ᐅ Advantages, Disadvantages, and Cost Differences of Concrete Frame Construction in Residential Building

Hello Forum,

I have been following some topics in this forum for a long time, and now we are finally planning to build our own home. We are still at the very beginning and are currently gathering information. We don’t have any fixed parameters yet, so we are keeping our options open. It will definitely be a flat roof, as the development plan allows it.

I’m looking forward to your opinions.

About 8 kilometers (5 miles) from us, precast concrete elements are produced.
Our idea is to construct a concrete frame using these precast elements, consisting of:

- Concrete columns
- Filigree or precast slabs on 2–3 floors

Exterior and interior walls would be built from, for example, calcium silicate blocks.

The background of our idea is that this construction method doesn’t tie us down to many work steps.

We somehow cannot imagine there being a big price difference compared to conventional construction methods. Filigree slabs usually cost about the same as cast-in-place concrete slabs.

Since we are planning for three floors (ground floor - 1 - 2), it should be economically worthwhile starting from the second floor if we produce the concrete columns in series and design the filigree slabs for serial production as well.

We are also considering a precast concrete basement. We have the advantage that we can do the excavation work ourselves, as we have the necessary equipment.

Looking forward to your opinions regarding advantages and disadvantages.

Best regards

Concrete columns offer no real advantages in a single-family house. Since you still have to do masonry work anyway, you might as well combine two steps into one. Ideally, have sand-lime plan bricks made.
Then insulation in the cavity and brick veneer are to follow?
A precast concrete slab is also standard. Depending on the construction company, it is sometimes formed manually but is cheaper.

Milano20 schrieb:

The background of our idea is that through this construction method

... are you creating additional work steps? And do you need an architect who wants/can build this way?

Then, with the concrete columns in place, all floors could be installed directly. Interior walls can be redesigned at any time, even during the construction phase. There are no load-bearing walls inside.

This approach avoids the work step where you must first build the complete exterior walls on the ground floor before the ceiling can be installed.

For us, it’s not about saving time but about flexibility. For example, I already have windows from a canceled project that I plan to integrate accordingly.

I have seen with acquaintances’ construction projects that changes kept being requested but were sometimes no longer possible due to structural constraints.

The columns should also make it easier to build an additional floor later, finishing only the exterior walls first and completing the interior over time or even after moving in on the ground floor. We are very flexible in that regard.

As long as there isn’t a significant cost difference.

A column with a foundation probably won’t cost much, especially since all solid construction halls are built this way.

Milano20 schrieb:

Then all the ceilings could have been installed directly with the concrete columns.

You’re oversimplifying. These are usually cast on site because they are connected to the ceilings/floors with steel reinforcements. This requires quite a bit of manual work (similar to office buildings).

Milano20 schrieb:

You can redesign the interior walls whenever you want, even in the middle of the construction project.

You can do that too—except for load-bearing walls. But if you want or have to do that during construction, your previous planning with the architect was probably not good.

Milano20 schrieb:

You avoid work steps by not having to build the entire exterior walls on the ground floor before the ceiling is installed.

No. You’re at most shifting work steps or actually adding another one by using columns.

Milano20 schrieb:

More about flexibility. For example, I have windows from a cancellation case and plan to use those accordingly.

Sorry if you’re planning your house around surplus materials or similar. Aside from that, you can also do that in “normal” construction. Talking to the tradespeople helps.

Milano20 schrieb:

With acquaintances, I saw that changes kept coming up or were requested during the project and then sometimes were no longer possible because of the structural engineering.

Poor planning. Nothing more, nothing less. I’d be much more annoyed if suddenly a load-bearing column ends up in the way.

Milano20 schrieb:

Columns should also make it easier to build the next floor and only complete the exterior walls first, then gradually finish the interior after moving into the ground floor.

What exactly is the advantage? You build columns and install the ceiling, then finish the exterior walls. I finish the exterior walls first and then put the ceiling on top. Then I continue interior work gradually over time. Where is your benefit?

Milano20 schrieb:

Should there be a big cost difference?

Yes, it will probably be noticeably more expensive. You need a designer who can plan that way. You need individual work steps. You need a construction company willing to build like that. Custom solutions are always more expensive. If it were that easy and cheap, everyone would build that way. Or do you really think everyone else wants to build more expensively and only you suddenly have a particularly cheap idea? Sorry, but that’s not the case.

Milano20 schrieb:

A column with a foundation shouldn’t cost that much, especially since all solid construction halls are built that way.

Yes, Goldbeck has perfected serial construction for logistics, but that is standardization for logistics—not for single-family homes.
First of all, you don’t need a foundation here, but a slab-on-grade—the cost for that is always the same. Then you have two cost factors: columns and walls. Typical construction uses walls only. That also looks great, provided you want 40cm (16 inches) columns but always connect only 11.5cm (4.5 inches) calcium silicate interior walls to them...

But since you’re absolutely convinced of this, go to an architect first and have the house planned accordingly. Then check prices and companies. Afterwards, you can report back.

nordanney schrieb:

Sorry if you’re planning your house based on clearance items or something similar. Aside from that, you can do that with a conventional build as well. Talking to the tradespeople helps.

What’s wrong with buying windows from a cancelled order due to the wrong color and saving over 50% on them? ‍

I’m asking all these questions here in the forum to better understand the pros and cons.

What about roof overhangs on a house? For example, with a patio overhang, do you have better options with prefabricated components or cast-in-place concrete?

The houses I know from Croatia, from my holidays, are sometimes built with cast-in-place concrete pillars and supports.

I will probably be able to plan everything easily with my architect (a good friend) and only hire a contractor for the exterior walls and floors. The rest will be done either by myself or with family—plumbing, electrical, and so on.

Of course, you want the most cost-effective option for construction, but you’re also willing to pay more if there are clear advantages.
For example, using beams to avoid load-bearing walls, etc.
Ideally, I wouldn’t want any load-bearing walls at all.

When the kids have moved out later, you can easily convert the floors and rent them out without worries.

Milano20 schrieb:

What is wrong with that?

Nothing. But I prefer to plan my house according to my own wishes rather than choosing the cheapest windows.

Milano20 schrieb:

How about overhangs on the house? For example, terrace overhangs—do you have better options with precast elements or cast-in-place concrete?

You mean a balcony? Supports don’t really matter. Cast-in-place supports are more flexible. Apart from that, it’s an expensive feature. Sitting on the terrace upstairs if you want to be in the garden? For a smaller balcony, you don’t really need anything special.

Milano20 schrieb:

The houses I know from holidays in Croatia are sometimes built with pillars and supports made of cast-in-place concrete.

Yes, in the south. But you’re building in Germany with German regulations, German weather, and German prices.

Milano20 schrieb:

The rest will all be done by myself.

If you really want to save money, then do the masonry yourself. That way you are flexible, and masonry work goes very fast.

Milano20 schrieb:

Of course, you want the cheapest option for construction, but you can also pay a bit more if you get advantages. For example, beams to avoid load-bearing walls etc. Ideally, I wouldn’t have any load-bearing walls at all.

Then you end up with pillars everywhere. And those are thicker than walls. It looks bad and is inflexible.

Milano20 schrieb:

When the kids have moved out, you can remodel floors without worries and rent them out.

Then please plan for that now. A proper stairwell, kitchens on every floor, separate electrical supply, heating designed for three separate apartments, ventilation system arranged for three sections (fire protection is key), suitable water and sewage connections for bathrooms on each floor, and so on.