Dear forum members,
Since I believe that other forum members might also be interested in how a basement from Germany’s leading manufacturer of prefabricated basements looks in our case, I have decided to share the following post.
We recently built a basement with the company Glatthaar Fertigkeller in the "Thermosafe" version (core insulation) with waterproofing against accumulating seepage water. We chose this option because, after the sales discussion, we believed the additional cost was justified due to:
- Retaining the concrete look inside and outside, which would have matched the house with natural wood cladding
- Savings from not having to plaster the interior or exterior walls, only applying a concrete stain paint
Unfortunately, this could not be realized for the following reasons:
- Inside, the door and window reveals are designed in such a way that plastering the respective interior walls is practically unavoidable.
- Outside, the joints were executed in such a way that plastering is also necessary ("putty pockets" instead of butt joints, although otherwise agreed upon)
You can see both in the attached pictures.
To be fair, the company Glatthaar Fertigkeller agreed after discussion to plaster the exterior area. Unfortunately, this means the originally planned concrete look is no longer achievable. According to Glatthaar Fertigkeller, the interior execution is "normal," as shown in the pictures. Interested home builders can form their own opinion based on these images.
It should also be mentioned that despite the contractual agreement of "Q1 joint finishing," I only managed to put enough pressure on Glatthaar Fertigkeller to close the joints after consulting an expert. I have attached a photo as an example (this was before the joints were filled).
In addition, my experience with Glatthaar Fertigkeller includes that the base insulation was not properly connected to the slab insulation, which according to the expert is a clear technical defect and not compliant with standards (see photo). After an expert inspected my basement and pointed this out to me, Glatthaar Fertigkeller at least agreed to cover the costs of the subsequent sealing financially.
Furthermore, I want to mention that Glatthaar Fertigkeller did not have their own subcontractors install the dimpled membrane but verbally assigned this task to my earthworker without prior consultation
. To be fair, after some discussion, Glatthaar Fertigkeller covered the costs for this.
Based on the above and other experiences not described here, I can personally conclude that I regret choosing Glatthaar Fertigkeller. In my purely subjective assessment, I have never had similar problems and disputes with any other trade, nor have any of them cost me nearly as much stress.
Nonetheless, I wish you all an enjoyable building experience!
steffens
Since I believe that other forum members might also be interested in how a basement from Germany’s leading manufacturer of prefabricated basements looks in our case, I have decided to share the following post.
We recently built a basement with the company Glatthaar Fertigkeller in the "Thermosafe" version (core insulation) with waterproofing against accumulating seepage water. We chose this option because, after the sales discussion, we believed the additional cost was justified due to:
- Retaining the concrete look inside and outside, which would have matched the house with natural wood cladding
- Savings from not having to plaster the interior or exterior walls, only applying a concrete stain paint
Unfortunately, this could not be realized for the following reasons:
- Inside, the door and window reveals are designed in such a way that plastering the respective interior walls is practically unavoidable.
- Outside, the joints were executed in such a way that plastering is also necessary ("putty pockets" instead of butt joints, although otherwise agreed upon)
You can see both in the attached pictures.
To be fair, the company Glatthaar Fertigkeller agreed after discussion to plaster the exterior area. Unfortunately, this means the originally planned concrete look is no longer achievable. According to Glatthaar Fertigkeller, the interior execution is "normal," as shown in the pictures. Interested home builders can form their own opinion based on these images.
It should also be mentioned that despite the contractual agreement of "Q1 joint finishing," I only managed to put enough pressure on Glatthaar Fertigkeller to close the joints after consulting an expert. I have attached a photo as an example (this was before the joints were filled).
In addition, my experience with Glatthaar Fertigkeller includes that the base insulation was not properly connected to the slab insulation, which according to the expert is a clear technical defect and not compliant with standards (see photo). After an expert inspected my basement and pointed this out to me, Glatthaar Fertigkeller at least agreed to cover the costs of the subsequent sealing financially.
Furthermore, I want to mention that Glatthaar Fertigkeller did not have their own subcontractors install the dimpled membrane but verbally assigned this task to my earthworker without prior consultation
. To be fair, after some discussion, Glatthaar Fertigkeller covered the costs for this.
Based on the above and other experiences not described here, I can personally conclude that I regret choosing Glatthaar Fertigkeller. In my purely subjective assessment, I have never had similar problems and disputes with any other trade, nor have any of them cost me nearly as much stress.
Nonetheless, I wish you all an enjoyable building experience!
steffens
D
Doc.Schnaggls11 Feb 2015 15:04Hello,
we have had only positive experiences with Glatthaar precast basements.
Our basement is made of waterproof concrete with sealing against rising groundwater and is insulated on the outside. We have the "three-layer walls," which were poured on-site with cast-in-place concrete.
The installation was completed on schedule, and we have no complaints about the quality. All openings for electrical outlets and light fixtures are exactly where they should be, all walls are straight, and for concrete, unusually smooth.
The only defect we had was a small air bubble (about the size of two tennis balls) beneath the factory-installed thermal insulation under a basement window in the cast-in-place concrete.
After a brief phone call with the construction manager, a Glatthaar team appeared at our site the next day to add the missing concrete.
Therefore, we can wholeheartedly recommend the company Glatthaar.
Best regards,
Dirk
we have had only positive experiences with Glatthaar precast basements.
Our basement is made of waterproof concrete with sealing against rising groundwater and is insulated on the outside. We have the "three-layer walls," which were poured on-site with cast-in-place concrete.
The installation was completed on schedule, and we have no complaints about the quality. All openings for electrical outlets and light fixtures are exactly where they should be, all walls are straight, and for concrete, unusually smooth.
The only defect we had was a small air bubble (about the size of two tennis balls) beneath the factory-installed thermal insulation under a basement window in the cast-in-place concrete.
After a brief phone call with the construction manager, a Glatthaar team appeared at our site the next day to add the missing concrete.
Therefore, we can wholeheartedly recommend the company Glatthaar.
Best regards,
Dirk
Hello Dirk,
Yes, the term "smooth" was emphasized several times during the sales discussion. However, as you can see from my pictures, nothing there is actually smooth. Also, something that is seldom mentioned upfront: only one side of the interior walls is smooth formwork finish. And there is no contractual guarantee for “smooth” without further specification—I would have liked that, but was persuaded otherwise. Perhaps one could say I have myself to blame.
Anyway, my question to the forum: Do the reveal areas of Glatthaar basements always look like this? That’s what they are trying to convince me of. So far, there has been no financial compensation offered, even though I now have to plaster the reveal areas and affected walls.
Therefore, I cannot agree with your recommendation (which should be understandable with the attached pictures).
Regards,
Steffens
Yes, the term "smooth" was emphasized several times during the sales discussion. However, as you can see from my pictures, nothing there is actually smooth. Also, something that is seldom mentioned upfront: only one side of the interior walls is smooth formwork finish. And there is no contractual guarantee for “smooth” without further specification—I would have liked that, but was persuaded otherwise. Perhaps one could say I have myself to blame.
Anyway, my question to the forum: Do the reveal areas of Glatthaar basements always look like this? That’s what they are trying to convince me of. So far, there has been no financial compensation offered, even though I now have to plaster the reveal areas and affected walls.
Therefore, I cannot agree with your recommendation (which should be understandable with the attached pictures).
Regards,
Steffens
Häuslebau3r2 Mar 2015 10:41Since I have now been looking into this topic a bit, or am currently doing so, were these defects not already visible when the walls were being erected? Or did they develop gradually over time? If these issues were already noticeable on the truck or during assembly, action should probably have been taken earlier, especially regarding details like the window reveals.
As you already mentioned, this approach is usually chosen precisely for these reasons: a smooth plaster-like surface and prefabricated, properly manufactured components.
As you already mentioned, this approach is usually chosen precisely for these reasons: a smooth plaster-like surface and prefabricated, properly manufactured components.
Hi Home Builders,
yes, this was already noticeable during the setup – but what else can you do when the scheduled house installation is in 14 days. However, the company Glatthaar Prefabricated Basement does not consider this a defect. If you happen to meet a representative from Glatthaar Prefabricated Basement – I would be interested in their reaction to the pictures. The finish of the reveal areas is, compared to many other disputes with Glatthaar Prefabricated Basement, not even the worst in my opinion. Whenever I hear “Glatthaar” and “almost unnaturally smooth” as mentioned above, based on my experience, I tend to be skeptical. Attached is another view – which probably won’t be found in their glossy brochure.
Regards,
Steffens
yes, this was already noticeable during the setup – but what else can you do when the scheduled house installation is in 14 days. However, the company Glatthaar Prefabricated Basement does not consider this a defect. If you happen to meet a representative from Glatthaar Prefabricated Basement – I would be interested in their reaction to the pictures. The finish of the reveal areas is, compared to many other disputes with Glatthaar Prefabricated Basement, not even the worst in my opinion. Whenever I hear “Glatthaar” and “almost unnaturally smooth” as mentioned above, based on my experience, I tend to be skeptical. Attached is another view – which probably won’t be found in their glossy brochure.
Regards,
Steffens
Häuslebau3r3 Mar 2015 07:27As you already mentioned in the picture, this is far from acceptable, at least from my perspective as a layperson. As I said, I’m not a plasterer or mason, but in this situation, I definitely wouldn’t have allowed these parts to be installed. It’s easy to say, and I don’t know if it would have been possible since, as you mentioned, deadlines had to be met.
As @Doc.Schnaggls wrote, he also worked with this company and apparently had no problems. It’s just so frustrating, and if you’re unlucky, it can go really wrong.
@Doc.Schnaggls, do you possibly have a picture from when your basement was installed?
For others interested in prefabricated basements, these are good examples. For my part, if it comes to it, no matter which supplier since there are still many offering smooth surfaces, I will definitely present such examples without naming other providers and get a statement beforehand!
Thanks in advance for that, even if it no longer helps you personally.
Would it have been possible to intervene here with the help of a construction supervisor / expert / architect or someone similar who was onsite during the installation?
As @Doc.Schnaggls wrote, he also worked with this company and apparently had no problems. It’s just so frustrating, and if you’re unlucky, it can go really wrong.
@Doc.Schnaggls, do you possibly have a picture from when your basement was installed?
For others interested in prefabricated basements, these are good examples. For my part, if it comes to it, no matter which supplier since there are still many offering smooth surfaces, I will definitely present such examples without naming other providers and get a statement beforehand!
Thanks in advance for that, even if it no longer helps you personally.
Would it have been possible to intervene here with the help of a construction supervisor / expert / architect or someone similar who was onsite during the installation?
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