Hello everyone,
After 10 months, we (my wife, daughter, and I) are now focusing more intensively on our building project.
We have received several offers by now. Since the floor plan I created myself had to be slightly adjusted by the architect due to structural requirements, I would like to get some suggestions from you.
It is very important to us to build naturally. Therefore, we have been in contact with several local timber construction companies. We plan a single-family wooden house with natural insulation materials (KfW 70 standard, preferably better), a basement with a separate entrance, pellet heating system, and a photovoltaic system. Approximately 140 m² (1,507 sq ft) of living space (we plan 3 children, one is already here at a proud 2.5 years old).
Half of the attic (up to the middle wall) will be available as an attic storage area, accessible via a retractable staircase in the hallway. The other half (above the children’s bedrooms) will partly have an exposed roof structure and partly a ceiling. The covered part will be accessible with the help of a step ladder and serve as a play and storage area.
Now to my main questions:
Basement utility room:
- Should the washing machine/dryer remain in the utility room, or as originally planned, be located in the shower/toilet room on the ground floor?
I need about 6-7 m³ (212-247 cubic feet) of space for pellet storage (this volume was sufficient for about 16 months in the house of my father). The rest of the room should be free for the heating system (so approximately 13.5 m² / 145 sq ft remain).
Living/dining room on the ground floor:
- Should the door to the hallway be moved about 1 meter (3 feet)? The idea is that moving it would give me more space for the TV wall/bookshelf.
- Should the wall next to the fireplace be aligned flush with the upper wall, meaning moved 30 cm (12 inches) to the left and shortened by 60 cm (24 inches) at the same time? According to the architect, this is doable and would open up the space.
- Should the kitchen be shortened by one unit (60 cm / 24 inches)? This would make room for, for example, 2 bar stools for a quick breakfast (a wish from my wife). There would still be enough space for the dining table, which would be moved into the corner with a corner bench.
- Large window area: double French doors or sliding doors? (In my opinion, double French doors would be more practical and cost-effective.)
Children’s rooms upstairs:
- Where should the ladder to the play area be placed? Fixed or movable?
Outside:
- Should the entire corner be clad with rusticated cladding or only the upper half? We are completely undecided.
- Windows made of larch wood or colored uPVC? (Clear wood would cost me almost 5,000 more, but we are still unsure.)
If anyone has questions or suggestions, please feel free to share.
Best regards,
Zeiti
After 10 months, we (my wife, daughter, and I) are now focusing more intensively on our building project.
We have received several offers by now. Since the floor plan I created myself had to be slightly adjusted by the architect due to structural requirements, I would like to get some suggestions from you.
It is very important to us to build naturally. Therefore, we have been in contact with several local timber construction companies. We plan a single-family wooden house with natural insulation materials (KfW 70 standard, preferably better), a basement with a separate entrance, pellet heating system, and a photovoltaic system. Approximately 140 m² (1,507 sq ft) of living space (we plan 3 children, one is already here at a proud 2.5 years old).
Half of the attic (up to the middle wall) will be available as an attic storage area, accessible via a retractable staircase in the hallway. The other half (above the children’s bedrooms) will partly have an exposed roof structure and partly a ceiling. The covered part will be accessible with the help of a step ladder and serve as a play and storage area.
Now to my main questions:
Basement utility room:
- Should the washing machine/dryer remain in the utility room, or as originally planned, be located in the shower/toilet room on the ground floor?
I need about 6-7 m³ (212-247 cubic feet) of space for pellet storage (this volume was sufficient for about 16 months in the house of my father). The rest of the room should be free for the heating system (so approximately 13.5 m² / 145 sq ft remain).
Living/dining room on the ground floor:
- Should the door to the hallway be moved about 1 meter (3 feet)? The idea is that moving it would give me more space for the TV wall/bookshelf.
- Should the wall next to the fireplace be aligned flush with the upper wall, meaning moved 30 cm (12 inches) to the left and shortened by 60 cm (24 inches) at the same time? According to the architect, this is doable and would open up the space.
- Should the kitchen be shortened by one unit (60 cm / 24 inches)? This would make room for, for example, 2 bar stools for a quick breakfast (a wish from my wife). There would still be enough space for the dining table, which would be moved into the corner with a corner bench.
- Large window area: double French doors or sliding doors? (In my opinion, double French doors would be more practical and cost-effective.)
Children’s rooms upstairs:
- Where should the ladder to the play area be placed? Fixed or movable?
Outside:
- Should the entire corner be clad with rusticated cladding or only the upper half? We are completely undecided.
- Windows made of larch wood or colored uPVC? (Clear wood would cost me almost 5,000 more, but we are still unsure.)
If anyone has questions or suggestions, please feel free to share.
Best regards,
Zeiti
Zeiti schrieb:
A solar system is planned for hot water in the summer.
Of course, we want to have the heat demand calculated first before making a 100% decision about the heating system.But it only works during the day, right...? That means you burn your hands during the day, but if you want to shower in the morning, you only get lukewarm water... so with five people, you have to plan for a storage tank of around 1000 liters (265 gallons) and accordingly a large system on the roof... so that even the last person can still shower with warm water... otherwise, you won’t have hot water for everyone... so with solar thermal systems for five people, you really need to be careful about what gets planned...
How old is the system? How is it controlled? What is the size of the storage tank? What is the size of the collectors?
And most importantly: How do you know that it actually works?
Collectors on the roof do not automatically mean that the system operates "well to very well."
And most importantly: How do you know that it actually works?
Collectors on the roof do not automatically mean that the system operates "well to very well."
How do I know the system works? Hello, I have lived in this house for almost 22 years!!
Of course, the system has been replaced in the meantime.
Oh, and one more thing:
All clear so far? Great. Then that’s settled.
Of course, the system has been replaced in the meantime.
Oh, and one more thing:
Zeiti schrieb:
For hot water in summer, a solar thermal system is planned.
Of course, we want to have the heat demand calculated first before deciding 100% on the heating system.
All clear so far? Great. Then that’s settled.
The only thing that currently annoys me is your unnecessary post 15.
And in case you read the title of this thread --> Floor plan suggestions.
This is not about heating or similar topics.
So if you don’t have any useful suggestions related to this, please refrain from posting.
And in case you read the title of this thread --> Floor plan suggestions.
This is not about heating or similar topics.
So if you don’t have any useful suggestions related to this, please refrain from posting.
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