oranges” comparison beyond the “only fools reduce it to sums” approach. It is better to actively define the comparison criteria. It’s not rocket science, but I find it quicker to do it myself than to explain it to beginners.
Mar_Mar schrieb:
Should I message you privately? Or am I missing something? I had invited you repeatedly for that, and I interpreted your words
Mar_Mar schrieb:
Hi, it's me as having contacted me, but then I found nothing in my inbox (same name as here, at gmx.de).
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Mar_Mar schrieb:
I always find Katja’s suggestions very good, but in my specific case, there would be no study room on the upper floor. I don’t quite understand that. There is an office on the upper floor—do you need two? Or is the attic not going to be converted?
Mar_Mar schrieb:
Most of the providers have now largely adopted it that way as well. Oh dear, whoever you choose, please make sure you get proper plans drawn up by an architect. I don’t want to criticize your dedication, but you want to end up with something decent for your money in the end.
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