ᐅ Evaluating Different Options in Single-Family Home Construction
Created on: 1 Nov 2023 11:05
S
Schnubbihh
Hello dear community,
We are currently planning the construction of our single-family home and I would like to clarify as many details as possible and make decisions about the equipment before signing the contract.
Here are some of my thoughts; I would appreciate your opinions on each point. I welcome contrasting views (with appropriate reasoning).
(1) Shutter material
Decision: Plastic slats
Reason: We will have white windows, so the extra cost for aluminum shutters is not worthwhile (for better color options)
(2) Shutters vs. Venetian blinds on the ground floor
Decision: Shutters
Reason: Venetian blinds are vulnerable to wind (Northern Germany) and somewhat more expensive; with some automation of the shutters, hopefully we won’t sit in the dark during summer anyway
(3) Heating
Decision: Air-to-water heat pump
Reason: Best price/performance ratio
(4) Ventilation
Decision: Central ventilation system
Reason: Less noise and better efficiency, but higher costs (purchase and maintenance)
(5) Internal walls
Decision: Masonry made of calcium silicate bricks (instead of aerated concrete or drywall)
Reason: Better sound insulation desired (5-person household); additional costs are not significant
(6) Interior doors (sound insulation)
Decision: Upgrade with better sound insulation
Reason: Improved sound insulation by about 3 dB (honeycomb core instead of hollow core) costs approximately €35 (about $35) more per door leaf. (According to general contractor)
(7) Interior door (clear height)
Decision: Clear height 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in)
Reason: I am 2 m tall (6 ft 7 in) and have three sons who won’t be short either; additional cost for 2.10 m clear height in a standard interior door is about €65 (about $65) each. (According to general contractor)
(8) Staircase
Decision: Reinforced concrete staircase instead of wood
Reason: Better sound insulation; closed staircase with storage space underneath
(9) Window security standard
Decision: Not decided yet (RC1 vs. RC2N vs. better)
Reason: According to the general contractor, there are no major differences between RC1 and RC2N; extra costs are not worthwhile
(10) Patio door
Decision: Swing door instead of lift-and-slide door
Reason: Price difference too high; risk of moisture ingress with lift-and-slide door
(11) “Outsourcing trades”
Decision: Exclude certain trades from the general contractor contract to save costs, contract local providers (not self-performed work!)
Reason: Trades like sanitary equipment, flooring, and painting can be obtained significantly cheaper from a local supplier
(12) Bathtub
Decision: No bathtub in the upper floor bathroom, but prepare connections for possible retrofitting and for washing machine use
Reason: We are not fans of bathtubs and want to save costs; however, we want to prepare in case we change our minds or for a higher resale value
(13) Electrical and home automation
Decision: Still quite open
Reason: Would like to do something but solutions quickly become too expensive
(14) TV cable connection
Decision: Still open, possibly omit completely
Reason: We watch a lot of TV over the internet; maybe costs can be saved here (?); is a TV connection necessary in every room anymore?
(15) Second sink in the utility room
Decision: Still open, weighing costs and benefits
Reason: Would be a nice feature for the kids’ dirty shoes or cleaning fish (I am an angler)
(16) Second exterior door from the carport to the utility room
Decision: Still open
Reason: Would be a nice feature to bring less dirt into the hallway (kids, groceries, drinks) and to get dry from the car to the house and vice versa; however, the two doors are only a few meters apart — is this really useful?
We are currently planning the construction of our single-family home and I would like to clarify as many details as possible and make decisions about the equipment before signing the contract.
Here are some of my thoughts; I would appreciate your opinions on each point. I welcome contrasting views (with appropriate reasoning).
(1) Shutter material
Decision: Plastic slats
Reason: We will have white windows, so the extra cost for aluminum shutters is not worthwhile (for better color options)
(2) Shutters vs. Venetian blinds on the ground floor
Decision: Shutters
Reason: Venetian blinds are vulnerable to wind (Northern Germany) and somewhat more expensive; with some automation of the shutters, hopefully we won’t sit in the dark during summer anyway
(3) Heating
Decision: Air-to-water heat pump
Reason: Best price/performance ratio
(4) Ventilation
Decision: Central ventilation system
Reason: Less noise and better efficiency, but higher costs (purchase and maintenance)
(5) Internal walls
Decision: Masonry made of calcium silicate bricks (instead of aerated concrete or drywall)
Reason: Better sound insulation desired (5-person household); additional costs are not significant
(6) Interior doors (sound insulation)
Decision: Upgrade with better sound insulation
Reason: Improved sound insulation by about 3 dB (honeycomb core instead of hollow core) costs approximately €35 (about $35) more per door leaf. (According to general contractor)
(7) Interior door (clear height)
Decision: Clear height 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in)
Reason: I am 2 m tall (6 ft 7 in) and have three sons who won’t be short either; additional cost for 2.10 m clear height in a standard interior door is about €65 (about $65) each. (According to general contractor)
(8) Staircase
Decision: Reinforced concrete staircase instead of wood
Reason: Better sound insulation; closed staircase with storage space underneath
(9) Window security standard
Decision: Not decided yet (RC1 vs. RC2N vs. better)
Reason: According to the general contractor, there are no major differences between RC1 and RC2N; extra costs are not worthwhile
(10) Patio door
Decision: Swing door instead of lift-and-slide door
Reason: Price difference too high; risk of moisture ingress with lift-and-slide door
(11) “Outsourcing trades”
Decision: Exclude certain trades from the general contractor contract to save costs, contract local providers (not self-performed work!)
Reason: Trades like sanitary equipment, flooring, and painting can be obtained significantly cheaper from a local supplier
(12) Bathtub
Decision: No bathtub in the upper floor bathroom, but prepare connections for possible retrofitting and for washing machine use
Reason: We are not fans of bathtubs and want to save costs; however, we want to prepare in case we change our minds or for a higher resale value
(13) Electrical and home automation
Decision: Still quite open
Reason: Would like to do something but solutions quickly become too expensive
(14) TV cable connection
Decision: Still open, possibly omit completely
Reason: We watch a lot of TV over the internet; maybe costs can be saved here (?); is a TV connection necessary in every room anymore?
(15) Second sink in the utility room
Decision: Still open, weighing costs and benefits
Reason: Would be a nice feature for the kids’ dirty shoes or cleaning fish (I am an angler)
(16) Second exterior door from the carport to the utility room
Decision: Still open
Reason: Would be a nice feature to bring less dirt into the hallway (kids, groceries, drinks) and to get dry from the car to the house and vice versa; however, the two doors are only a few meters apart — is this really useful?
Schnubbihh schrieb:
If I understand correctly, having RC2 alone doesn’t help much if the weak point is the glass, which can be broken within seconds. So, you would need an RC2 window combined with appropriate security glass. From what I remember, RC2 actually includes laminated panes. RC2 standard, but without laminated panes, is called RC2N.