Cost estimation for the planned duplex house

No, unfortunately no natural gas available. And no, unfortunately no good contacts for pellet distribution or forest ownership. It would have to be a heat pump with a ground probe (or surface collector), or would an air heat pump be a better option than gas with a tank or pellets.

In my opinion, it depends on what you believe about how prices for liquefied gas, pellets, or electricity will develop in the future (!!).

The air-water heat pump requires the least space compared to these three options. With gas, you have to be careful not to pollute the environment, consider safety issues, and take out insurance. Pellets probably require the most space. Heat pumps need electricity and initially cost money to purchase.

We are getting an air-water heat pump (standard with the developer), I am skeptical, but trust the majority and the developer. It will be fine! Gas condensing boilers would have been more expensive anyway, thanks to the federal government (because of the compensation measures, don’t ask me ...). Surface collectors or brine I consider “better” than air-water heat pumps, but they are generally more expensive (investment costs!).

I find 1000€ for a level-access shower with a drain very very cheap.

I also decided on that.

- Screed with slope and waterproofing
- Tiles on the floor area of the shower instead of a shower tray and additional waterproofing
- Wedges in the shower area for the slope and the wedges tiled
- 2 walls with 60X60 tiles about 2 meters high and each 90 centimeters wide

Roughly outlined, this is my measurement and it definitely cost more than three times the 1000€, with tiles costing about 40€ per m2 without installation.

The screed with waterproofing was about 700€ and the shower drain also something just under 1000€.

Is the 5000€ surcharge for underfloor heating for the whole house or for one floor?

Hello Roy,

Flat roof
~153m² living space (ground floor & upper floor)
~76m² basement
~40m² double garage (masonry) (6m * 7m)
Gross volume (including basement & garage) ~1100m3

Costs for this are €370,000

Plus land (~€200,000) which is reasonable for the location (although on the higher average)

I would say the equipment is upper(?) mid-range.

With pellet heating, the asking price is fine - before painting/flooring work and incidental construction costs. However, from my point of view, there should be a credit if you decide on gas heating or an air-to-water heat pump.

Economically sensible in my opinion is only the choice of the air-to-water heat pump.

Rhineland regards

Hello everyone,

thanks again to all for the very insightful information!

Regarding the walk-in shower for 1000€, I still need to clarify what is included in that price. I also suspect that I should rather expect double or triple that amount.

The 5000€ for underfloor heating refers to the entire ground floor and upper floor, as well as 3 rooms in the basement.

The price of 370,000 includes painting and flooring work (27,000€ including materials is planned for this) as well as ancillary construction costs (excluding land purchase and notary fees).

: To be honest, I thought that everyone here advises against an air-to-water heat pump. My personal assessment was roughly as follows:

Geothermal heat pump > natural gas condensing boiler > pellets > liquid gas condensing boiler > air-to-water heat pump

If an air-to-water heat pump is better than I thought, that would have several advantages:
1) I can save myself a chimney
2) I can use the air-to-water heat pump for cooling in the summer (which is a huge advantage)

How high would (roughly) the credit for an air-to-water heat pump have to be if a pellet heating system is planned in the cost calculation?

I can only repeat myself: MANY thanks

Best regards
Roy

Hello Roy,

The price of 370,000 includes painter and flooring work (27,000€ including materials is allocated for this) as well as incidental construction costs (excluding property acquisition and notary).

Then I would be very careful in your place, because nobody is giving anything away; assume "typical" incidental construction costs of around 40,000 EUR (including property acquisition tax + notary).

Honestly, I thought that everyone here advises against an air-water heat pump. My personal assessment was roughly like this:

Ground-source heat pump > gas condensing boiler natural gas > pellets > gas condensing boiler liquid gas > air-water heat pump

In my opinion, you shouldn’t take everything written here at face value, especially when it comes to heat generators. I am fairly sure that many supporters of ground-water heat pumps ended up using an air-water heat pump at the end of the day; at least a ground collector. Besides, ground-water heat pumps cannot be installed economically everywhere.

Just go to an energy agency® near you, then many of the statements here will relativize; especially those regarding air-water heat pumps. Air-water heat pumps are better than their supposed reputation and are often confused with air-air heat pumps. The latter can easily become a money pit in a standard Energy Saving Ordinance house.

If an air-water heat pump is better than I thought, that would have several advantages:
1) I can save myself a chimney
2) I can use the air-water heat pump for cooling in the summer (which is a huge advantage)

You no longer need a chimney draft for a gas connection either. I see gas more as problematic in connection with the new Energy Saving Ordinance 2016.

Please do not overestimate cooling with an air-water heat pump; we are talking about a maximum of 2 degrees. In addition, normal humidity settles at the coldest spot in the house, which in this case would be the floor. So with tiles, you should be careful that your floor does not become a slipping hazard.

How high would (roughly) the credit have to be for an air-water heat pump if a pellet heating system is planned in the cost calculation?

If I give you a number now, it won’t be of much use to you since your provider bases his offers on a mixed calculation. Maybe he also caught a special item for pellet heating somewhere and can therefore currently offer price-neutral.

Besides the energy agency®, in my opinion, you should consider another visit. Namely, to find expert help who will explain the offer you have in all details—including the contract documents. Only when you fully understand the offer can you make a decision; a decision whose consequences will accompany you for several years.

Rhineland regards