H
Honigkuchen17 Feb 2009 14:10Hello everyone,
we’re entering the critical phase – I’ve identified architects and will be contacting them this week; of course, I’ll need to present our basic idea for a cost estimate.
- A question for you:
While planning, I had an idea and would like to ask the experts among you whether it’s a good one.
We have a slightly sloped plot (difference in height from the street at the top to the end of the building area at the bottom, i.e., down towards the garden) of about 3-4 meters (10-13 feet).
The lowest floor would be at garden level, the floor above that would be at street level, so that would be the ground floor, and above that there would be an additional finished attic floor (or one prepared for finishing).
It is planned as a low-energy house (somewhere between passive house and KfW40 standard).
Since we won’t be using the lowest floor for living in winter anyway (except for guests occasionally), I wanted to ask if you could approve my idea of designing the garden-level floor as a "concrete block" thermally separated from the building envelope, which would basically comply with the new energy-saving regulations, and could be heated cost-effectively for example with underfloor heating. However, the expensive thermal envelope, i.e., the walls about 50 cm (20 inches) thick, would only apply to the ground floor and attic floor.
Or is that a contradiction?
That is, if I have underfloor heating operated by the same system in all floors, is it still thermally separated at all?
I have read that lightweight concrete also has good thermal insulation properties, so if a guest were to stay overnight in the garden-level floor, they wouldn’t freeze, right?
Also, real basements, meaning those completely underground, which our garden-level floor would only be partially because of the slope, are usually concrete basements, from what I’ve read.
So it cannot be that bad to use concrete, especially if later on it is partially converted into a living basement, right?
The slope only has drainage water, no groundwater, so there is no water pressure; the soil is reportedly a very clayey silt, which retains floodwater and has very limited infiltration.
I would appreciate it if you could share your experiences.
Building a massive low-energy house is certainly not cheap, and prefabricated concrete components or even complete prefabricated concrete basements are supposed to be very cost-effective in comparison, right?
Many thanks in advance and best regards,
Honigkuchen
we’re entering the critical phase – I’ve identified architects and will be contacting them this week; of course, I’ll need to present our basic idea for a cost estimate.
- A question for you:
While planning, I had an idea and would like to ask the experts among you whether it’s a good one.
We have a slightly sloped plot (difference in height from the street at the top to the end of the building area at the bottom, i.e., down towards the garden) of about 3-4 meters (10-13 feet).
The lowest floor would be at garden level, the floor above that would be at street level, so that would be the ground floor, and above that there would be an additional finished attic floor (or one prepared for finishing).
It is planned as a low-energy house (somewhere between passive house and KfW40 standard).
Since we won’t be using the lowest floor for living in winter anyway (except for guests occasionally), I wanted to ask if you could approve my idea of designing the garden-level floor as a "concrete block" thermally separated from the building envelope, which would basically comply with the new energy-saving regulations, and could be heated cost-effectively for example with underfloor heating. However, the expensive thermal envelope, i.e., the walls about 50 cm (20 inches) thick, would only apply to the ground floor and attic floor.
Or is that a contradiction?
That is, if I have underfloor heating operated by the same system in all floors, is it still thermally separated at all?
I have read that lightweight concrete also has good thermal insulation properties, so if a guest were to stay overnight in the garden-level floor, they wouldn’t freeze, right?
Also, real basements, meaning those completely underground, which our garden-level floor would only be partially because of the slope, are usually concrete basements, from what I’ve read.
So it cannot be that bad to use concrete, especially if later on it is partially converted into a living basement, right?
The slope only has drainage water, no groundwater, so there is no water pressure; the soil is reportedly a very clayey silt, which retains floodwater and has very limited infiltration.
I would appreciate it if you could share your experiences.
Building a massive low-energy house is certainly not cheap, and prefabricated concrete components or even complete prefabricated concrete basements are supposed to be very cost-effective in comparison, right?
Many thanks in advance and best regards,
Honigkuchen
H
Honigkuchen17 Feb 2009 14:13Here is an overview of the planned rooms, if needed:
The garden level would only be used in summer or on warm days, since it has direct access to the garden.
It will have a closed (walled) living space facing the garden that could serve as a guest room. The adjacent room (open) will be a kind of small kitchenette. Otherwise, the garden level will mainly be used for technical equipment, storage, pantry, etc.
At the very beginning, there will be no living spaces like a guest room or kitchenette there, as there won’t be any interior partition walls yet for cost reasons. (Except for walls that are structurally necessary.)
The ground floor will be the main living area, including an open living/dining/kitchen space, a bathroom, and one multipurpose room (bedroom/guest room/possibly a children’s room later).
The top floor will include the bedroom, bathroom, a small studio, and possibly a small library or guest room/additional children’s room.
There are two of us, and the plan is for 1 to 2 children.
We would like to live on the ground floor at first. Later, when the first (or only) child arrives, we would move into the finished top floor, with the child then occupying the ground floor. If a second child comes, I would need to know if the garden level—being a concrete structure—can stay comfortably warm with underfloor heating if the second child’s room would be there.
Best regards,
Honigkuchen
The garden level would only be used in summer or on warm days, since it has direct access to the garden.
It will have a closed (walled) living space facing the garden that could serve as a guest room. The adjacent room (open) will be a kind of small kitchenette. Otherwise, the garden level will mainly be used for technical equipment, storage, pantry, etc.
At the very beginning, there will be no living spaces like a guest room or kitchenette there, as there won’t be any interior partition walls yet for cost reasons. (Except for walls that are structurally necessary.)
The ground floor will be the main living area, including an open living/dining/kitchen space, a bathroom, and one multipurpose room (bedroom/guest room/possibly a children’s room later).
The top floor will include the bedroom, bathroom, a small studio, and possibly a small library or guest room/additional children’s room.
There are two of us, and the plan is for 1 to 2 children.
We would like to live on the ground floor at first. Later, when the first (or only) child arrives, we would move into the finished top floor, with the child then occupying the ground floor. If a second child comes, I would need to know if the garden level—being a concrete structure—can stay comfortably warm with underfloor heating if the second child’s room would be there.
Best regards,
Honigkuchen
H
Honigkuchen17 Feb 2009 14:14So, here is the third post, so it’s not too much at once while reading.. I have different questions 🙂
Question regarding the subsidized KfW loan:
Am I correct in assuming that for the energy balance, the ENTIRE HOUSE, including the concrete block separated from the thermal envelope, is taken into account, even if at first there are no living spaces designated there, but officially only storage rooms/cellar rooms?
Underfloor heating:
Is it worthwhile to have underfloor heating installed everywhere right away, including in the "concrete block"? Maybe so that the "partial basement" does not become damp at all, or so the moisture in the screed and from the soil water seeping in from the slope evaporates directly?
We will have a controlled ventilation system, so moisture removal won’t be an issue.
Thanks,
Honigkuchen
Question regarding the subsidized KfW loan:
Am I correct in assuming that for the energy balance, the ENTIRE HOUSE, including the concrete block separated from the thermal envelope, is taken into account, even if at first there are no living spaces designated there, but officially only storage rooms/cellar rooms?
Underfloor heating:
Is it worthwhile to have underfloor heating installed everywhere right away, including in the "concrete block"? Maybe so that the "partial basement" does not become damp at all, or so the moisture in the screed and from the soil water seeping in from the slope evaporates directly?
We will have a controlled ventilation system, so moisture removal won’t be an issue.
Thanks,
Honigkuchen
Hello my goodness, that is quite a lot all at once. Unfortunately, I can't really answer most of your questions because I’m not familiar with them. But as someone affected by water damage, I can only advise you to choose water-repellent concrete. Especially on a slope, you are likely to be more affected by heavy rain than others.
Best regards, Helen
Best regards, Helen
H
Honigkuchen18 Feb 2009 16:43Hehehe… they’re all just building blocks 😀
Hello Michi,
You’re missing something very important:
The whole house, when looked at objectively, is basically just a block!
That includes the nice low-energy house behind or on top of it.
It all depends on how you arrange the blocks, what flooring you choose, what colors or wallpaper you use on the walls, etc., right?
I’m definitely not going to leave a concrete block gray! For heaven’s sake 😀
- Our future double garage (basically another concrete block) will be painted green, for example.
In the entrance area block with stairs and so on, I’m planning to use mostly silver tones, expensive wallpaper, possibly stylish slate flooring, silver accessories, and so forth—then you wouldn’t even notice the concrete underneath, would you?
Best regards,
Honigkuchen
Michi schrieb:
Sorry, but I have to say that a concrete block is not attractive!!! Well, if you like it, that’s fine, but it wouldn’t be for me.
Hello Michi,
You’re missing something very important:
The whole house, when looked at objectively, is basically just a block!
That includes the nice low-energy house behind or on top of it.
It all depends on how you arrange the blocks, what flooring you choose, what colors or wallpaper you use on the walls, etc., right?
I’m definitely not going to leave a concrete block gray! For heaven’s sake 😀
- Our future double garage (basically another concrete block) will be painted green, for example.
In the entrance area block with stairs and so on, I’m planning to use mostly silver tones, expensive wallpaper, possibly stylish slate flooring, silver accessories, and so forth—then you wouldn’t even notice the concrete underneath, would you?
Best regards,
Honigkuchen
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