Hello! We are in the very early planning stage of our single-family house. Without adding specific connections and electrical planning details yet, we created a floor plan with doors and windows to roughly calculate all the areas. Below, I have listed some cost estimates for which I am quite uncertain and would appreciate some advice.
The plan is to build a single-family house in Brandenburg (near Berlin) with a built-up area of 11.7m * 10.37m (38.4 ft * 34 ft) including a basement with a waterproof concrete shell ("white tank"). The construction style is solid with a high-quality clinker brick facade (with a distinctive color rather than a standard red tone). In terms of energy measures, besides the solid two-shell construction with good insulation (e.g., mineral wool) and correspondingly insulated roof, basement/foundation slab, and windows, only a geothermal heat pump will be installed, which is very well suited for this region (constant year-round ground temperature above 10°C (50°F) from 25m (82 ft) depth). From a cost-benefit perspective, I am not very enthusiastic about photovoltaic or solar thermal systems. Also, we do not want a mechanical ventilation system or similar because we have found them all disturbingly noisy so far (including the one in our current rental apartment), at least I do; my fiancée is a bit less sensitive.
I would now like some feedback on how realistic these estimates are:
Deep drilling approximately 100 meters (328 ft) total = 3,900 EUR
Heat pump, e.g., geoTherm Plus with a seasonal performance factor above 4 = 7,000 EUR
Bamboo parquet approx. 190 m² (2,045 sq ft) = 5,700 EUR
Tiles (approx. 190 m²) including tiled walls and high-quality tiles in the entrance area = 7,600 EUR
Insulating material approx. 250 m² (2,691 sq ft) with 14 cm (5.5 in) thickness = 2,500 EUR
Facing bricks / clinker bricks approx. 250 m² = 7,500 EUR
Poroton perforated bricks + interior plaster approx. 250 m² = 12,500 EUR
Underfloor heating approx. 250 m² (including partial heating of basement rooms) = 12,500 EUR
Basement with waterproof concrete shell approx. 80 m² (861 sq ft) usable area = 60,000 EUR
Windows and doors, roughly 25 pieces = 8,750 EUR
Additional construction costs (utility connections to the street) excluding official fees and construction water/electricity = 15,000 EUR
Altogether, my calculation (which also includes furniture, energy consulting, and similar items) comes to just over 200,000 EUR in material costs. However, as I mentioned, I am still quite uncertain about some of the above estimates.
For labor costs (wages), I have assumed a maximum of 15 skilled workers over a construction period of up to 6 months (with a construction time guarantee) amounting to 180,000 EUR. Is this a realistic assumption? Are significantly more or fewer skilled workers usually involved?
How would you rate the Vaillant appliances?
Thank you in advance for any support!
The plan is to build a single-family house in Brandenburg (near Berlin) with a built-up area of 11.7m * 10.37m (38.4 ft * 34 ft) including a basement with a waterproof concrete shell ("white tank"). The construction style is solid with a high-quality clinker brick facade (with a distinctive color rather than a standard red tone). In terms of energy measures, besides the solid two-shell construction with good insulation (e.g., mineral wool) and correspondingly insulated roof, basement/foundation slab, and windows, only a geothermal heat pump will be installed, which is very well suited for this region (constant year-round ground temperature above 10°C (50°F) from 25m (82 ft) depth). From a cost-benefit perspective, I am not very enthusiastic about photovoltaic or solar thermal systems. Also, we do not want a mechanical ventilation system or similar because we have found them all disturbingly noisy so far (including the one in our current rental apartment), at least I do; my fiancée is a bit less sensitive.
I would now like some feedback on how realistic these estimates are:
Deep drilling approximately 100 meters (328 ft) total = 3,900 EUR
Heat pump, e.g., geoTherm Plus with a seasonal performance factor above 4 = 7,000 EUR
Bamboo parquet approx. 190 m² (2,045 sq ft) = 5,700 EUR
Tiles (approx. 190 m²) including tiled walls and high-quality tiles in the entrance area = 7,600 EUR
Insulating material approx. 250 m² (2,691 sq ft) with 14 cm (5.5 in) thickness = 2,500 EUR
Facing bricks / clinker bricks approx. 250 m² = 7,500 EUR
Poroton perforated bricks + interior plaster approx. 250 m² = 12,500 EUR
Underfloor heating approx. 250 m² (including partial heating of basement rooms) = 12,500 EUR
Basement with waterproof concrete shell approx. 80 m² (861 sq ft) usable area = 60,000 EUR
Windows and doors, roughly 25 pieces = 8,750 EUR
Additional construction costs (utility connections to the street) excluding official fees and construction water/electricity = 15,000 EUR
Altogether, my calculation (which also includes furniture, energy consulting, and similar items) comes to just over 200,000 EUR in material costs. However, as I mentioned, I am still quite uncertain about some of the above estimates.
For labor costs (wages), I have assumed a maximum of 15 skilled workers over a construction period of up to 6 months (with a construction time guarantee) amounting to 180,000 EUR. Is this a realistic assumption? Are significantly more or fewer skilled workers usually involved?
How would you rate the Vaillant appliances?
Thank you in advance for any support!
I hope I’m not breaking any forum rules, but there are online platforms that provide current standard construction costs. This service is not free, but compared to the planned investment, it’s relatively inexpensive.
I also think that hiring an architect makes sense—you don’t have to commission all the project phases at once. Commissioning phases 1 and 2 shouldn’t be too costly either. Before you decide to hire an architect for these initial phases, you can ask to see references. This way, you can get an idea if the architect’s personal style matches what you’re looking for.
Best regards
Bratac
I also think that hiring an architect makes sense—you don’t have to commission all the project phases at once. Commissioning phases 1 and 2 shouldn’t be too costly either. Before you decide to hire an architect for these initial phases, you can ask to see references. This way, you can get an idea if the architect’s personal style matches what you’re looking for.
Best regards
Bratac
350,000 with a basement and land. That will be tight. I think you are underestimating the additional construction costs. Our prefabricated house costs 215,000 with some extras. Additional costs have now risen to almost 80,000. For me, additional costs also include paving the driveway, garage, satellite system, network cabling, and so on. And we don’t have a basement... that is well estimated at 60,000. Depending on the level of finish, it could also be 20,000 more. The land purchase also includes almost 8% additional costs.
One more thing about the hardwood flooring... I read that you want underfloor heating? I’m not sure, but hardwood is not the best choice for that. You need to make sure it is installed really well (expansion joints), use approved adhesives, and keep the indoor humidity at 50% to prevent the wood from drying out and warping.
One more thing about the hardwood flooring... I read that you want underfloor heating? I’m not sure, but hardwood is not the best choice for that. You need to make sure it is installed really well (expansion joints), use approved adhesives, and keep the indoor humidity at 50% to prevent the wood from drying out and warping.
Chris82 schrieb:
The budget including the plot should actually be around 350,000 EUR (kitchen, bathroom, and furniture are not included). So the house might have to be a bit smaller...But earlier, the material cost was stated as 200,000 EUR (including kitchen and furniture) and labor costs as 180,000 EUR. On top of that would come the land.
This doesn’t match the 350,000 EUR unless your kitchen, bathroom, and furniture cost 30,000 EUR more than the plot.
I don’t know what the land is supposed to cost, but we are planning a 120m² (1,292 sq ft) slab-on-grade house without much extras (except for a chimney and underfloor heating) for 270,000 EUR including a 43,000 EUR plot. Your 350,000 EUR budget will probably become tight with your requirements.
For us, the budget gradually increased while our expectations decreased over time.
So, one area where we will definitely save money is the garage/driveway. We won’t build a garage, and the driveway will only be constructed enough to allow the option for a carport later. We don’t have a car and don’t plan to get one in the near future. We manage well with our bicycles and rent a car 2-3 times a year. We will do garden work ourselves, so we won’t invest much in that either.
The potential incompatibility of underfloor heating and hardwood flooring is a good point. Since the heat pump is important to us for energy efficiency and is known to be less suitable for traditional radiators, underfloor heating has a higher priority than the floor covering. We might need to consider high-quality laminate flooring in some rooms. Underfloor heating should be less problematic with tiles.
The basement won’t be a living basement as such. It will be more like a hobby room/home cinema/bar area (the exact purpose isn’t fixed yet) that obviously shouldn’t get completely cold. But no one will be living in the basement.
Fixed prices including the basement and most specifications, excluding furniture, kitchen, and heat pump, from some providers are in the range of 200,000–250,000. The basement cost is usually calculated at 40,000, but this excludes a waterproof concrete shell (“white tank”) that is absolutely necessary (groundwater is at times 50cm (20 inches) below the top edge). Keep in mind that we are building in Brandenburg, near Berlin, where labor costs are likely to be several tens of thousands lower than, for example, in southern Germany.
We expect the plot price, including commission, to be a maximum of 100 EUR/m² (9.3 USD/ft²) for a size of 600–800 m² (6,458–8,611 ft²). There are plots available at this price, but we haven’t committed to one yet. For what I consider an essential soil survey, I have budgeted 1,500 EUR, but without reliable sources for this estimate.
The potential incompatibility of underfloor heating and hardwood flooring is a good point. Since the heat pump is important to us for energy efficiency and is known to be less suitable for traditional radiators, underfloor heating has a higher priority than the floor covering. We might need to consider high-quality laminate flooring in some rooms. Underfloor heating should be less problematic with tiles.
The basement won’t be a living basement as such. It will be more like a hobby room/home cinema/bar area (the exact purpose isn’t fixed yet) that obviously shouldn’t get completely cold. But no one will be living in the basement.
Fixed prices including the basement and most specifications, excluding furniture, kitchen, and heat pump, from some providers are in the range of 200,000–250,000. The basement cost is usually calculated at 40,000, but this excludes a waterproof concrete shell (“white tank”) that is absolutely necessary (groundwater is at times 50cm (20 inches) below the top edge). Keep in mind that we are building in Brandenburg, near Berlin, where labor costs are likely to be several tens of thousands lower than, for example, in southern Germany.
We expect the plot price, including commission, to be a maximum of 100 EUR/m² (9.3 USD/ft²) for a size of 600–800 m² (6,458–8,611 ft²). There are plots available at this price, but we haven’t committed to one yet. For what I consider an essential soil survey, I have budgeted 1,500 EUR, but without reliable sources for this estimate.
Similar topics