Hello,
to explain my question, I need to provide some background.
We live on a 600sqm (6458 sq ft) plot of land, with a settlement house from the 1950s that has 140sqm (1507 sq ft) of living space (the upper floor is empty, and we use the ground floor for storage and as a hobby area). Additionally, there is an extension attached to the settlement house, measuring 150sqm (1615 sq ft) (18 meters long and 5 meters wide (59 feet long and 16 feet wide), with two stories). We live in this extension with our two children. Both buildings are directly connected on the ground floor.
The extension dates from 1970 and is in excellent condition. We completely renovated it. It is connected to the heating system of the settlement house (an oil condensing boiler from 2010).
Now, due to the layout of the extension (long and narrow), we have three bedrooms, but one is only 9sqm (97 sq ft), and the other two are each 16sqm (172 sq ft), and there is no second bathroom. Therefore, we want to move the master bedroom with a walk-in closet into the settlement house.
However, if we want to use the settlement house for living purposes, several things need to be done:
1. The roof is from the 1950s and is uninsulated.
2. The facade is made of 30cm (12 inches) pumice stone and needs insulation.
3. The ceilings are creaky wooden beam ceilings and need some attention.
4. The electrical and water installations need to be renewed.
5. A new front door is required.
Now I am wondering if it might make more sense to demolish the settlement house and build a new house on top of the existing basement, which protrudes 80cm (31 inches) above ground level. The new house would have the same dimensions as the current one. I would design the new house with only one bedroom, a walk-in closet, and a bathroom. The rest would remain unfinished and unused until one of the children is old enough.
What do you think? Is it financially better to renovate or to build a new house?
Best regards from Untermain,
Linus
to explain my question, I need to provide some background.
We live on a 600sqm (6458 sq ft) plot of land, with a settlement house from the 1950s that has 140sqm (1507 sq ft) of living space (the upper floor is empty, and we use the ground floor for storage and as a hobby area). Additionally, there is an extension attached to the settlement house, measuring 150sqm (1615 sq ft) (18 meters long and 5 meters wide (59 feet long and 16 feet wide), with two stories). We live in this extension with our two children. Both buildings are directly connected on the ground floor.
The extension dates from 1970 and is in excellent condition. We completely renovated it. It is connected to the heating system of the settlement house (an oil condensing boiler from 2010).
Now, due to the layout of the extension (long and narrow), we have three bedrooms, but one is only 9sqm (97 sq ft), and the other two are each 16sqm (172 sq ft), and there is no second bathroom. Therefore, we want to move the master bedroom with a walk-in closet into the settlement house.
However, if we want to use the settlement house for living purposes, several things need to be done:
1. The roof is from the 1950s and is uninsulated.
2. The facade is made of 30cm (12 inches) pumice stone and needs insulation.
3. The ceilings are creaky wooden beam ceilings and need some attention.
4. The electrical and water installations need to be renewed.
5. A new front door is required.
Now I am wondering if it might make more sense to demolish the settlement house and build a new house on top of the existing basement, which protrudes 80cm (31 inches) above ground level. The new house would have the same dimensions as the current one. I would design the new house with only one bedroom, a walk-in closet, and a bathroom. The rest would remain unfinished and unused until one of the children is old enough.
What do you think? Is it financially better to renovate or to build a new house?
Best regards from Untermain,
Linus
anlianli schrieb:
If we want to use the settlement house for residential purposes, quite a few things need to be done.
1. The roof dates from the 1950s and is not insulated.
2. The facade is made of 1930s pumice stone and would need insulation.
3. The ceilings are creaking wooden beam ceilings, which would need some work.
4. The electrical and plumbing systems would also have to be replaced.
5. A new front door....
So the question would be, what is the basic condition of the settlement house otherwise? Here are some thoughts in order:
Regarding 1: If the condition of the roof frame is good, then that should be doable. You need to check whether the insulation can be installed as required or if the roof frame can’t support it. Otherwise, the roof frame would need to be replaced, which is also feasible.
Regarding 2: That should be quite manageable for a craftsman and is typically required for new builds as well.
Regarding 3: Are the wooden beams creaking? Or is it more likely the floorboards laid on top? Those can be replaced — I did that myself in my 1900s house, including leveling.
Regarding 4: Depending on the house’s construction, this is usually not a problem, and especially while unoccupied, it’s easier to work on.
Regarding 5: That should be the least of your concerns!
I would definitely first check the building’s structural condition and whether the layout of the rooms otherwise suits your needs. If that’s the case or can be achieved without too much effort, I would go for renovation.
Hello,
Regarding point 1: The roof frame is quite damaged by woodworms. Although it seems that there are no new infestations, some beams are severely weakened. The spaces between the beams are filled with bistre bricks.
Regarding point 2: Yes, you are right.
Regarding point 3: In one room, the entire ceiling vibrates when someone walks upstairs. There is a very beautiful glued parquet floor, so I hesitate to remove it before I have made a decision.
Regarding point 1: The roof frame is quite damaged by woodworms. Although it seems that there are no new infestations, some beams are severely weakened. The spaces between the beams are filled with bistre bricks.
Regarding point 2: Yes, you are right.
Regarding point 3: In one room, the entire ceiling vibrates when someone walks upstairs. There is a very beautiful glued parquet floor, so I hesitate to remove it before I have made a decision.
cschiko schrieb:
and whether the layout of the rooms fits otherwise. That would be my "main argument" on the table side "against new construction": that the requirements regarding the rooms of a future adult-child apartment can hardly be defined yet.
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