Hello everyone,
I have just started reading up on the topic of building a house, even though the desire to do so is still quite vague at the moment. This is more likely to be a project for the next five years. I feel like I’ve already spent dozens of hours here in the forum 🙂
Right now, I’m trying to get a sense of what makes a house expensive, which things are energy inefficient, and so on. That’s why I’m interested in whether there are any general guidelines for comparison.
Disclaimer: I understand that it always depends on the individual situation. Nevertheless, I could imagine that some rough rules of thumb have become established.
One more disclaimer: I am not trying to plan the cheapest possible house. Nor do I want to optimize every decision solely for KfW standards (I don’t even know yet whether I want or need KfW certification).
I’m just trying to get a feel for how building decisions influence cost and energy efficiency. After all, I don’t want to plan something completely unrealistic. When it gets more concrete, of course, I’ll consult an architect.
Until then, I want to build some background knowledge.
Thank you & best regards from the cave.
I have just started reading up on the topic of building a house, even though the desire to do so is still quite vague at the moment. This is more likely to be a project for the next five years. I feel like I’ve already spent dozens of hours here in the forum 🙂
Right now, I’m trying to get a sense of what makes a house expensive, which things are energy inefficient, and so on. That’s why I’m interested in whether there are any general guidelines for comparison.
Disclaimer: I understand that it always depends on the individual situation. Nevertheless, I could imagine that some rough rules of thumb have become established.
- First of all, I would like to know: how does a bungalow compare to a house with two full stories? (In terms of costs and the effort to achieve a KfW standard). My youthful recklessness tells me that a bungalow is cheaper to build but more expensive to insulate because of the larger ground/exterior surface area.
- The same question applies to a two-story house compared to a 1.5-story house (I know, that doesn’t really exist ;-) ) with knee walls but no attic. An attic is certainly great for storage, but initially it’s dead space that requires an additional intermediate ceiling and more exterior surface area.
- Also, I like the idea of an L-shaped (living room) layout with a terrace nestled inside the inner corner. Does deviating from a cubic shape significantly affect the price? I would assume that especially if aiming for KfW standards, this could get tricky because corners are presumably complex to insulate. Or are these just minor issues?
- The same question comes up regarding dormers and possibly a third or fourth gable.
- How much does the roof pitch affect price and energy efficiency? (My assumption: a flatter roof uses less material and also exposes less surface area).
One more disclaimer: I am not trying to plan the cheapest possible house. Nor do I want to optimize every decision solely for KfW standards (I don’t even know yet whether I want or need KfW certification).
I’m just trying to get a feel for how building decisions influence cost and energy efficiency. After all, I don’t want to plan something completely unrealistic. When it gets more concrete, of course, I’ll consult an architect.
Until then, I want to build some background knowledge.
Thank you & best regards from the cave.
Hello,
as a recommendation on the topic:
"Building Attractively on a Small Budget" by Achim Linhardt, published by DVA.
It covers exactly the questions you are asking, such as relative costs of different roof types, wall constructions, basement costs depending on living area and number of floors, and all kinds of comparison tables for various trades. This gives you a very good overview of the subject and explains why certain things are cheaper or more expensive. There are also some examples of completed houses and details that are quite helpful.
Regards
Oli
as a recommendation on the topic:
"Building Attractively on a Small Budget" by Achim Linhardt, published by DVA.
It covers exactly the questions you are asking, such as relative costs of different roof types, wall constructions, basement costs depending on living area and number of floors, and all kinds of comparison tables for various trades. This gives you a very good overview of the subject and explains why certain things are cheaper or more expensive. There are also some examples of completed houses and details that are quite helpful.
Regards
Oli
Roof costs: it depends on the construction. A layperson might find it hard to understand.
That’s why you plan based on the plot and your own space requirements.
Everything else should be optimized by the builder, and in my opinion, it’s a waste of time to argue about it.
Höhlenbewohner schrieb:
After all, I don’t want to plan something unrealistic.
That’s why you plan based on the plot and your own space requirements.
Everything else should be optimized by the builder, and in my opinion, it’s a waste of time to argue about it.