ᐅ Comparison of Solid (Masonry) Houses and Prefabricated Houses
Created on: 29 Aug 2012 13:32
V
VanTide
Hello everyone,
we are currently planning a 140 m² (1,507 ft²) house on a 500 m² (5,382 ft²) plot of land.
There are only two providers left in the running: one prefab house supplier and one traditional masonry builder.
We want to build with an air-to-water heat pump and underfloor heating, including a 4 kW photovoltaic system to balance out electricity costs in the long term.
The prefab house provider builds to the KfW 55 standard and estimates monthly operating costs for the heat pump at 35 euros.
The masonry builder uses conventional bricks and advises against insulation according to the KfW 70 standard, which would cost 12,000 euros more. Their argument is that heat pump costs would be around 65 euros per month, and with KfW 70 insulation, only about 6 euros per month could be saved. To recover the 12,000 euro investment, it would take 200 months, so it is not worthwhile.
What is your opinion on this topic? Do you have any experience, and how do you assess my approach? Would you plan the house differently?
Thank you very much and good luck,
Andre
we are currently planning a 140 m² (1,507 ft²) house on a 500 m² (5,382 ft²) plot of land.
There are only two providers left in the running: one prefab house supplier and one traditional masonry builder.
We want to build with an air-to-water heat pump and underfloor heating, including a 4 kW photovoltaic system to balance out electricity costs in the long term.
The prefab house provider builds to the KfW 55 standard and estimates monthly operating costs for the heat pump at 35 euros.
The masonry builder uses conventional bricks and advises against insulation according to the KfW 70 standard, which would cost 12,000 euros more. Their argument is that heat pump costs would be around 65 euros per month, and with KfW 70 insulation, only about 6 euros per month could be saved. To recover the 12,000 euro investment, it would take 200 months, so it is not worthwhile.
What is your opinion on this topic? Do you have any experience, and how do you assess my approach? Would you plan the house differently?
Thank you very much and good luck,
Andre
Claus schrieb:
That's right... it's only 119,500^^Could you share some details about your build? It's hard to make sense of the numbers without more information...
Good morning,
What kind of details would you like to know?
It’s a “standard” residential house, one and a half stories, with one carport and one garage. The carport is located between the house and the garage, allowing the space above the garage to be used. Whether that space is used as living area or storage doesn’t matter here.
The carpenter’s quote for the prefab house is 207,000 € including the roof, roofing sheet metal work, chimney, screed, roof windows, exterior plaster, and wooden staircase. Foundation, prefabricated garage, and drainage around the house are not included in this.
The quote for the solid construction house is 70,000 € for the shell (including foundation and garage) and 54,000 € for the roof (including roofing sheet metal work and double casement windows).
What kind of details would you like to know?
It’s a “standard” residential house, one and a half stories, with one carport and one garage. The carport is located between the house and the garage, allowing the space above the garage to be used. Whether that space is used as living area or storage doesn’t matter here.
The carpenter’s quote for the prefab house is 207,000 € including the roof, roofing sheet metal work, chimney, screed, roof windows, exterior plaster, and wooden staircase. Foundation, prefabricated garage, and drainage around the house are not included in this.
The quote for the solid construction house is 70,000 € for the shell (including foundation and garage) and 54,000 € for the roof (including roofing sheet metal work and double casement windows).
You can only compare offers if the final energy demand is the same. Key factors are insulation, U-values, and fittings.
I can include a sink in an offer for €20 or one for €200. I can use tiles costing €10 per square meter (11 USD per square yard) or tiles for €40 per square meter (44 USD per square yard). That explains huge price differences.
In general, you get what you pay for. If the final figure is more important to you than the materials used, then you shouldn’t complain later.
We bought our prefab house completely for €235,000 (without additional construction costs). It is a KfW 55 standard house, with some extras and almost 150 square meters (1,615 square feet). I’m sure you can still save a few thousand euros, but not huge amounts.
When we compared providers, that was almost the highest price. There were cheaper options offering turnkey homes starting at €150,000 (without additional costs), but I did not trust them. My guess is those who believe it will end up paying more in the end.
I can include a sink in an offer for €20 or one for €200. I can use tiles costing €10 per square meter (11 USD per square yard) or tiles for €40 per square meter (44 USD per square yard). That explains huge price differences.
In general, you get what you pay for. If the final figure is more important to you than the materials used, then you shouldn’t complain later.
We bought our prefab house completely for €235,000 (without additional construction costs). It is a KfW 55 standard house, with some extras and almost 150 square meters (1,615 square feet). I’m sure you can still save a few thousand euros, but not huge amounts.
When we compared providers, that was almost the highest price. There were cheaper options offering turnkey homes starting at €150,000 (without additional costs), but I did not trust them. My guess is those who believe it will end up paying more in the end.
Claus schrieb:
Good morning,
What kind of details do you want to know?
It’s a “standard” residential house, 1 1/2 stories, 1 carport, 1 garage, with the carport located between the house and the garage so that the space above the garage can still be used. Whether that space is used as living area or storage doesn’t matter here.
The carpenter’s offer for the prefab house amounts to €207,000 (including the roof, sheet metal work, chimney, screed, roof windows, facade plaster, and wooden staircase). The foundation, prefabricated garage, and drainage around the house are not included here yet.
The offer for the solid/masonry house is €70,000 for the shell construction (including foundation and garage) and €54,000 for the roof (including sheet metal work and double casement window).How large will the house be, basement, etc...
How exactly can the timber frame house cost €360,000 or €207,000?
@Der Da
The question here is not about the price, because I also believe that you end up paying more if you try to save too much. Of course, I could have inquired with some low-cost providers, but I am not a fan of Polish "specialist workers." I did not have an energy calculation done for the prefab house, but even if it were KfW 55, I don’t see the value in it here. Above all, I believe that a wooden frame house requires a mechanical ventilation system because it is simply too airtight.
Another question would be: When did you build or have your house built? A KfW 55 standard from five years ago is not the same as KfW 55 today.
@Baufie
Those who can read clearly have an advantage. I listed everything that was included with the wooden frame house. It should be obvious that additional costs apply for other trades such as heating, electricity, windows/doors, and fittings like the kitchen, flooring, and bathroom, right?
The question here is not about the price, because I also believe that you end up paying more if you try to save too much. Of course, I could have inquired with some low-cost providers, but I am not a fan of Polish "specialist workers." I did not have an energy calculation done for the prefab house, but even if it were KfW 55, I don’t see the value in it here. Above all, I believe that a wooden frame house requires a mechanical ventilation system because it is simply too airtight.
Another question would be: When did you build or have your house built? A KfW 55 standard from five years ago is not the same as KfW 55 today.
@Baufie
Those who can read clearly have an advantage. I listed everything that was included with the wooden frame house. It should be obvious that additional costs apply for other trades such as heating, electricity, windows/doors, and fittings like the kitchen, flooring, and bathroom, right?
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