Hello everyone! On our way to building our prefabricated house, we received/compiled two offers yesterday.
First from Schwörerhaus and then from an acquaintance (father of a friend) who works for Schwabenhaus. The latter suggested that we bring the Schwörerhaus offer to him, and he will try to match everything and offer us a better price. But beware: with a brine-water heat pump (ground source with probe). I’ll go into the details shortly and would like to hear your assessment on this.
I’ll try to keep everything as clear as possible. The comparison is always based on details from the construction and service descriptions of Schwörerhaus versus Schwabenhaus.
The most important point -> Heating
Schwörerhaus: Air heating with low-temperature heat pump + additional heating elements at the outlets.
Schwabenhaus: Brine-water heat pump ground source (probe) with underfloor heating.
Both already include mechanical ventilation.
If it were only about this, our decision would be clear and obvious: Schwabenhaus. However, there are also disadvantages because the “same price as Schwörerhaus” somehow has to be compensated elsewhere, and we believe this happens in the following areas. I’m uncertain about these points and would like to ask again for your opinion.
Exterior and Interior Walls
Schwörerhaus: Exterior (total thickness of 32 cm (12.6 inches))
Schwabenhaus: Exterior (total thickness: not explicitly specified)
Inside is similar: with Schwabenhaus directly gypsum fiberboards (12.5 mm / 0.5 inches) on the wooden structure, while Schwörerhaus uses wood-based panels (16 mm / 0.63 inches) behind the plasterboard (9.5 mm / 0.37 inches). I’m a bit skeptical about load capacity with Schwabenhaus’s version. Also, in terms of sound and insulation, I’m not quite sure. The ceilings also seem to be somewhat “lacking” in comparison…
The following details are missing from Schwabenhaus’s construction and service description. Since I’m not an expert, I find it difficult to assess these and maybe you can also help here:
Of course, I have already asked these questions to the Schwabenhaus consultant as well. I assume that if something is not included in the construction and service description, it is simply not included in the scope of services. If you want it => extra cost … or you have to arrange it yourself.
How would you assess this whole situation? What would be important to you, or what doesn’t seem too serious (e.g., the wall issue) … or what would you rather not recommend?
Thank you very much for your time and advice!
First from Schwörerhaus and then from an acquaintance (father of a friend) who works for Schwabenhaus. The latter suggested that we bring the Schwörerhaus offer to him, and he will try to match everything and offer us a better price. But beware: with a brine-water heat pump (ground source with probe). I’ll go into the details shortly and would like to hear your assessment on this.
I’ll try to keep everything as clear as possible. The comparison is always based on details from the construction and service descriptions of Schwörerhaus versus Schwabenhaus.
The most important point -> Heating
Schwörerhaus: Air heating with low-temperature heat pump + additional heating elements at the outlets.
- Air heating: heat recovery 134 BP-HK
- Domestic hot water via additional low-temperature heat pump with electric heating rod (2.5 kW)
- I’m not very enthusiastic about this!
- It’s also possible to have a low-temperature heat pump with underfloor heating (extra cost) or a brine-water heat pump (ground source with probe) combined with the air heating (of course also extra cost)
- Additional costs have been requested
Schwabenhaus: Brine-water heat pump ground source (probe) with underfloor heating.
- Domestic hot water also via this system
- Annual performance factor given as 4.7 (unit by Waterkotte)
- They also mention the 5000 euro bonus, which after a quick online search seems to be available to everyone anyway
Both already include mechanical ventilation.
If it were only about this, our decision would be clear and obvious: Schwabenhaus. However, there are also disadvantages because the “same price as Schwörerhaus” somehow has to be compensated elsewhere, and we believe this happens in the following areas. I’m uncertain about these points and would like to ask again for your opinion.
Exterior and Interior Walls
Schwörerhaus: Exterior (total thickness of 32 cm (12.6 inches))
- Insulation thickness of 240 mm (9.4 inches), inside with wood fiber board + gypsum board
- Outside: solid building material “Cospan” with an additional vapor-permeable layer
- Plaster carrier: 40 mm (1.6 inches)
- U-value: 1.5
Schwabenhaus: Exterior (total thickness: not explicitly specified)
- Insulation thickness of 160 mm (6.3 inches), inside directly gypsum fiberboard
- Outside also only gypsum fiberboard
- Plaster carrier: 100 mm (3.9 inches) as full thermal insulation board
- U-value: 1.4
Inside is similar: with Schwabenhaus directly gypsum fiberboards (12.5 mm / 0.5 inches) on the wooden structure, while Schwörerhaus uses wood-based panels (16 mm / 0.63 inches) behind the plasterboard (9.5 mm / 0.37 inches). I’m a bit skeptical about load capacity with Schwabenhaus’s version. Also, in terms of sound and insulation, I’m not quite sure. The ceilings also seem to be somewhat “lacking” in comparison…
The following details are missing from Schwabenhaus’s construction and service description. Since I’m not an expert, I find it difficult to assess these and maybe you can also help here:
- No storm anchors/clips
- No KfW certification or blower door test mentioned in the construction and service description
- Transport costs of the house, assembly crane, the assembly itself, scaffolding, residual waste container including disposal, construction site toilet, registration and completion notification of house connections are missing in Schwabenhaus’s construction and service description (listed separately by Schwörerhaus)
Of course, I have already asked these questions to the Schwabenhaus consultant as well. I assume that if something is not included in the construction and service description, it is simply not included in the scope of services. If you want it => extra cost … or you have to arrange it yourself.
How would you assess this whole situation? What would be important to you, or what doesn’t seem too serious (e.g., the wall issue) … or what would you rather not recommend?
Thank you very much for your time and advice!
Request it and have it documented in writing what is missing. Regarding the wall construction: Schwörerhaus is probably better for wall cabinets, but I cannot say whether the other option from Schwa also works well in practice. The vapor-permeable layer in Schwörerhaus is certainly beneficial, as it helps prevent mold and possibly facade algae growth, provided it actually performs as intended. Allows for breathing.
Thank you for your assessment!
A few additional details I forgot:
If all the additional features later result in a higher price with Schwa., we tend to lean more towards Schwö. We have the feeling that their offerings provide slightly better quality, durability, or more "substance" :-/
And, if possible, we would like to get the combination of SW heat pump + "air heating" there.
A few additional details I forgot:
- Both houses are KfW55 standard
- Price should be the same for both, so it was excluded from the calculations
If all the additional features later result in a higher price with Schwa., we tend to lean more towards Schwö. We have the feeling that their offerings provide slightly better quality, durability, or more "substance" :-/
And, if possible, we would like to get the combination of SW heat pump + "air heating" there.
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