Hello everyone,
My partner and I are now mentally preparing to build a very small house ourselves. A true tiny house would be too small for us, but houses of about 40 to 50 square meters (430 to 540 square feet) already meet our needs.
There are quite affordable providers here, like woodee and onoxa, which we generally like. On the other hand, you are tied to certain floor plans (at least the external dimensions). Also, since we don’t consider the minimum 2000 EUR per square meter (approximately $215 per square foot) to be really cheap, we want to design and build such a small house ourselves. Single-story, flat roof or pitched roof (probably better for planning permission), underfloor heating—so very similar to the providers’ models. Although I have never built a timber frame exterior wall before, I have done almost everything else (masonry, garage roof, all interior work including electrical and plumbing). Gas and electricity connections will, of course, be done by professionals.
My biggest question is whether this can be approved without special effort, that is, if it fits well with the neighboring buildings (we don’t have a plot yet, but it will be in Rhineland-Palatinate or Hesse in a small village where there is usually a mix of pre-war buildings, well-renovated houses, and new buildings—almost always with pitched roofs). Can you find an architect who will officially approve it for a reasonable fee, etc.? Do you have experience or tips, for example websites (I mostly found providers or blogs that seem sponsored, and American blogs don’t help much regarding German regulations).
It is not important initially whether the house will ever be transported. This is not planned.
Thanks in advance for any help!
My partner and I are now mentally preparing to build a very small house ourselves. A true tiny house would be too small for us, but houses of about 40 to 50 square meters (430 to 540 square feet) already meet our needs.
There are quite affordable providers here, like woodee and onoxa, which we generally like. On the other hand, you are tied to certain floor plans (at least the external dimensions). Also, since we don’t consider the minimum 2000 EUR per square meter (approximately $215 per square foot) to be really cheap, we want to design and build such a small house ourselves. Single-story, flat roof or pitched roof (probably better for planning permission), underfloor heating—so very similar to the providers’ models. Although I have never built a timber frame exterior wall before, I have done almost everything else (masonry, garage roof, all interior work including electrical and plumbing). Gas and electricity connections will, of course, be done by professionals.
My biggest question is whether this can be approved without special effort, that is, if it fits well with the neighboring buildings (we don’t have a plot yet, but it will be in Rhineland-Palatinate or Hesse in a small village where there is usually a mix of pre-war buildings, well-renovated houses, and new buildings—almost always with pitched roofs). Can you find an architect who will officially approve it for a reasonable fee, etc.? Do you have experience or tips, for example websites (I mostly found providers or blogs that seem sponsored, and American blogs don’t help much regarding German regulations).
It is not important initially whether the house will ever be transported. This is not planned.
Thanks in advance for any help!
nordanney schrieb:
Compared to your plan, it is expensive, that's true. However, in absolute terms, the mid-terrace house doesn't really sound expensive.
For example, I am offering a mid-terrace house with 129 m² (1388 sq ft) of living space + 240 m² (2583 sq ft) of land, built in 1970, with a small basement, which according to the realtor "needs to be awakened from a deep sleep" for K€ 569. It was spontaneously the cheapest "small" house on ImmoScout. But it is in the Düsseldorf catchment area... "Location, location, location"
N
nordanney18 Jun 2020 18:23benutzername1 schrieb:
To be honest, I’m still wondering how I’m going to reach 1,000 EUR/sqm.What are the costs for water/sewer/electricity/DSL?nordanney schrieb:
What are the costs for water/sewage/electricity/DSL? Using an example of a potential plot (we haven’t decided on any yet):
Electricity was under 1,000
Water and sewage around 4,000
Telephone about 250
The plot is fully serviced
I wanted to skip the slab foundation and pour isolated footings myself
A
Aphrodithe18 Jun 2020 18:38A very interesting project, I am following it with great interest but I don't believe everything will stay under 200,000! Is the financing secured?
Aphrodithe schrieb:
I’m following a very interesting project with great anticipation, but I don’t believe the all-in cost will stay under 200k! Is the financing secured?Glad to hear! Yes, that works.So, we have finally made some progress.
Instead of the initial 50 sqm (interior dimensions, not accounting for interior walls yet), we have now settled on 99 sqm (interior dimensions, before deducting interior walls). It seems @superzapp had a similar experience.
Construction method: Timber frame or solid construction. I am leaning towards solid, using Poroton blocks and a concrete slab. I haven’t calculated the price differences compared to the originally planned option with pier foundations and timber framing yet, but it will likely be significant. Whether I will do the concrete slab myself is still undecided. Formwork, reinforcement, etc. I can handle, but proper installation of the utility connections worries me. If something goes wrong there, access later on can be difficult and expensive.
Other than that, only the roof extension, electrical connection to the public grid, and window installation (possibly as DIY as well) will be contracted out to tradespeople.
Dimensions are 8 m x 14 m (26 ft x 46 ft) with a rafter gable roof, single-story.
We are still undecided about the energy source for heating and hot water. I prefer electric for everything since, first, the building will be well insulated; second, there will be no need for a gas connection; third, a solar system could be integrated; and if the underfloor heating runs on electricity as well, it provides direct warmth. The drawback or question is whether electricity will become extremely expensive, even using off-peak rates. Since the south-facing side will have many windows and only the kitchen, bathroom, and guest toilet on the north side require heating—while rooms on the south side will likely stay warm enough without heating—I tend to favor electricity (if it’s not sufficient, a gas connection can be added later).
A rough estimate puts me at 1,700 per sqm (square meter) without labor, although I have likely overestimated some items (concrete slab 18,000 EUR, photovoltaic system 20,000 EUR) and included a 10% contingency overall. If I can somehow get that down to 1,200 per sqm, I would be satisfied, as it seems there is simply not much room for reduction with solid construction.
Instead of the initial 50 sqm (interior dimensions, not accounting for interior walls yet), we have now settled on 99 sqm (interior dimensions, before deducting interior walls). It seems @superzapp had a similar experience.
Construction method: Timber frame or solid construction. I am leaning towards solid, using Poroton blocks and a concrete slab. I haven’t calculated the price differences compared to the originally planned option with pier foundations and timber framing yet, but it will likely be significant. Whether I will do the concrete slab myself is still undecided. Formwork, reinforcement, etc. I can handle, but proper installation of the utility connections worries me. If something goes wrong there, access later on can be difficult and expensive.
Other than that, only the roof extension, electrical connection to the public grid, and window installation (possibly as DIY as well) will be contracted out to tradespeople.
Dimensions are 8 m x 14 m (26 ft x 46 ft) with a rafter gable roof, single-story.
We are still undecided about the energy source for heating and hot water. I prefer electric for everything since, first, the building will be well insulated; second, there will be no need for a gas connection; third, a solar system could be integrated; and if the underfloor heating runs on electricity as well, it provides direct warmth. The drawback or question is whether electricity will become extremely expensive, even using off-peak rates. Since the south-facing side will have many windows and only the kitchen, bathroom, and guest toilet on the north side require heating—while rooms on the south side will likely stay warm enough without heating—I tend to favor electricity (if it’s not sufficient, a gas connection can be added later).
A rough estimate puts me at 1,700 per sqm (square meter) without labor, although I have likely overestimated some items (concrete slab 18,000 EUR, photovoltaic system 20,000 EUR) and included a 10% contingency overall. If I can somehow get that down to 1,200 per sqm, I would be satisfied, as it seems there is simply not much room for reduction with solid construction.
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