ᐅ What features did you include in your house, and what did you decide to leave out?
Created on: 30 Jan 2015 14:18
W
willWohnen
Hello,
When planning and building a house, you focus on the essentials and the budget. Some wishes get dropped along the way. But certain small luxuries or nice features are important to you, even if they are not strictly necessary, and you end up including them anyway.
For us, a heated conservatory was an unattainable dream. However, we treated ourselves to tiled, walk-in showers, even though they take up more space.
I would love to hear what you have given up and what you managed to include.
Best regards
When planning and building a house, you focus on the essentials and the budget. Some wishes get dropped along the way. But certain small luxuries or nice features are important to you, even if they are not strictly necessary, and you end up including them anyway.
For us, a heated conservatory was an unattainable dream. However, we treated ourselves to tiled, walk-in showers, even though they take up more space.
I would love to hear what you have given up and what you managed to include.
Best regards
Bautraum2015 schrieb:
A rather silly question.... we haven’t received any regulations regarding this, or should something about the cistern be mentioned somewhere? We own rural land, real countryside, so maybe something like that isn’t needed there?If I have understood your question correctly, the “land” refers to farmland / meadow / forest / or similar—that is, roughly agricultural land.
Without being 100% sure.
As far as I know, municipal requirements relate mainly to wastewater management—specifically to rainwater discharged (from roofs / sealed surfaces / etc.). This is to prevent sewer systems from overflowing or deteriorating too quickly, or to avoid constantly increasing the capacity of wastewater treatment plants.
On agricultural land, surface water (from rain) generally does not enter the sewer system but instead infiltrates into the soil. Therefore, the issue is usually not relevant there.
EveundGerd17 Feb 2015 18:38f-pNo schrieb:
This is going to occur anyway – whether flushed with tap water or rainwater. Or is the wastewater volume calculated based on water consumption?Yes, it is.
@Fantamoax: Last year, we saw a cistern at the hardware store that looked like an amphora. I really liked it. Unfortunately, I don't remember the price.
They also come in stone finish... very stylish as well.
We haven't decided yet what style of cistern we want. The electricians are still working in the house, and outside it looks pretty bad because the gas, water, and other utilities are being finally installed this week.
I think I’ll take care of it in April.
N
nordanney17 Feb 2015 19:57f-pNo schrieb:
Using it for toilet flushing is out of the question because: it’s not cost-effective. There are already a few threads on this – just try searching. It depends on how often you flush.
For us, it has been over 30 cubic meters in the last 8 months, which equals nearly 130 EUR saved (not counting the pump’s electricity). But you’d need a large family for that...
f-pNo schrieb:
Ah – okay.
That explains the amount for @nordanney a bit better for me.
Thanks. Accurately stated!
It will still take a very long time for it to become cost-effective.
In the quoted thread, I roughly summarized the conversation with our general contractor. Here is an excerpt:
“Since there must be a separation between the fresh water pipes and the water supply from the cistern, separate pipelines need to be installed. The entire setup would cost between 3,000 and 5,000 euros and, given the current water prices, would not pay off for a long time.
There may also be higher cleaning costs for the toilet and flush tanks (see other comments), as well as additional electricity costs for the pump. This depends on whether a filter is installed (which also needs to be paid for).”
Even if you save about 200 euros per year, it would take roughly 15 years for the installation to pay off (assuming 3,000 euros for the piping and excluding the other costs).
I had considered this option myself but discarded it based on these figures. It might make more sense if you are working in the trade.
In the quoted thread, I roughly summarized the conversation with our general contractor. Here is an excerpt:
“Since there must be a separation between the fresh water pipes and the water supply from the cistern, separate pipelines need to be installed. The entire setup would cost between 3,000 and 5,000 euros and, given the current water prices, would not pay off for a long time.
There may also be higher cleaning costs for the toilet and flush tanks (see other comments), as well as additional electricity costs for the pump. This depends on whether a filter is installed (which also needs to be paid for).”
Even if you save about 200 euros per year, it would take roughly 15 years for the installation to pay off (assuming 3,000 euros for the piping and excluding the other costs).
I had considered this option myself but discarded it based on these figures. It might make more sense if you are working in the trade.
N
nordanney17 Feb 2015 22:04Wow, those are some costs that were assigned to you. Our situation was different:
- Water pipe from the garden well about €50 (approximately $55) for materials + thanks to the excavator operator who dug a trench 70 cm (28 inches) deep and 35 m (115 feet) long
- No filter or cleaning costs needed due to very good water quality
- Additional charge for separate piping (three bathrooms) around €1,000 (I don’t have the exact price on hand)
At that price, it was clear to us that we definitely wanted to use well water for the toilets.
- Water pipe from the garden well about €50 (approximately $55) for materials + thanks to the excavator operator who dug a trench 70 cm (28 inches) deep and 35 m (115 feet) long
- No filter or cleaning costs needed due to very good water quality
- Additional charge for separate piping (three bathrooms) around €1,000 (I don’t have the exact price on hand)
At that price, it was clear to us that we definitely wanted to use well water for the toilets.
Hello everyone,
here are the things that would have been nice or that I would like to have:
- detached single-family house
- more modern heating system
- a somewhat larger plot of land (about 500m² (5,380 sq ft) more), currently 480m² (5,167 sq ft)
- as a layperson, I wouldn’t have thought polished marble is so sensitive on the surface
- cleaning staff (I still underestimated the effort as a homeowner)
On the plus side are:
- double garage with direct access to the basement
- own secure windowless hobby room for my collections
- craft rooms, storage space in the basement about 70m² (750 sq ft)
- 2 outdoor seating areas
- double-leaf house and living room doors (look spacious and practical when a treadmill is delivered)
- 1.65m (5.5 ft) wide sunny balconies (you only learn to appreciate these after living there for a while)
- I made it cozy according to my ideas: several gas grills, 6 large screens with home cinema setup (for sports, TV watching, one for 3D movies, one for series while doing paperwork, one for while eating, etc.) Good that I don’t have to justify these quirks to any roommates; unlike Charlie Harper, I live alone
- own home cinema room with a bed in case I’m too tired to go up a floor
- fitness room (I find basement gyms uninviting)
- utility room not in the basement
- V-Zug household appliances
- guest room, not just a study with a pull-out couch
- bed and dining table made of swamp oak are worth mentioning too
- 25m² (270 sq ft) bedroom, ensuite bathroom
- walk-in closet (wonderful when you don’t have to put up a monster wardrobe anywhere)
- office with a view of the mountain peaks to let the mind wander...
- open fireplace in the living room (53m² (570 sq ft))
- separate kitchen (because of the smells) with dining area
- all 4 wet rooms with natural stone, including bathroom in gray marble, double sink
- flooring: marble and oak parquet
- also glad the stairs are not made of wood, as they get damaged immediately; a marble staircase still looks like new after 20 years
- roller shutters are installed but completely useless for me; in the past year, I didn’t even think of using them
- garage and basement at the lowest level, so no neighbor’s line of sight inside
- unobstructed view of the mountains
- 190m² (2,045 sq ft) living space
- in Switzerland
--- but the real luxury, in my view, is to live alone in the property
After 11 years in a tiny apartment on the 5th floor without an elevator, parking, or basement, I don’t feel guilty at all
here are the things that would have been nice or that I would like to have:
- detached single-family house
- more modern heating system
- a somewhat larger plot of land (about 500m² (5,380 sq ft) more), currently 480m² (5,167 sq ft)
- as a layperson, I wouldn’t have thought polished marble is so sensitive on the surface
- cleaning staff (I still underestimated the effort as a homeowner)
On the plus side are:
- double garage with direct access to the basement
- own secure windowless hobby room for my collections
- craft rooms, storage space in the basement about 70m² (750 sq ft)
- 2 outdoor seating areas
- double-leaf house and living room doors (look spacious and practical when a treadmill is delivered)
- 1.65m (5.5 ft) wide sunny balconies (you only learn to appreciate these after living there for a while)
- I made it cozy according to my ideas: several gas grills, 6 large screens with home cinema setup (for sports, TV watching, one for 3D movies, one for series while doing paperwork, one for while eating, etc.) Good that I don’t have to justify these quirks to any roommates; unlike Charlie Harper, I live alone
- own home cinema room with a bed in case I’m too tired to go up a floor
- fitness room (I find basement gyms uninviting)
- utility room not in the basement
- V-Zug household appliances
- guest room, not just a study with a pull-out couch
- bed and dining table made of swamp oak are worth mentioning too
- 25m² (270 sq ft) bedroom, ensuite bathroom
- walk-in closet (wonderful when you don’t have to put up a monster wardrobe anywhere)
- office with a view of the mountain peaks to let the mind wander...
- open fireplace in the living room (53m² (570 sq ft))
- separate kitchen (because of the smells) with dining area
- all 4 wet rooms with natural stone, including bathroom in gray marble, double sink
- flooring: marble and oak parquet
- also glad the stairs are not made of wood, as they get damaged immediately; a marble staircase still looks like new after 20 years
- roller shutters are installed but completely useless for me; in the past year, I didn’t even think of using them
- garage and basement at the lowest level, so no neighbor’s line of sight inside
- unobstructed view of the mountains
- 190m² (2,045 sq ft) living space
- in Switzerland
--- but the real luxury, in my view, is to live alone in the property
After 11 years in a tiny apartment on the 5th floor without an elevator, parking, or basement, I don’t feel guilty at all
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