ᐅ Hillside House in the Southwest Palatinate – Our Home Construction 2.0
Created on: 9 Sep 2022 18:13
K
kati1337
Good evening everyone
I’m starting a small collection thread here for photos and progress updates on our second building project.
We’ve already moved to the Palatinate region to be closer to the construction site. Now we’re watching eagerly and happily as our (hopefully final) dream home takes shape near family.
One big challenge still ahead of us is the facade design. I really love the Nordic style with brickwork and mullioned windows. That won’t be possible here for two reasons: firstly, no one here can do bricklaying, and secondly, it would stand out too much. We will be going with a rendered facade. How to design the colors of the facade and windows to still create some country house / cottage charm is currently still a work in progress mentally.
Otherwise, I’m sharing our plans here and how it will eventually be built.
The support pillar marked near the kitchen island could be removed for a small extra cost, so that will be gone.
The room for “garden equipment” under the garage will get a partition wall for structural reasons.
It won’t be fully finished living space like in the house, but underfloor heating will be installed, along with a lockable door and a window. It’s meant to store garden tools but also some of the building services equipment, since the utility room (HAR) is quite small, and maybe be used as a party room.
We had three construction companies in the final selection. In the end, we chose the “doer” – a builder recommended to us here by friends and family. No website, no smartphone, but he is on site every day himself working in overalls. He has a very good reputation in this area and now rarely builds single-family homes. We were a bit lucky through personal connections and a very friendly initial phone call to get our foot in the door. So far we are very satisfied with this choice.
I’m starting a small collection thread here for photos and progress updates on our second building project.
We’ve already moved to the Palatinate region to be closer to the construction site. Now we’re watching eagerly and happily as our (hopefully final) dream home takes shape near family.
One big challenge still ahead of us is the facade design. I really love the Nordic style with brickwork and mullioned windows. That won’t be possible here for two reasons: firstly, no one here can do bricklaying, and secondly, it would stand out too much. We will be going with a rendered facade. How to design the colors of the facade and windows to still create some country house / cottage charm is currently still a work in progress mentally.
Otherwise, I’m sharing our plans here and how it will eventually be built.
The support pillar marked near the kitchen island could be removed for a small extra cost, so that will be gone.
The room for “garden equipment” under the garage will get a partition wall for structural reasons.
It won’t be fully finished living space like in the house, but underfloor heating will be installed, along with a lockable door and a window. It’s meant to store garden tools but also some of the building services equipment, since the utility room (HAR) is quite small, and maybe be used as a party room.
We had three construction companies in the final selection. In the end, we chose the “doer” – a builder recommended to us here by friends and family. No website, no smartphone, but he is on site every day himself working in overalls. He has a very good reputation in this area and now rarely builds single-family homes. We were a bit lucky through personal connections and a very friendly initial phone call to get our foot in the door. So far we are very satisfied with this choice.
netuser schrieb:
Probably not very durable, although sufficient for one’s lifetime 😉, but whenever I face such choices, I always worry that my personal taste won’t last and I’ll get tired of it in 10 years!? I’d have that concern with both options. ^^ In the 1970s house we’re currently living in, I find the windowsills quite awful. Back then, they were considered modern.
Offtopic schrieb:
Can they be painted? If so, I would choose that. I don’t think so. Well, nowadays you can paint almost anything, but these are probably not designed for it.
We have a sample here, it reminds me a bit of a kitchen countertop, just harder.
If you search for “Polythal windowsills,” you can find our selection. I haven’t fully figured out which ones involve an extra charge and which don’t. Visually, I just want something as simple as possible, like a white cast windowsill (very plain), or a “Fenorm Trend” in white wood.
B
Benutzer 100129 Dec 2022 12:46Then I would rather go for classic wood. I imagine it looking really cool in a vintage style and maybe sanding it down in a few years to gray or blue.
Here’s a quick update. All the windows are now installed. The electrical rough-in is also complete.
Next week, the plumbing rough-in is scheduled, and if the weather allows, the plasterer will follow immediately after.
The insulation has arrived as well and, as far as I know, it needs to be installed beforehand. All the tiles we ordered have also been delivered.
We have an issue with one type of tile. We chose it from a special offer back in October—it was a clearance item and therefore very affordable. It was a natural stone tile. In January, the tile supplier informed us that a colleague had sold the remaining stock elsewhere. Those tiles were taken directly by other customers, so unfortunately they’re no longer available. However, we will receive a replacement—initially, they offered us an alternative tile that looks almost identical, and the price will remain the same for us since it wasn’t our fault. Everything else from our order is now in stock, and we’re really excited to see how it will all come together. Oh well.
The problem we had with our air conditioning was solved by our builder. We wanted a unit upstairs to serve all the children’s and guest rooms, which could be used with the doors open. But we simply couldn’t find a suitable location where the airflow would work properly. A while ago, our builder called and said he would provide an additional split unit so that each room would have its own unit. This way, it will be done properly, and we don’t have the problem anymore. So the price for the air conditioning stays the same for us—which is quite painful compared to our house in 2020—but the builder is installing an extra split unit out of goodwill.
When I heard that, I thought later on that I should have given him a slightly more expensive whiskey for Christmas. ^^
I’m curious to see how things progress; I’m keeping my fingers crossed that everything continues smoothly as it has so far. Right now, we’re very happy with our decision to choose the locally well-known builder who has no website or smartphone. He is truly personally dedicated.
Next week, the plumbing rough-in is scheduled, and if the weather allows, the plasterer will follow immediately after.
The insulation has arrived as well and, as far as I know, it needs to be installed beforehand. All the tiles we ordered have also been delivered.
We have an issue with one type of tile. We chose it from a special offer back in October—it was a clearance item and therefore very affordable. It was a natural stone tile. In January, the tile supplier informed us that a colleague had sold the remaining stock elsewhere. Those tiles were taken directly by other customers, so unfortunately they’re no longer available. However, we will receive a replacement—initially, they offered us an alternative tile that looks almost identical, and the price will remain the same for us since it wasn’t our fault. Everything else from our order is now in stock, and we’re really excited to see how it will all come together. Oh well.
The problem we had with our air conditioning was solved by our builder. We wanted a unit upstairs to serve all the children’s and guest rooms, which could be used with the doors open. But we simply couldn’t find a suitable location where the airflow would work properly. A while ago, our builder called and said he would provide an additional split unit so that each room would have its own unit. This way, it will be done properly, and we don’t have the problem anymore. So the price for the air conditioning stays the same for us—which is quite painful compared to our house in 2020—but the builder is installing an extra split unit out of goodwill.
When I heard that, I thought later on that I should have given him a slightly more expensive whiskey for Christmas. ^^
I’m curious to see how things progress; I’m keeping my fingers crossed that everything continues smoothly as it has so far. Right now, we’re very happy with our decision to choose the locally well-known builder who has no website or smartphone. He is truly personally dedicated.
B
Benutzer 10011 Feb 2023 17:36At the moment, it looks like you have done everything correctly. Congratulations.
Today we had the site inspection for the sanitary rough-in installation.
Standing and walking through the still unheated house in the ninth month of pregnancy for 1.5 hours (about 1.5 hours) is quite exhausting. But it’s worth it; we are really excited about the house.
Today we saw the new sample tile offered to us as a replacement. On the right (the broken piece) is our originally selected tile, which the supplier accidentally sold to someone else and can no longer be obtained. On the left is the tile offered as a replacement.
They are really very similar (the left one is also available in 60cm x 60cm (24 inches x 24 inches)). Normally it would be more expensive, but we’re getting it at the standard price since it’s a replacement for the cheaper tile that went missing through no fault of our own.
I actually find the left one quite nice—so I guess it’s a silver lining.
Standing and walking through the still unheated house in the ninth month of pregnancy for 1.5 hours (about 1.5 hours) is quite exhausting. But it’s worth it; we are really excited about the house.
Today we saw the new sample tile offered to us as a replacement. On the right (the broken piece) is our originally selected tile, which the supplier accidentally sold to someone else and can no longer be obtained. On the left is the tile offered as a replacement.
They are really very similar (the left one is also available in 60cm x 60cm (24 inches x 24 inches)). Normally it would be more expensive, but we’re getting it at the standard price since it’s a replacement for the cheaper tile that went missing through no fault of our own.
I actually find the left one quite nice—so I guess it’s a silver lining.
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