Hello,
My wife and I plan to start building in the first half of 2015 and are currently in the planning phase, looking for a contractor to help us realize our project. We already have a plot of land, so our total budget for the project is set at 300,000€ (approximately $320,000), which should include, for example, the kitchen, garage, and other features—excluding the garden.
Our current requirements are as follows:
- City villa with about 140 sqm (1,500 sq ft) of living space, including a basement
- Heating system: we are currently considering an air-to-water heat pump with underfloor heating and possibly photovoltaic panels (but this may change as we learn more about heating technologies)
- Open plan living/dining area, office, and shower toilet on the ground floor
- Bedroom with walk-in closet, two children’s rooms, and a bathroom on the upper floor
- Storage room, technical room with laundry facilities, and storage spaces in the basement
- External access to the basement
- Garage on the north side of the house with enough space to the house; the garage roof should be connected to the house roof to create a carport (basement access should be located under the carport)
- Possibly building with energy efficiency to take advantage of subsidies, if worthwhile (ideology comes second :p)
If I remember or think of additional details that we want to consider, I will update the list.
We currently have four requests for conventional solid construction and one offer from a prefabricated house manufacturer. We prefer conventional solid construction but wanted to have a comparison with a prefabricated house of the same size.
In the coming days, I will definitely provide floor plans, as I am also hoping for optimization suggestions in that area.
We appreciate any tips or advice.
My wife and I plan to start building in the first half of 2015 and are currently in the planning phase, looking for a contractor to help us realize our project. We already have a plot of land, so our total budget for the project is set at 300,000€ (approximately $320,000), which should include, for example, the kitchen, garage, and other features—excluding the garden.
Our current requirements are as follows:
- City villa with about 140 sqm (1,500 sq ft) of living space, including a basement
- Heating system: we are currently considering an air-to-water heat pump with underfloor heating and possibly photovoltaic panels (but this may change as we learn more about heating technologies)
- Open plan living/dining area, office, and shower toilet on the ground floor
- Bedroom with walk-in closet, two children’s rooms, and a bathroom on the upper floor
- Storage room, technical room with laundry facilities, and storage spaces in the basement
- External access to the basement
- Garage on the north side of the house with enough space to the house; the garage roof should be connected to the house roof to create a carport (basement access should be located under the carport)
- Possibly building with energy efficiency to take advantage of subsidies, if worthwhile (ideology comes second :p)
If I remember or think of additional details that we want to consider, I will update the list.
We currently have four requests for conventional solid construction and one offer from a prefabricated house manufacturer. We prefer conventional solid construction but wanted to have a comparison with a prefabricated house of the same size.
In the coming days, I will definitely provide floor plans, as I am also hoping for optimization suggestions in that area.
We appreciate any tips or advice.
B
Basti15039 Jan 2015 08:51After a long break, here is an update.
We are still waiting for the final quote, which we expect the most from.
It is a revised offer from the provider who submitted the initial quote. This concerns the floor plan posted here. We have slightly modified the layout to enlarge the kitchen. Additionally, we had a meeting with the general contractor, their heating engineer, and a sales representative from Stiebel Eltron. We want an air-to-water heat pump with a ventilation system featuring heat recovery. Stiebel will size the system based on the floor plan and include it in the offer.
We also had a consultation about financing shortly before Christmas. The amount was shocking, but according to our advisor, it is manageable, even if one income is lost.
We are now approaching the decision on who will be awarded the contract. After that, a detailed financing plan will be made based on the offer, and then construction can start soon.
We are still waiting for the final quote, which we expect the most from.
It is a revised offer from the provider who submitted the initial quote. This concerns the floor plan posted here. We have slightly modified the layout to enlarge the kitchen. Additionally, we had a meeting with the general contractor, their heating engineer, and a sales representative from Stiebel Eltron. We want an air-to-water heat pump with a ventilation system featuring heat recovery. Stiebel will size the system based on the floor plan and include it in the offer.
We also had a consultation about financing shortly before Christmas. The amount was shocking, but according to our advisor, it is manageable, even if one income is lost.
We are now approaching the decision on who will be awarded the contract. After that, a detailed financing plan will be made based on the offer, and then construction can start soon.
B
Basti150323 Jan 2015 10:53So, we have received the final offer.
The extension and the ventilation system are included, as well as underfloor heating in 2 out of 3 basement rooms. The offer looks very good!
There is only one point that makes us hesitate.
The offer includes an air-to-water heat pump from the manufacturer Nibe and a separate ventilation system also from Nibe (I have not yet asked which models). It is a system with one component in the utility room and another component installed outside (for the air-to-water heat pump).
For an additional cost of €4,000 (about $4,400), we could get a combined unit from Stiebel Eltron (LWZ 304 SOL) designed for indoor installation only, including a 700-liter (185-gallon) buffer tank, instead of the two separate Nibe components.
Personally, I tend to prefer Stiebel Eltron—despite the extra cost—mainly because of the brand name (I am not familiar with Nibe at all).
Is there anyone here who could advise me on which option to choose?
The extension and the ventilation system are included, as well as underfloor heating in 2 out of 3 basement rooms. The offer looks very good!
There is only one point that makes us hesitate.
The offer includes an air-to-water heat pump from the manufacturer Nibe and a separate ventilation system also from Nibe (I have not yet asked which models). It is a system with one component in the utility room and another component installed outside (for the air-to-water heat pump).
For an additional cost of €4,000 (about $4,400), we could get a combined unit from Stiebel Eltron (LWZ 304 SOL) designed for indoor installation only, including a 700-liter (185-gallon) buffer tank, instead of the two separate Nibe components.
Personally, I tend to prefer Stiebel Eltron—despite the extra cost—mainly because of the brand name (I am not familiar with Nibe at all).
Is there anyone here who could advise me on which option to choose?
We are getting a split system from IDM in Austria. We decided against an indoor unit due to space constraints.
Nibe is from Scandinavia, I believe from Sweden. My sister has a ground source heat pump from Nibe and has been very satisfied so far. Nibe has long since stopped being a no-name product.
However, I can’t recommend any specific brand. I think the heating installer is the best person to advise on that.
Nibe is from Scandinavia, I believe from Sweden. My sister has a ground source heat pump from Nibe and has been very satisfied so far. Nibe has long since stopped being a no-name product.
However, I can’t recommend any specific brand. I think the heating installer is the best person to advise on that.
N
nordanney23 Jan 2015 11:38Two neighbors have devices from Stiebel Eltron:
1.) LWZ 403 SOL – very satisfied after one year, low electricity consumption (in a KFW 55 prefabricated house)
2.) LWZ 303 – not satisfied after 5 months, as electricity consumption is 20-40% higher than in 1.) and the house is almost identical
Both heating systems were installed by the same technician; number 2 even results in indoor temperatures almost one degree lower.
Noise level is low; the ventilation system reduces humidity to 30% during the (warm) winter.
1.) LWZ 403 SOL – very satisfied after one year, low electricity consumption (in a KFW 55 prefabricated house)
2.) LWZ 303 – not satisfied after 5 months, as electricity consumption is 20-40% higher than in 1.) and the house is almost identical
Both heating systems were installed by the same technician; number 2 even results in indoor temperatures almost one degree lower.
Noise level is low; the ventilation system reduces humidity to 30% during the (warm) winter.
B
Basti150323 Jan 2015 12:09Thank you for your responses!
I am not very familiar with this topic, but could it be that system 2.) is undersized for the house?
nordanney schrieb:
Two neighbors have devices from Stiebel Eltron:
1.) LWZ 403 SOL ==> very satisfied after one year, low electricity consumption (in a KfW 55 prefabricated house)
2.) LWZ 303 ==> not satisfied after 5 months, as electricity consumption is 20-40% higher than with 1.) in a nearly identical house
Both heating systems were installed by the same installer, 2.) even has an indoor temperature almost one degree lower.
Noise level is low, ventilation system reduces indoor humidity to 30% during (warm) winter
I am not very familiar with this topic, but could it be that system 2.) is undersized for the house?
B
Bauexperte23 Jan 2015 13:04Hello,
Regards, Bauexperte
Basti1503 schrieb:Yes.
I’m not very familiar with this topic either, but could it be that system 2.) is undersized for the house?
Regards, Bauexperte
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