ᐅ Is a Shared Heating System Practical for Two Semi-Detached Houses?
Created on: 21 Feb 2011 21:17
X
xe-onHello everyone,
My brother-in-law and I will each be building a semi-detached house on the same plot in a few weeks. We both agree that we want to build a prefabricated house from the same company and at the same time.
We also both want a basement where the heating system will be installed. So far, so good. Now the question has come up whether we want to have a shared heating room in the basement and supply both semi-detached houses with one gas condensing boiler.
The cost advantages are obvious. But I am not entirely clear about the downsides, especially regarding legal and insurance implications. It would mean that this shared heating room is accessible from both basements through a door for each half, so there would essentially be no “wall separation” between the two semi-detached houses.
I’m also not sure how this might work in the future. For example, if one party faces financial difficulties but the heating breaks down and needs to be replaced. You’d always be dependent on the other party. What about if one party wants to rent out or even sell their half of the semi-detached house—would that be more complicated? I feel like the negatives might outweigh the cost savings. Or am I being too negative and pessimistic? I really don’t know what to think and hope to find some good advice here.
Besides that, one company told us that by building the two semi-detached houses as “one house,” the costs could be reduced even more (savings of 40,000 €). I’m a bit skeptical because two other companies have told us differently so far. After all, what really has to be doubled? Heating, chimney, and gas connection. That shouldn’t add up to much, especially since we want to build at the same time. For example, scaffolding would only need to be set up once, and the construction site setup would also only need to be done once.
I hope you can help reduce my uncertainty and give me some good advice.
Looking forward to your answers,
Good luck xe-on
My brother-in-law and I will each be building a semi-detached house on the same plot in a few weeks. We both agree that we want to build a prefabricated house from the same company and at the same time.
We also both want a basement where the heating system will be installed. So far, so good. Now the question has come up whether we want to have a shared heating room in the basement and supply both semi-detached houses with one gas condensing boiler.
The cost advantages are obvious. But I am not entirely clear about the downsides, especially regarding legal and insurance implications. It would mean that this shared heating room is accessible from both basements through a door for each half, so there would essentially be no “wall separation” between the two semi-detached houses.
I’m also not sure how this might work in the future. For example, if one party faces financial difficulties but the heating breaks down and needs to be replaced. You’d always be dependent on the other party. What about if one party wants to rent out or even sell their half of the semi-detached house—would that be more complicated? I feel like the negatives might outweigh the cost savings. Or am I being too negative and pessimistic? I really don’t know what to think and hope to find some good advice here.
Besides that, one company told us that by building the two semi-detached houses as “one house,” the costs could be reduced even more (savings of 40,000 €). I’m a bit skeptical because two other companies have told us differently so far. After all, what really has to be doubled? Heating, chimney, and gas connection. That shouldn’t add up to much, especially since we want to build at the same time. For example, scaffolding would only need to be set up once, and the construction site setup would also only need to be done once.
I hope you can help reduce my uncertainty and give me some good advice.
Looking forward to your answers,
Good luck xe-on
Oh dear, a semi-detached house and living with relatives – good luck with that. It often ends badly, but I don’t know you personally.
A boiler system is certainly cheaper and more efficient, but:
- How do you plan to separate heating costs?
- Who will cover repairs and maintenance?
- One shared heating room means access from both houses – is that really desirable?
- What about resale, possibly a distress sale? Who would want to buy that?
Yes, a single system is cheaper, but I would never do it! For two separate systems, connections, etc., I would estimate roughly 35% higher costs.
What exactly changes significantly in a semi-detached house if it’s basically built as one single house is unclear to me, even more so regarding where the €40,000 savings are supposed to come from.
A boiler system is certainly cheaper and more efficient, but:
- How do you plan to separate heating costs?
- Who will cover repairs and maintenance?
- One shared heating room means access from both houses – is that really desirable?
- What about resale, possibly a distress sale? Who would want to buy that?
Yes, a single system is cheaper, but I would never do it! For two separate systems, connections, etc., I would estimate roughly 35% higher costs.
What exactly changes significantly in a semi-detached house if it’s basically built as one single house is unclear to me, even more so regarding where the €40,000 savings are supposed to come from.
B
Bauexperte22 Feb 2011 11:06Hello,
what a nickname, J
These so-called cost advantages only apply with a short-sighted view; savings with a gas condensing boiler are about €4-5 depending on the model, since only the boiler itself can be saved, and fire protection doors, probably T 90 or better, must be installed as dual access to the heating cellar.
What you are describing can end up costing you a lot of money and definitely nerves. I’m just imagining if your brother-in-law has to relocate for work and rent or sell his half of the semi-detached house. How will you define the operating costs with your new neighbor? What happens – by the way, also with the current plan – if your brother-in-law and you have different heating needs or heating behavior? And how are fire protection regulations supposed to be met with this approach without increased attention?
What this company means is one building body divided into residential units. You would have a shared external entrance to the house and behind the front door a shared hallway from which the two front doors to the apartments lead left and right. The requirements for the separation wall would still not be much different, the same applies to fire protection; you would still need everything doubled that you associate with your comfort – for example, the chimney here. I consider the forecast savings by the competitor to be smoke and mirrors, especially since I sold such a model and the owners moved in last month. It’s different if the residential units are stacked vertically, i.e., purchased as floor-by-floor ownership … then you could also simply each buy a condominium.
The complete site setup and, up to a certain point, the costs of utility connections are – with a proper calculation of the semi-detached house – the only savings. It is a widespread misconception that if a contractor builds a complete semi-detached house, you get a huge saving in the end. Every trade still has to be performed twice, and of course, the contractor must also consider their profit intentions; otherwise, the warranty will soon be in jeopardy.
If you are investing this much money, you should not save the last few thousand euros in the wrong place, at the expense of possibly better bathroom equipment. Building a house always requires a long-term perspective. You could get sick, a separation might occur (which I obviously do not wish you), and so on. What will you do then with a house you can’t reasonably sell because a potential buyer has concerns about the property register entry? People already shy away from an “easement” when buying a plot of land, which is silly. What do you think will happen when they are supposed to buy a house that partly has the disadvantages of a condominium?
Best regards
what a nickname, J
xe-on schrieb:
…Now the discussion arises whether we want to build a shared heating cellar and then supply both semi-detached houses from a single gas condensing boiler. The cost advantages are obvious.
These so-called cost advantages only apply with a short-sighted view; savings with a gas condensing boiler are about €4-5 depending on the model, since only the boiler itself can be saved, and fire protection doors, probably T 90 or better, must be installed as dual access to the heating cellar.
What you are describing can end up costing you a lot of money and definitely nerves. I’m just imagining if your brother-in-law has to relocate for work and rent or sell his half of the semi-detached house. How will you define the operating costs with your new neighbor? What happens – by the way, also with the current plan – if your brother-in-law and you have different heating needs or heating behavior? And how are fire protection regulations supposed to be met with this approach without increased attention?
xe-on schrieb:
Besides, a company told us that by doing this, the two semi-detached houses can be built as “one house” and thus the costs can be reduced even more (saving €40,000)
What this company means is one building body divided into residential units. You would have a shared external entrance to the house and behind the front door a shared hallway from which the two front doors to the apartments lead left and right. The requirements for the separation wall would still not be much different, the same applies to fire protection; you would still need everything doubled that you associate with your comfort – for example, the chimney here. I consider the forecast savings by the competitor to be smoke and mirrors, especially since I sold such a model and the owners moved in last month. It’s different if the residential units are stacked vertically, i.e., purchased as floor-by-floor ownership … then you could also simply each buy a condominium.
xe-on schrieb:
I am taking into account that we both want to build at the same time. That means scaffolding only needs to be erected once, and site setup only needs to be done once
The complete site setup and, up to a certain point, the costs of utility connections are – with a proper calculation of the semi-detached house – the only savings. It is a widespread misconception that if a contractor builds a complete semi-detached house, you get a huge saving in the end. Every trade still has to be performed twice, and of course, the contractor must also consider their profit intentions; otherwise, the warranty will soon be in jeopardy.
If you are investing this much money, you should not save the last few thousand euros in the wrong place, at the expense of possibly better bathroom equipment. Building a house always requires a long-term perspective. You could get sick, a separation might occur (which I obviously do not wish you), and so on. What will you do then with a house you can’t reasonably sell because a potential buyer has concerns about the property register entry? People already shy away from an “easement” when buying a plot of land, which is silly. What do you think will happen when they are supposed to buy a house that partly has the disadvantages of a condominium?
Best regards
Hello both of you and everyone else,
Thank you very much for your feedback. You generally support my opinion and give me even more arguments and reasons against it. However, I would still like to hear more opinions to get a stronger overall assessment. I would appreciate it if more people would join the discussion.
I would like to respond a bit to your points:
[QUOTE=blurboy]
- How do you want to separate heating costs?
- Who is responsible for repairs and maintenance?
- Shared heating room = access from both houses, is that acceptable?
[/QUOTE]
I imagine heating costs would have to be paid according to consumption, which could be made possible with two meters. I just wonder who would handle the billing. In my multi-unit building, a third party manages the billing for my rental unit, not my landlord. The energy provider bills the tenant for the gas consumed, and the tenant, in turn, splits the cost among us according to what the billing company calculates. But who would do that for me and my brother-in-law? Another company would expect to be paid as well.
What about maintenance costs? It only makes sense to allocate these proportionally based on energy consumption, right? For example, if I heat more because I want my apartment warmer, I should also pay more for maintenance, correct? After all, I would be causing more wear on the system by using more heat.
The fact that we would have a shared entrance to one room also bothers me.
[QUOTE=Bauexperte]
What this company means is a single building structure divided into separate living units. You would have a shared entrance to the building from outside, and behind the front door, a shared hallway leading to the two apartment doors on the left and right.
[/QUOTE]
Sorry, I forgot to mention that. According to the construction company, we have two separate house entrances.
[QUOTE=Bauexperte, post: 22623]
The requirements for the party wall would still not be significantly different, the same applies to fire protection;
[/QUOTE]
What is a party wall? The wall between the two halves of the house?
[QUOTE=Bauexperte, post: 22623]
You would also still need duplicates of everything that contributes to your comfort – for example, the chimney.
[/QUOTE]
Regarding comfort: How is it possible if we have one heating system, but both households have very different heating and hot water needs? For instance, one heats more and the other uses more hot water. Is that feasible? Can that be tracked?
[QUOTE=Bauexperte, post: 22623]
I consider the competitor’s projected savings to be misleading, especially
[/QUOTE]
I agree. He could not explain that to me in a comprehensible way either.
[QUOTE=Bauexperte, post: 22623]
because I have sold such a model and the homeowners moved in last month.
[/QUOTE]
Out of interest: Were the parties related? Did they also install a heating system?
[QUOTE=Bauexperte, post: 22623]
If you are investing that much money, you should not save on the last $6,000 by choosing an inferior bathroom setup. Building a house always requires a long-term perspective.
[/QUOTE]
I agree. But I also want to fairly consider all pros and cons, as I am mostly alone with my opinion within the family. For me, the disadvantages outweigh the benefits, especially the fact that we would share a heating room through which, for example, water could leak into the other house. Also, the billing of consumed energy and the costs for modernization and maintenance would become very complicated. However, maybe there are standard or legal regulations that address these latter points.
Nevertheless, I am happy to be proven wrong and open to criticism.
Best regards
xe-on
Thank you very much for your feedback. You generally support my opinion and give me even more arguments and reasons against it. However, I would still like to hear more opinions to get a stronger overall assessment. I would appreciate it if more people would join the discussion.
I would like to respond a bit to your points:
[QUOTE=blurboy]
- How do you want to separate heating costs?
- Who is responsible for repairs and maintenance?
- Shared heating room = access from both houses, is that acceptable?
[/QUOTE]
I imagine heating costs would have to be paid according to consumption, which could be made possible with two meters. I just wonder who would handle the billing. In my multi-unit building, a third party manages the billing for my rental unit, not my landlord. The energy provider bills the tenant for the gas consumed, and the tenant, in turn, splits the cost among us according to what the billing company calculates. But who would do that for me and my brother-in-law? Another company would expect to be paid as well.
What about maintenance costs? It only makes sense to allocate these proportionally based on energy consumption, right? For example, if I heat more because I want my apartment warmer, I should also pay more for maintenance, correct? After all, I would be causing more wear on the system by using more heat.
The fact that we would have a shared entrance to one room also bothers me.
[QUOTE=Bauexperte]
What this company means is a single building structure divided into separate living units. You would have a shared entrance to the building from outside, and behind the front door, a shared hallway leading to the two apartment doors on the left and right.
[/QUOTE]
Sorry, I forgot to mention that. According to the construction company, we have two separate house entrances.
[QUOTE=Bauexperte, post: 22623]
The requirements for the party wall would still not be significantly different, the same applies to fire protection;
[/QUOTE]
What is a party wall? The wall between the two halves of the house?
[QUOTE=Bauexperte, post: 22623]
You would also still need duplicates of everything that contributes to your comfort – for example, the chimney.
[/QUOTE]
Regarding comfort: How is it possible if we have one heating system, but both households have very different heating and hot water needs? For instance, one heats more and the other uses more hot water. Is that feasible? Can that be tracked?
[QUOTE=Bauexperte, post: 22623]
I consider the competitor’s projected savings to be misleading, especially
[/QUOTE]
I agree. He could not explain that to me in a comprehensible way either.
[QUOTE=Bauexperte, post: 22623]
because I have sold such a model and the homeowners moved in last month.
[/QUOTE]
Out of interest: Were the parties related? Did they also install a heating system?
[QUOTE=Bauexperte, post: 22623]
If you are investing that much money, you should not save on the last $6,000 by choosing an inferior bathroom setup. Building a house always requires a long-term perspective.
[/QUOTE]
I agree. But I also want to fairly consider all pros and cons, as I am mostly alone with my opinion within the family. For me, the disadvantages outweigh the benefits, especially the fact that we would share a heating room through which, for example, water could leak into the other house. Also, the billing of consumed energy and the costs for modernization and maintenance would become very complicated. However, maybe there are standard or legal regulations that address these latter points.
Nevertheless, I am happy to be proven wrong and open to criticism.
Best regards
xe-on
B
Bauexperte23 Feb 2011 07:11Hello,
Yes.
The left, smaller unit is occupied by the parents of the client, and the right, larger unit by the young family with children; basically, it could be described as a "multi-generational house." Both units are supplied with a properly calculated heating system; each party has its own meters. During the planning of the house, the future rentability of the smaller unit was taken into account to avoid any potential billing disputes; the same applies to fire protection and sound insulation.
Kind regards
xe-on schrieb:
What is a party wall? The wall between the two housing units?
Yes.
xe-on schrieb:
Out of interest: Were the parties related? Did you install a heating system as well?
The left, smaller unit is occupied by the parents of the client, and the right, larger unit by the young family with children; basically, it could be described as a "multi-generational house." Both units are supplied with a properly calculated heating system; each party has its own meters. During the planning of the house, the future rentability of the smaller unit was taken into account to avoid any potential billing disputes; the same applies to fire protection and sound insulation.
Kind regards
xe-on schrieb:
Hello everyone,
My brother-in-law and I are going to build two semi-detached houses on the same property in a few weeks. We both agree that we want to build prefabricated homes from the same company and at the same time.
We also both want basements where the heating systems will be installed. So far, so good. Now the discussion is about whether we should create a shared heating room in the basement and supply both semi-detached houses with a single gas condensing boiler.
The cost advantages are clear. But I am not entirely sure about the drawbacks, especially regarding legal and insurance aspects. It would mean this shared heating room would be accessible from both basements by a door each, so there would basically be no physical separation between the two halves of the semi-detached houses.
Also, I’m unsure how this might work in the future. For example, if one party runs into financial difficulties but the heating breaks down and needs to be replaced, you would always depend on the other party. What happens if one owner wants to rent out or even sell their half? Would that be more complicated? I feel the disadvantages might outweigh the savings. Or am I being too negative and pessimistic? I really don’t know what to think and hope to get good advice here.
Besides that, a company told us that by doing this, the two semi-detached houses could be treated as “one house” which would reduce costs even more (saving €40,000 (about 44,000 USD)). I don’t quite believe that because two other companies told us differently.
What exactly has to be done twice? Heating, chimney, and gas connection. That can’t make that much of a difference. I’m considering that we want to build simultaneously, so scaffolding and site setup only need to happen once...
I hope you can ease my uncertainty and give me good advice.
Looking forward to your answers,
Good luck, xe-onHello home builder,
That might possibly, under certain circumstances and conditions, be sensible, and perhaps you might save something—but then only the builder saves. You don’t just operate the heating jointly, but also the kitchen, the bathroom, the washing machine, etc. No, you build a house to have something of your own and to appreciate these advantages.
Also, a gas heating system is no longer state of the art. I’m surprised that so many people still install air source heat pumps. Thanks to advertising, you often get sold a bad deal as if it were a good one. As far as I know, air source heat pumps are no longer subsidized by the KFW (Credit Institute for Reconstruction), and for good reason.
In my opinion, the only right choice is a ground source heat pump. It may not be more expensive upfront but is cheaper to operate in the long run. Mine runs perfectly well.
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