ᐅ Which House Concept? Fundamental Questions for Building a Home
Created on: 20 Sep 2019 11:53
L
Luftpumpe
Hello everyone,
We are fortunate to own a building plot and are now facing the difficult choice of how to proceed. For several months, we have been researching, visiting model homes, and actively reading forums. When it comes to layouts and features, opinions vary greatly, and depending on budget and taste, the possibilities seem endless.
But when it comes to the fundamental question of how to build today in an affordable, efficient, and above all healthy way, there should at least be a rough consensus! From everything we have read so far, we would probably prefer to build a Thoma house (36cm (14 inches) Holz100 walls), but financially that probably won’t be possible.
When we look for alternatives, we are often told that KFW40 (KFW40 / Passive House standards) is not achievable, that breathable construction is impossible, and that a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system is absolutely necessary. Then, you keep searching and come across more “alternative” options like LowTec Bio Solar houses, which seems a bit too extreme for us.
We want to build a house free of harmful substances, and avoiding various materials is the best way to be sure that in a few years, nothing new will be found to be problematic. In this sense, a pure timber house does make some sense.
Then, the advice is that solar thermal systems are not worth it, so photovoltaic systems on the roof should be used instead. To make good use of that, a heat pump is necessary, and then air-to-air heat pumps are offered because geothermal with underfloor heating is so much more expensive. So, it’s either robbing a bank or making compromises.
And that’s exactly the kind of compromises we are looking for now. Who has chosen a particular building concept and for what reasons? Is a vapor barrier really necessary in the building envelope? Which heating and insulation technologies are still cost-effective today? And how do I create the healthiest possible indoor climate?
Thank you & best regards,
Luftpumpe
We are fortunate to own a building plot and are now facing the difficult choice of how to proceed. For several months, we have been researching, visiting model homes, and actively reading forums. When it comes to layouts and features, opinions vary greatly, and depending on budget and taste, the possibilities seem endless.
But when it comes to the fundamental question of how to build today in an affordable, efficient, and above all healthy way, there should at least be a rough consensus! From everything we have read so far, we would probably prefer to build a Thoma house (36cm (14 inches) Holz100 walls), but financially that probably won’t be possible.
When we look for alternatives, we are often told that KFW40 (KFW40 / Passive House standards) is not achievable, that breathable construction is impossible, and that a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system is absolutely necessary. Then, you keep searching and come across more “alternative” options like LowTec Bio Solar houses, which seems a bit too extreme for us.
We want to build a house free of harmful substances, and avoiding various materials is the best way to be sure that in a few years, nothing new will be found to be problematic. In this sense, a pure timber house does make some sense.
Then, the advice is that solar thermal systems are not worth it, so photovoltaic systems on the roof should be used instead. To make good use of that, a heat pump is necessary, and then air-to-air heat pumps are offered because geothermal with underfloor heating is so much more expensive. So, it’s either robbing a bank or making compromises.
And that’s exactly the kind of compromises we are looking for now. Who has chosen a particular building concept and for what reasons? Is a vapor barrier really necessary in the building envelope? Which heating and insulation technologies are still cost-effective today? And how do I create the healthiest possible indoor climate?
Thank you & best regards,
Luftpumpe
L
Luftpumpe10 Oct 2019 22:59RotorMotor schrieb:
What special requirements did you have that no one could meet?I’m curious about that too! What was the compromise in the end?B
borderpuschl11 Oct 2019 09:09Starting with the wall construction, which already caused some issues, and the heating concept, which most people still accepted.
The main sticking points were, on the one hand, an angled gallery (structural problems that prefab house manufacturers could not or would not resolve) and, on the other hand, a partial wood facade that had to be flush with the plaster.
The main sticking points were, on the one hand, an angled gallery (structural problems that prefab house manufacturers could not or would not resolve) and, on the other hand, a partial wood facade that had to be flush with the plaster.
H
hampshire11 Oct 2019 10:37Prefab house suppliers naturally offer a limited portfolio, which makes sense. Here are a few reasons why we decided not to build with a prefab house provider:
limited heating options, such as a masonry stove as the main heating system
limited selection of interior wall finishes, for example, clay plaster mixed with straw
limited range of switch designs, e.g., no Gi Gambarelli switches
limited types of wood available, for instance, no hand-hewn timber for exposed beam ceilings
limited options for foundations and floor slabs, for example, on a 27-degree (27°) slope
limited tile selection, such as no Sicis glass mosaic
limited window options, e.g., no Solarlux windows
no photovoltaic solar roof tiles
no wooden acoustic ceilings
...
limited heating options, such as a masonry stove as the main heating system
limited selection of interior wall finishes, for example, clay plaster mixed with straw
limited range of switch designs, e.g., no Gi Gambarelli switches
limited types of wood available, for instance, no hand-hewn timber for exposed beam ceilings
limited options for foundations and floor slabs, for example, on a 27-degree (27°) slope
limited tile selection, such as no Sicis glass mosaic
limited window options, e.g., no Solarlux windows
no photovoltaic solar roof tiles
no wooden acoustic ceilings
...
Small general contractors without a material selection center are better, or you should work directly with an architect. The smaller contractors call Maier to ask if he has ever heard of photovoltaic solar roof tiles and whether he can install them. Then they check with Hubert to see if he can get the tiles from the wholesale supplier, and so on.
However, I don’t trust every architect to be able to implement Hampshire’s requirements.
Some of the larger companies refused from the start because of our sloped site. They don’t do anything as shallow as 27°. At our place, the slope behind the house is between 40° and 44°.
However, I don’t trust every architect to be able to implement Hampshire’s requirements.
Some of the larger companies refused from the start because of our sloped site. They don’t do anything as shallow as 27°. At our place, the slope behind the house is between 40° and 44°.
L
Luftpumpe11 Oct 2019 12:26hampshire schrieb:
no photovoltaic solar tiles Do you have those on your roof now? I generally find it unnecessary to cover a roof with traditional tiles and then add solar panels on top. I would prefer a simple and durable solution with solar modules. From what I've read, there is no longer a German manufacturer willing to produce solar tiles. The numerous connection points and contacts are potential sources of failure and have proven unreliable. Too much effort, too expensive, too many complaints... If you want something aesthetically pleasing, you can choose integrated in-roof modules, otherwise, at present, you only have the standard solar panels mounted on top of the roof.
Or have other concepts emerged by now?
hampshire schrieb:
chopped wood as exposed beam ceiling I’d love to see that when it’s finished! How do you even come up with an idea like that?
haydee schrieb:
Although I wouldn’t trust every architect to be able to implement Hampshire’s requestsNone of what hampshire listed depends on the architect’s own skills.
He just needs to hire the trades that can deliver these special requests. Or the materials are procured separately, and then a contractor is found to install them if the architect cannot source them directly.
The architect has more work when dealing with special wall constructions combined with features like flush wood/plaster facades, along with structural challenges. Just as borderpuschl wishes.
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