Aerated concrete / brick / monolithic construction - who is familiar with it?

You mean if I know someone like that personally? No, in our circle of friends there is no one from that field. Everyone is in the humanities, teachers, working in healthcare, business & human resources, etc. No one with something “hands-on” so far, and no one has built anything with us yet. The homeowners have all bought.

Without being an expert myself, I'll point out a few common cost traps in construction service descriptions. First, fees, permits, etc., around 1000,-. That’s your part. Foundation slab, if included, then with 30 cm of excavation, but these ideal plots are rare; with us, around 7 on top. Construction electricity, construction water, that’s yours, around 500,- to 1000,- Many companies don’t build without a soil survey, another 1000,- if you don’t have one. A geologist does that. Prices for tiles and such at least 25 per sqm, otherwise it gets tight. Are the windows triple glazed? Wastewater connection extra, with us 3 gross. Turnkey usually means without painting and wallpapering, which also includes filling, plus floor coverings. Bathroom fittings are usually usable standard, but not chic. Roof tiles concrete, but you can skip that, clay tiles are not objectively necessary. Are the gutters and downpipes made of titanium zinc or PVC? The latter is not good, brittle in severe frost, then it breaks. Interior plaster at least Q2? Q1 is barn standard, Q4 silky smooth. A house for four needs around 60 power outlets. What is already standard? 20 light switches? Is the outdoor faucet included? An outdoor cable? An outdoor power outlet? Satellite system? At least two telephone outlets? At least two TV sockets? Are the planning costs included? Or do you pay every architect hour extra? Are the roof eaves, if made of softwood, planed and primed? Or even already finished? Is there a doorbell? Is underfloor heating standard?
You can always assume that the house is statically and energetically okay, otherwise it wouldn’t get a building permit. But the many small goodies, which don’t yet mean a luxury house, drive the prices up, or are already included in the standard. It often turns out that the 10 thousand more expensive provider is not more expensive after all. Karsten

Thank you for your detailed response!

Construction specifications have their own special language, which, with a bit of practice, can be quickly demystified: A norm or class means nothing more than that a standard or even a binding regulation is exactly adhered to and nothing more. The most flexible term is "or equivalent," which usually at least means that the substitute brand product is traded in the same price category – but that doesn’t necessarily mean equally good test results. I’d say, Ottilie Average Consumer wouldn’t tile her guest bathroom with Gail or Buchtal anyway, nor would she illuminate it with Staff. There’s no need to exaggerate.

In my opinion, the best way to tell is by looking at reference clients (checking objects, not thank-you letters!) whether the contractor uses the construction specification as a record of the agreed standard or abuses it as leverage for sneaky savings hidden in the fine print. Whether the porous bricks say Wienerberger or Dimpflmoser should be completely irrelevant to the client if they have the same thermal transmittance, compressive strength, and sound insulation class.

I’ll just join this thread with my question:

We are also building with TuC according to the Energy Saving Ordinance 2016 standard.

Originally, only a 24 aerated concrete block was supposed to be installed here.

But since we have to achieve sound insulation class 3, a 30 aerated concrete block is now being used.

1. What do you think about the insulation value, many say that the 36 block is already a must??

2. And do you think that with the 30 block (compared to the original 24) we will also be significantly better in thermal insulation than the Energy Saving Ordinance 2016 standard?

3. A Kfw 70 house has to be achieved anyway since the Energy Saving Ordinance 2016, that is now standard – right?

Thanks in advance

We also built with TuC in 2016, so the following questions/remarks:

1. In my opinion, you will never meet the Energy Saving Ordinance 2016 with 24 cm bricks. If you do, I would be interested to know how.

2. The insulation value of the 30 cm bricks is, in my opinion, completely fine. First year with domestic hot water preparation and a cold winter gas costs about €45 per month (129 m2, 4 people).

3. KFW70 no longer exists, it is now simply the Energy Saving Ordinance 2016.

What would now be interesting is why you have to achieve sound insulation class 3. Main street or urban location? Then it is absolutely necessary to avoid decentralized ventilation. This is where the sound comes through the most; for us it is not so severe because we live in the countryside. But on a main street, it is not really good.