ᐅ House Under Construction – Ideas for Details Such as Windows, Materials, and More
Created on: 5 Jan 2019 23:25
S
SupaCriz
Good evening,
Our single-family house is currently under construction. We previously shared some initial designs here and received very valuable feedback.
We then made a few extra adjustments, revised the plans again, and are now finally building our house on a beautiful hillside plot.
The basement will have direct level access to the terrace – so we have planned the living, cooking, and dining area with a wide southeast-facing window front.
We are now focusing primarily on details such as the choice of window systems, external blinds (raffstore), and so on. At the moment, we are particularly interested in two window systems for which we have already received quotes. Perhaps you have some tips, experiences, or suggestions for us on this and other topics.
For the window front, we have the following options:
- JOSKO ONE system. This is an aluminum window system with an approximate frame visibility width of only 7cm (3 inches). The lift-and-slide door also has a similarly narrow frame, so it does not immediately catch the eye.
- Actual Cubic F Line combined with the "LOFT" all-glass system. Here, practically only the lift-and-slide door is framed with a visible wood-aluminum frame. The fixed windows next to it would be visually frameless and designed as "glass-to-glass joints."
- Drutex Iglu Energy uPVC windows: the most affordable option. However, skylights would have to be installed here because windows are not available in the full 2.80m (9 ft 2 inches) ceiling height.
While the first two options do not have a significant price difference (Actual being the cheaper one), the Drutex solution would be approximately €15,000 (about US $16,000) cheaper overall for all the windows in the house – but also with the least appealing material.
We would be very interested to hear your thoughts on this subject.
Thank you very much, and have a nice evening everyone!
Basement:
Ground floor:
Our single-family house is currently under construction. We previously shared some initial designs here and received very valuable feedback.
We then made a few extra adjustments, revised the plans again, and are now finally building our house on a beautiful hillside plot.
The basement will have direct level access to the terrace – so we have planned the living, cooking, and dining area with a wide southeast-facing window front.
We are now focusing primarily on details such as the choice of window systems, external blinds (raffstore), and so on. At the moment, we are particularly interested in two window systems for which we have already received quotes. Perhaps you have some tips, experiences, or suggestions for us on this and other topics.
For the window front, we have the following options:
- JOSKO ONE system. This is an aluminum window system with an approximate frame visibility width of only 7cm (3 inches). The lift-and-slide door also has a similarly narrow frame, so it does not immediately catch the eye.
- Actual Cubic F Line combined with the "LOFT" all-glass system. Here, practically only the lift-and-slide door is framed with a visible wood-aluminum frame. The fixed windows next to it would be visually frameless and designed as "glass-to-glass joints."
- Drutex Iglu Energy uPVC windows: the most affordable option. However, skylights would have to be installed here because windows are not available in the full 2.80m (9 ft 2 inches) ceiling height.
While the first two options do not have a significant price difference (Actual being the cheaper one), the Drutex solution would be approximately €15,000 (about US $16,000) cheaper overall for all the windows in the house – but also with the least appealing material.
We would be very interested to hear your thoughts on this subject.
Thank you very much, and have a nice evening everyone!
Basement:
Ground floor:
SupaCriz schrieb:
Are there any other opinions on Josko (aluminum) vs. actual (wood-aluminum / all-glass)? I’m a bit unsure. I used to be a window manufacturer but not a designer myself. We didn’t have frameless or slim-frame elements back then, so I don’t feel confident evaluating those from personal experience.
In general, there is currently a trend towards stylish but low-quality wood-aluminum products. Aluminum cladding over uPVC is, in my opinion, much more suitable than films and also slightly less problematic with dark colors, although I wouldn’t push this too far. For front doors and lift-and-slide elements, I would always choose aluminum, even if uPVC might be sufficient for other applications.
A small tip regarding special heights: many window "manufacturers" nowadays are essentially assemblers of supplied profiles, glass, and so on. When ordering directly from their license providers, different sizes may be possible, whereas local window "manufacturers" often have machining equipment limited to lengths of 2.40 m (7 ft 10 in).
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Hello and thank you very much for the responses so far!
We actually wouldn’t want to go with plastic with foil – it didn’t convince us visually either. However, the window manufacturer seems to have coordinated the requirements for the necessary skylights on the terrace door over 2.50 meters (8 feet 2 inches) high with the Drutex factory, so I don’t think there is any flexibility here...
With another manufacturer, it might be possible, but then we’re already in the price range of wood-aluminum windows...
@11ant: What do you mean by "fancy junk"? It would be interesting to learn more about this, so we can avoid choosing it.
We actually wouldn’t want to go with plastic with foil – it didn’t convince us visually either. However, the window manufacturer seems to have coordinated the requirements for the necessary skylights on the terrace door over 2.50 meters (8 feet 2 inches) high with the Drutex factory, so I don’t think there is any flexibility here...
With another manufacturer, it might be possible, but then we’re already in the price range of wood-aluminum windows...
@11ant: What do you mean by "fancy junk"? It would be interesting to learn more about this, so we can avoid choosing it.
SupaCriz schrieb:
@11ant: What do you mean by "fancy junk," Wood-aluminum windows require the highest quality raw materials and craftsmanship by the most experienced specialists, which unfortunately comes at a correspondingly higher price. Even the increased tool wear when processing harder woods already has a noticeable impact on the cost. Currently, most profits in the window market are made from cheap products that only appear to have high surface quality (I would rather call it "scammed").
If wood-aluminum is offered at prices below those of "pure aluminum," it can only be counterfeit quality: due to its construction, it is more expensive, and the price-performance ratio among manufacturers does not vary enough for a low-priced wood-aluminum supplier to undercut pure aluminum prices. At least not in practice: in large standard batches like 110/135 tilt-and-turn white right, it might be conceivable – but those are not really preferred by customers seeking higher-end finishes.
It is currently common for homeowners to try to keep their budgets on track with windows and doors and to be attracted to discount offers. This tempts some window manufacturers to use wood in profiles that, without the aluminum "protective layer," would rot in record time. The wooden frames are multilayered anyway, and the visible side on the inside does not have to be more than just a surface. At the core, the quality is more like "superior roofing batten," something that the late master carpenter Ede Zimmermann would probably have made a special episode about today.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
O
Obstlerbaum7 Jan 2019 15:2211ant schrieb:
[...]
If wood-aluminum windows are offered at prices below those of pure aluminum, they can only be counterfeit quality: due to their construction, they are more expensive, and the price-performance range among manufacturers does not vary enough to allow a low-priced wood-aluminum supplier to be below the price of pure aluminum.
[...] Source? I cannot confirm this with offers from several window manufacturers.
Obstlerbaum schrieb:
Source? I can't verify this with quotes from several window manufacturers. I have mentioned the source multiple times: I used to work for a window manufacturer (aluminum) and have thoroughly considered the "make or buy" decision; and for this exact reason, I also cannot verify quotes from some window manufacturers.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Hello 11ant, thank you very much for the detailed response. That explains why, for example, with Actual, the "frameless" loft design (where the invisible aluminum frame is “hidden” within the screed, side wall recess, and ceiling) is less expensive than the same version in wood-aluminum. However, the seamless loft look can already look very nice.
Would you say that the additional cost of 15,000 – 20,000 € from Drutex plastic windows to Josko or Actual aluminum or wood-aluminum windows is also reflected in better quality and durability, or were your comments about lower-quality discount options mainly referring to the wood selection in wood-aluminum?
We also have another question that concerns us at the moment: to install external venetian blinds (raffstore) or not.
On the large southeast-facing window front, these can only be realized as cassette-mounted blinds integrated with the window (due to the projecting window seat above, side-mounted blinds are not possible). However, there is no lintel above, so these would essentially be installed directly within the window opening on the window and would probably need to be properly insulated and clad.
We have already received an offer from one company, and we are expecting another one.
From your perspective, does this make sense, or would you rather extend the windows up to the ceiling and use curtains for privacy?
Would you say that the additional cost of 15,000 – 20,000 € from Drutex plastic windows to Josko or Actual aluminum or wood-aluminum windows is also reflected in better quality and durability, or were your comments about lower-quality discount options mainly referring to the wood selection in wood-aluminum?
We also have another question that concerns us at the moment: to install external venetian blinds (raffstore) or not.
On the large southeast-facing window front, these can only be realized as cassette-mounted blinds integrated with the window (due to the projecting window seat above, side-mounted blinds are not possible). However, there is no lintel above, so these would essentially be installed directly within the window opening on the window and would probably need to be properly insulated and clad.
We have already received an offer from one company, and we are expecting another one.
From your perspective, does this make sense, or would you rather extend the windows up to the ceiling and use curtains for privacy?
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