Finally building and still have a few questions

Hello dear ones,

after many years of searching, we finally managed to secure a nice building plot! Soon it can get started. I am currently working on the floor plans so that our architect can submit the building application.

Now I still have a few questions and I hope someone has experience to help me out

- We would like to set up a small bathroom in the basement (living basement). Our home builder said I should stay away from that because it causes high additional costs due to a lifting system and a backflow valve. For washing machine and two sinks (kitchen area and laundry room) a small floor lifting system is probably enough, but not for toilet and shower. However, our basement builder (whom we chose separately) says that it would probably work with such a small system as well. Can anyone say something about this?

- Then I have to plan a service shaft on the ground floor, said our architect. Now I’m wondering, does the heating system (air heat pump with ventilation) have to be located in the basement directly under this shaft or can it be elsewhere?

- And then something completely different Our plot is surrounded on three sides by other houses and the street runs along the 4th side. The building envelope and the house are situated quite far (about 6-7 meters) from the street. Now we can easily fence off the 3 neighboring sides with a 1.80 m high privacy fence as long as we keep a certain distance from the boundary. But does anyone know how it works on the street side far outside the building envelope? Does the building envelope have any influence on fences at all?

Best regards

that this would probably also work with such a small system.

I don't think so. The small lifting stations are for water, but sometimes there is more than just water in a toilet.

That is also my level of knowledge. Small lifting system for greywater 200-300€, blackwater a bit more.

- Then I have to plan an installation shaft on the ground floor, said our architect. Now I wonder, does the heating system (air heat pump with ventilation) have to be in the basement directly under this shaft or can it also be placed somewhere else?

What exactly does your architect do again?

- Then I have to plan an installation shaft on the ground floor, said our architect. Now I’m wondering, does the heating system (air heat pump with ventilation) have to be located in the basement directly under this shaft or can it be placed somewhere completely else?

As the name "installation shaft" suggests, it is not intended for ventilation in general or specifically for the supply or exhaust air of an apparatus. Rather, pipes and cables are routed inside it. Typically, nothing is located above or below it, but it runs straight upward through several (usually all) floors.

Now we can easily enclose the 3 neighboring sides with a 1.80 m high privacy fence as long as we keep a certain distance from the boundary.

Fences that are not on or directly at the boundary ( ? ? ? )—so they do not simultaneously represent enclosures?

But does anyone know how it works on the street side far outside the building window? Does the building window even have any influence on fences?

Fences typically serve to enclose properties along the entire boundary line, that is, beyond or also outside the building window. Development plans or municipal design statutes may regulate permitted materials and heights.

P.S.: The someone who knows all this is called architect.

Thank you, dears

Regarding the bathroom: so do we have to expect additional costs of around 2000-3000 euros?

Fence: the allowed height of the fence directly on the boundary is 160 cm here. But that doesn’t help us because you can easily see over it. We want something opaque, 180-200 cm high. The lady from the city said we have to keep the difference (so 20-40 cm) away from the boundary. This applies to the 3 neighbor sides. On the street side, the city employee and the architect said that the fence has to be clarified in the building application. But that will take months. I would somehow like to find out in advance what options we have. Also if the fence doesn’t work out. Because it is outside the building window. What else can you use to shield yourself? Possibly a garden shed or something like that? That would be important to me for planning. If our garden is completely visible from the street, then it is not usable for us and so I don’t even need to plan a terrace.

Fence: the permitted height of the fence directly on the boundary is 160 cm in our area.

And that’s a good thing, anything else would at least turn day into night for your neighbors during the winter half-year. Opaque fences also cast shadows.

But that doesn’t help us because you can easily see over it. We want something opaque, 180-200 cm high. [...] If our garden is completely visible from the street, then it’s unusable for us and I don’t even need to plan a terrace.

If word gets around that J.Lo sunbathes naked in your garden, then paparazzi will come even with 4m high fences. And Wilson only peeks over the fence at the Taylors.

The lady from the city said we have to keep the difference (i.e. 20-40 cm) distance from the boundary. That applies to the 3 neighboring sides. Regarding the street side, the city employee and the architect said that the fence has to be clarified in the building application.

The lady from the city probably sat next to the architect in school. Fence height regulations are absolute. Apart from that: have fun mowing the lawn and weeding beyond the fence, because you’re not allowed to seal off that area. And yes, in most municipalities, lawn mower sheds of 3 x 6 m are probably permitted.