ᐅ Building an End-Terrace House as a Self-Managed Project with a General Contractor

Created on: 27 May 2019 10:48
G
goalkeeper
Hello everyone,

some of you might have already followed one of my threads about us having to or being allowed to build our end-terrace house on our own responsibility – depending on how you look at it. This means that we are buying an end-terrace plot (215 sqm (2315 sq ft)) in a new development area in the Rhein-Neckar district and will be building on it ourselves – but in coordination with our two terrace neighbors.

The municipality, which sold the plots through a local resident model, ideally wanted applicants to apply as a complete housing group with several families and then build accordingly with a general contractor, construction manager, or architect. Of course, that didn’t really work out, so now there are only individual applicants and also homeowners.

After we were awarded the plot, the addresses of the other terrace neighbors were shared to discuss certain matters, such as roof style, whether or not to have a basement, etc. It was immediately clear that everyone preferred to do their own thing. However, we were still able to agree that the housing group will have a gable roof with a pitch of 35 to 40 degrees (within this 5-degree range).

As the end house, we will build without a basement, while the middle house and the other end house will have basements. This obviously presents a challenge as we would have to make a deep foundation or simply skip it, and the middle house would have to support us, as we will start construction first. The current agreement with the middle house is that we will build a deeper foundation at his expense, as supporting our house later on would be considerably more expensive for him.

We are currently close to signing with the construction manager, the notarization appointment for the plot is at the end of June, and we hope to start construction in the fall of this year. Meanwhile, several other freely planned housing groups are being built around us, which might get in the way with their cranes.

I will document the progress here from time to time – such a self-planned terraced house doesn’t come along very often.
OWLer24 May 2022 11:42
Wow, not everyone can be as organized as your general contractor!

I hope the crane doesn’t end up on your bill.
G
goalkeeper
24 May 2022 11:56
OWLer schrieb:

Wow, not everyone can be as organized as your foreman!

I hope the crane doesn’t end up on your bill.


No, no… that’s on him. However, he did fill the garden of the “favorite neighbor” and made a garden across the street. That will probably be handled somehow...

We need the space because over the weekend 20 cubic meters (25.9 cubic yards) of topsoil and several wheelbarrow loads are waiting for me and my helpers… 🙄
T
TmMike_2
24 May 2022 12:00
@goalkeeper 😀 Why didn’t you bring it to the garden shed with a wheel loader beforehand?
G
goalkeeper
24 May 2022 12:06
TmMike_2 schrieb:

@goalkeeper 😀 Why didn’t you bring the wheel loader in before the garden shed was built?

There is no room to pass on either side.
G
goalkeeper
24 Jun 2022 16:18
So… The terrace is almost finished. A bit of silicone sealing is still needed in some spots, as well as a thorough cleaning of the tiles after grouting yesterday, and of course a little decoration here and there.

In 1.5 weeks, both vertical awnings will be installed – we will order the large under-glass awning in winter anyway, as the delivery time is 12–13 weeks. Until then, the temporary sunshade will suffice.

Gedeckter Gartentisch mit Stühlen unter einer Pergola auf der Terrasse; grüne Wiese daneben.


Garten-Terrasse mit schwarzer Lounge-Sitzgruppe, Esstisch, Grill, Pool unter Pergola.
Y
Ysop***
24 Jun 2022 16:36
Silly question: Can your neighbor still plaster their house, or can the canopy be easily removed for that?