Hello everyone,
we have received a preliminary design and a quote from our builder. I would like to get your opinion on it.
It is planned as an accessible bungalow (about 131 sqm (1410 sq ft)) with 3 bedrooms and possibly a study room. Previously, instead of the study, there was a slightly larger kitchen and a somewhat bigger living room.
My opinion:
I would make the house a bit narrower on the street side, which would make the bedroom and child’s room 1 slightly smaller. Instead, the living room and kitchen would be extended, allowing the kitchen to be a bit larger (it currently feels too small to me).
On the other side, I have the option to make the carport a bit wider. I am trying to achieve an internal width of 3.5 m (11.5 ft) for the carport (because of wheelchair access).
I will also ask the builder what price difference it would make to have a concrete ceiling with insulation instead of a wooden beam ceiling, a knee wall height of maybe 30 cm (12 inches), and a roof pitch of 40 degrees, so that it would be possible to convert the attic space in the future (maybe after 25–30 years).
I would like to have a carport for two cars parked in tandem with a storage room planned, but I want to handle the construction myself or have it done elsewhere. The builder is asking €14,000 for a single carport with storage, which I think is too expensive.
We would really appreciate your suggestions.
Thank you
we have received a preliminary design and a quote from our builder. I would like to get your opinion on it.
It is planned as an accessible bungalow (about 131 sqm (1410 sq ft)) with 3 bedrooms and possibly a study room. Previously, instead of the study, there was a slightly larger kitchen and a somewhat bigger living room.
My opinion:
I would make the house a bit narrower on the street side, which would make the bedroom and child’s room 1 slightly smaller. Instead, the living room and kitchen would be extended, allowing the kitchen to be a bit larger (it currently feels too small to me).
On the other side, I have the option to make the carport a bit wider. I am trying to achieve an internal width of 3.5 m (11.5 ft) for the carport (because of wheelchair access).
I will also ask the builder what price difference it would make to have a concrete ceiling with insulation instead of a wooden beam ceiling, a knee wall height of maybe 30 cm (12 inches), and a roof pitch of 40 degrees, so that it would be possible to convert the attic space in the future (maybe after 25–30 years).
I would like to have a carport for two cars parked in tandem with a storage room planned, but I want to handle the construction myself or have it done elsewhere. The builder is asking €14,000 for a single carport with storage, which I think is too expensive.
We would really appreciate your suggestions.
Thank you
11ant schrieb:
So what now: should the house have a flat roof or not?
35° is okay, but 40° for a bungalow is already on the edge of looking disproportionately tall. And without any attic conversion, just for show, it’s pure waste. For that money, you could have several more square meters downstairs (i.e., for example, twice the space between the kitchen units).Who said anything about a flat roof?!
The catalog states 30 degrees. The builder said 35 degrees, and in terms of price, the difference is minimal. I’m still waiting for the offer.
On one hand it’s about aesthetics, on the other hand about functionality.
W
winnetou7828 Sep 2017 21:09I think it already makes a difference of around 3000 euros when going from 30 to 35,
Climbee schrieb:
A lot has already been said, so I won’t repeat it.
Just a small note: as mentioned several times, you could probably meet your space requirements more affordably with a two-story house. If your son in a wheelchair definitely needs or must have access to the second floor, then a so-called home lift could be an option. The space requirement is about 1.2 x 1 meter (4 x 3.3 feet) and can initially be planned just as an option (for example, a planned opening in the ceiling). It’s not excessively expensive and, unlike a traditional stairlift, it’s very suitable for wheelchairs.
What I also find a bit missing is the consideration of whether professional caregiving might be necessary at some point. In that case, you would also need to think about how to accommodate that. Then the concept of two floors makes a lot of sense again. On the ground floor, you could have an accessible bathroom and a disabled-accessible bedroom plus a caregiver room (which could be used as a bedroom or as a room for the caregiver). Upstairs, there would be three or four rooms for flexible use (children, guests, bedrooms, office) and a regular family bathroom.
As I mentioned, I’m not fully aware of your situation or if a caregiver’s room will ever be needed. But keep in mind that your son will grow bigger and heavier, other children may also need care, and eventually, there might come a point when you can’t manage everything alone anymore. I have experience in my extended social circle (a son with severe spasticity but fully mentally fit) where people always thought they could handle everything on their own, but once puberty hits, things often change dramatically. I know it’s getting more and more difficult with caregiving. But that’s just how it is, and we’re trying to make the situation easier through barrier-free design.
Last year, a single-family house with an elevator or home lift was an option, but now we believe a bungalow is the best choice.
A wheelchair-accessible home lift costs about €20,000 (about $22,000), with maintenance costs of €1,500 (about $1,700) every 10 years, and annual electricity costs of nearly €400 (about $440) if used 11 times daily. So it’s not cheap either.
Thanks for the advice, but for our situation, a bungalow is the best option.
Nordlys schrieb:
I want to return to Yvonne’s statement because it contains a bit of truth that everyone who isn’t a professional structural engineer or similar comes across. At first, you think: a house isn’t that expensive, why do people pay such ridiculously high prices for existing properties? Then, in conversations with the general contractor or builder, you realize that there are extra costs, and “turnkey” doesn’t really mean finished. And then... this is where imagination should kick in... you start to understand that a house is only truly finished when the driveway, paths, exterior lighting, shrubs, etc., are done, when all fees and connection costs are paid, the house is surveyed... and unfortunately, for us a constant topic is the furniture being adjusted to the new space available, although I often say: that’s okay. She says: not acceptable. Yes, with some discipline you can achieve something nice with fewer resources. But it’s always easier to go for the premium options, which many do: it’s only 1200 more. Ten times 1200 also makes 120,000. KarstenThat’s exactly right, so if I don’t give up on my waived wishes, I have to invest another €60,000 - €70,000 (about $65,000 - $75,000). If it’s not available, then I have to leave it out [emoji30] [emoji3] [emoji3]Are you sure a bungalow is the best choice? Personally, I see it as a solution for maybe the next 8 years. After that, the bungalow will have reached its limits.
I also don’t understand why you need an elevator. The boy can stay downstairs, and that’s it. As the oldest, he probably won’t mind not being able to play with the younger kids all the time. And you’ll be glad when you can send 2 (or 3) of the 4 children upstairs.
Again: a bungalow with your space requirements won’t cost less than 200,000 (currency). The number stated in the contract won’t be the final amount. There will be many additional costs on top!
I also don’t understand why you need an elevator. The boy can stay downstairs, and that’s it. As the oldest, he probably won’t mind not being able to play with the younger kids all the time. And you’ll be glad when you can send 2 (or 3) of the 4 children upstairs.
Again: a bungalow with your space requirements won’t cost less than 200,000 (currency). The number stated in the contract won’t be the final amount. There will be many additional costs on top!
Evolith schrieb:
The boy stays on the ground floor, and that’s final. As the oldest, he probably doesn’t mind not being able to join in with the smaller kids upstairs. And you’ll be glad when you can send 2(3) of the 4 children upstairs sometimes.
Again: a bungalow that meets your space requirements won’t be available for under 200k. The figure quoted in the contract is unlikely to be final. There will be many additional costs on top of that!
I don’t really expect you to understand our situation. It’s hard to explain how difficult it is to lose a healthy and sweet two-year-old child through an accident or perhaps medical error. His life and ours have changed dramatically.
That is why we try to care for him as best as we can and do what makes him happy. Maybe, in part, we do it for ourselves, because when he is cheerful, we feel better. Despite his limitations, he is still loving and sweet; he can’t speak, but his facial expressions and eyes tell everything. I can never accept that he sleeps alone on the ground floor while his siblings are upstairs in the upper floor. As I said, some can accept it and some cannot.
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