Architects / Civil Engineer Service, Execution Plan, Scope

Zaba, you haven’t built yet, have you? It’s incredible how many decisions you have to make. I was more than happy about every measurement that was in our plan. Not included, for example, was exactly where the windows including the external blinds and roller blinds should be placed. That determines how deep the windowsill needs to be. The day you know the windowsill depth for sure determines when you can order the things and when the plasterer can enter at the earliest. Otherwise, there were many "little things" that you never actively thought about beforehand. In my opinion, if you’re not regularly on the construction site, you’ve lost and have to live with whatever the companies probably had in mind...

Zaba, you haven't built yet, right? It's unbelievable how many decisions you have to make. I was more than grateful for every measurement that was in our plan. Not included, for example, was exactly where the windows including blinds and roller shutters should be placed. That determines how deep the windowsill has to be. The day you know the windowsill depth for sure is when you can order the things and when at the earliest the plasterer can come in. Otherwise, there were many "small things" that you never actively thought about before. In my opinion, anyone who isn't regularly on the construction site has lost and has to live with whatever the companies are probably thinking...

It's true, it only starts at the end of August. I am also not building alone but have a construction coordinator. However, I will of course be on the construction site every day.

I also wrote that this only works with an economical construction method (not meant as cheap or energy-efficient), which is close to the standard and all tradesmen are not doing this for the first time.

The heights of the windowsills are the least of the problems, believe me. You can handle that yourself too. :p

Even if I do it differently than many others, it should still not tempt you to copy it.

Just because you know craftsmen and trades doesn't mean that these trades have worked together. For such an approach, the trades must have worked together for years and know each other inside out.

That's right, it only starts at the end of August. I'm not building alone either but have a construction coordinator. However, I will of course be on the construction site every day.

I also wrote that something like this only works with an economical construction method (not cheap and not meant energetically), which is close to the standard and all trades are not doing this for the first time.

The heights of the window sills are the smallest problem, believe me. You can do that yourself too. :p

Even if I do it differently than many others, it should not tempt anyone to copy it.

Just because you know craftsmen and trades doesn't mean these trades have worked together. The trades must have necessarily worked together for years in such an approach and know each other thoroughly.

I find that for someone who hasn't laid a single stone yet, you are quite confident in your manner of writing here. You haven't built yourself yet and think that everything will run smoothly for you... but you don't recommend it to others. We will start at the same time. Let's see who will have fewer headaches ;-)

However, of course I will be on the construction site every day.

I don't know how one can reconcile something like this with work. The craftsmen also work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and if you show up there in the afternoon it doesn't help much, as sometimes it is already done by then.

What was not included, for example, was exactly where the windows including the venetian blinds and roller shutters should be set. This determines how deep the windowsill has to be. The day you know the windowsill depth for sure determines when you can order these things and when at the earliest the plasterer can come in. There were also many other "little things" one had never actively thought about before. In my opinion, if you are not regularly on the construction site, you have lost and have to live with what the companies probably had in mind...

Yes, we also thought a long time about the windowsill height, for example also when the countertop should run into the window (without interior windowsills), these things are included in the execution plans

We can gladly share experiences when the time comes. I have been planning the construction for 1 year. I have all the offers and have already spoken with all the trades regarding the execution.

I am also not the first person to build like this.

Why shouldn’t something like this be compatible with work? There is flexible working hours. So if necessary, I can also go to the construction site spontaneously in the morning or at noon. I am almost always reachable by phone. I have someone who supervises the construction. My wife is also still there. That things can go wrong here and there is not unknown.

Not recommending does not directly mean forbidding. If your trades know each other and have worked together or if you also have the time to take care of your construction, then just do it that way. I am not the one shouting “without architectural planning” the house will be a ruin.

It was important to me to point out that there are a lot of things to decide that you don’t even have on your radar when buying your first house. The sill height was fixed beforehand – whether the window sits 20 cm or 16 cm deep in the reveal was not. I only thought about the reveal depth for the first time when the window installers asked me about it. ^^

So you should carefully consider whether you have the time and nerves to make all decisions at short notice and spontaneously, because – if at all* – such questions usually only come up when the executing company faces the problem and cannot proceed properly without an answer.

*In my opinion, we were lucky across the board with our companies. Nevertheless, some craftsmen would surely have made their decisions without us if there were several technically correct options and the difference mainly affected the subsequent trades or "just" the appearance – had we not always and repeatedly asked questions or been present on site (or had relatives been there).