ᐅ Prefabricated house or solid construction – what is your opinion?

Our decision: a prefabricated house. The indoor climate (comfort level) in a wooden house is a thousand times better than in a solid construction—just visit some model homes! This is a subjective opinion but was decisive for us.

We do grill with charcoal, though.

MeisterBob

So far, I haven’t noticed any difference in the indoor climate... Where does this improved "feel-good factor" come from?

@DerBjoern: Do you know the meaning of the term "subjective opinion"?

We would have built both types, but now we are going with a solid construction.

One disadvantage of a prefabricated house is that you have to make all decisions upfront. Before production begins, the electrical plan must be finalized and the tiles already selected. Additionally, the placement of all sanitary fixtures needs to be determined. With solid construction, everything happens gradually. You can focus on each trade step by step, for example, deciding which lamps to install and where only after the roof-raising ceremony. This is easier for many people because they can walk through their actual house rather than relying on a design plan. This also applies to bathroom planning...

Because of another thread, I want to point out an advantage of timber frame construction:

For some small plots and the corresponding floor area ratio, there is a minimum buildable area. With the thinner walls in timber framing, you gain more living space compared to solid construction. This can easily be around 10m² (110 sq ft) of additional space.

ypg schrieb:
We would have built both types, but now we’re going with a solid (massive) build.
One drawback I see with a prefab house is that you have to decide on everything beforehand. Before production starts, the electrical planning must be done, and the tiles have to be chosen as well. Also, the location of all sanitary fixtures. With solid construction, everything happens step by step; you can focus on individual trades phase by phase, so for example, you decide which lamps to install where only after the roof-raising ceremony. This can be easier for many, since you experience the house in person rather than just looking at a design plan. This also applies to bathroom planning...

I have to step in here.
Of course, it depends on the company. In our case, they were very flexible. The only exception was the sanitary fixtures, which were fixed. But I was able to change almost every single electrical socket on site, and I even had nearly 10 additional sockets installed afterward. That’s no problem since they just have to drill a hole with a wood drill bit. Of course, if the electrician is careless or has strict instructions to follow the plan exactly, then nothing can be changed.

For the lighting, we were asked again on site exactly where each cable should go. Plans are one thing, but in reality, you often decide differently. We also discussed things like two-way switches on site and corrected errors in the planning.

This of course assumes you can be on-site full-time for the first 4-5 days to discuss such spontaneous changes.

Regarding the comfort climate, I can’t say there’s any difference for us. Psychologically, we find it cool to have a prefab house simply because it’s something unusual. I think we were the topic of conversation in the village for days since everyone else built solid houses, and in the new development area, there are only solid houses except for two other prefab houses from my supplier. We even built in the old village center, which made it even more exotic.

But you have to get used to one thing with a prefab house: it’s made of wood, and wood moves. Sometimes it makes really strange noises when the house cools down in the evening after a hot day.
At first, I was startled by this, but now I’ve gotten used to it.

The issue of wall thickness is definitely a good point... I don’t know what’s normal, but some of our interior walls are quite thin, which saves a lot of space for things like pantries.
By the way, they are soundproof. My father-in-law snores loudly like a sawmill and sleeps in the next room when visiting. I’ve never heard him there, unlike in his solid house from 2004. There, I have to plan to fall asleep before him, otherwise I’d go crazy.