New semi-detached house general questions

Hello everyone,

until now my husband and I have only dealt with existing properties, but now we unexpectedly have the opportunity to purchase a new construction project. It is a semi-detached house in a new development area in the neighboring town. We are now facing completely new challenges. Since Friday we have had the exposé as well as the description of services. However, some questions remain open for us, maybe someone can already help before we speak with the construction company:

- In your experience, how is the soundproofing to the neighboring house? The description of services mentions DIN 4109 supplement 2. Is that sufficient?
- A heating center consisting of an air-to-water heat pump installed outdoors with a buffer storage and hot water generation will be installed. The exact type designation is not specified. Is that usual? Are there any general experiences with these heating systems? We will request the exact designation. The whole house is equipped with underfloor heating.
We would like to heat a basement room, have normal flooring installed, and apply rough plaster. Can anyone tell me if this is basically possible, even if it is not originally planned?
- Internet and satellite connections are not part of the description of services, it expressly states so at least for the satellite connection. In short: How do we get internet and television into the house? And what costs can we expect? Organizationally, the cables have to be laid while the walls are still open, right?! Do we have to coordinate this with the construction company? How do I find out the maximum internet speed available in a new development area?
- How does privacy screening work outside in the garden? Do you negotiate this with the neighbor? Or can you put up whatever you want? If the neighbor sets up first, do we simply benefit from that, and vice versa?
- Our garden borders on two carports (one belongs to us), can we simply put up a privacy screen here? Yes, right? Otherwise, anyone could look into the garden if the carports were empty.
- Regarding roof insulation, the description of services states: "The wooden beam ceilings or roof surfaces above the living rooms are thermally insulated between the rafters with diffusion-open mineral fiber insulation. Below this a vapor barrier foil is applied, which ensures the required airtightness." Is this sufficient? Thermal protection is planned according to the Energy Saving Ordinance 2014 (tightening 2016).

There are really a lot of questions, surely some are silly even for professionals (sorry), I would also be happy if only some are answered.

Many thanks and best regards Famjalwa

Do I interpret your words correctly that you a) are buying a semi-detached house from a developer and b) that it is still under construction or even only in planning?

The exact model designation is not mentioned. Is that usual? Are there any experiences with these heating systems in general?

The models are not always available for such a long time that one wanted to rewrite the description; or another provider offers the developer a better price for an equivalent product. There are plenty of experiences and basic assessments reported: use the forum search with "air-water heat pump" instead of the long word, then you will already find several threads about it.

Where can I find out the maximum internet speed of a new development area?

With a building gap, it is simple: you take the house numbers next door and opposite, so it will apply to your own property as well. In new development areas, it is not possible to find out that way; instead, you may often enjoy that the area is developed right away with the latest technology (with the typical exception: if the village as a whole is located in "technical Siberia," even a new development area will fall short).

-our garden borders on 2 carports (one belongs to us), can we simply put up a privacy screen here? Yes or no? Otherwise, anyone could look into the garden if the carports were empty.

Describe that more precisely: is this a separate ownership area on which the carports stand? - classically, I would expect the carports to be located on the house plots at their borders, so the "border" between your carport and your house would also be on your property (where not every privacy screen is allowed either, but with the fewest restrictions).

Neighbor fences are mostly a bilateral matter between the parties involved; sometimes, however, they are also regulated in a design statute (e.g., in condominium complexes designed as row houses, where garden sheds, carport sheds, etc. are sometimes even prescribed down to the color).

And yes: the valid thermal insulation standard is sufficient. The Energy Saving Ordinance 2014 (tightening 2016) is the same as what in everyday use is called the Energy Saving Ordinance 2016.

There really are many questions, surely some stupid ones for professionals too

The who-what-when-why-how - he who does not ask remains stupid *tralala*

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, it would be from a property developer and it is still under construction. The planning is completed by the developer, we now have to decide whether we want to buy it or not.

The situation with the carports is complicated. We would (viewed from above) occupy the left semi-detached house. To the left of this are 2 carports. One belongs to us, the other to the neighbor. (Yes, the neighbor has to pass by our house and our carport to get to his car). Viewed from above, our garden area does not end at our house wall, but much further to the left, namely under the left carport. Therefore, if the carports are empty, one could see into our garden.

I’m attaching a picture, maybe it will make things clearer.

Who creates a design statute?

Best regards!

I'll attach a picture, maybe it will be easier to understand.

A somewhat less blurry picture would be helpful, and above all one where you can see more of the surroundings: am I right in assuming that the neighbor is a "rear occupant," meaning the street doesn't reach right up to his front door and he already has to walk across your property? - do you even have separate plots, or does everyone just have their garden and their (in your case directly adjacent to your own house) carport as their "own" area?

Who creates a design statute?

In such cases, often the developer of a project-related development plan. The links and should roughly illustrate where my thoughts are going.

-how is soundproofing to the neighboring house based on your experience?

If it is built properly, no problem, we hear nothing from our neighbors. It is important to have separate floor/ceiling slabs and if the bathroom/toilet wall is adjacent to the neighbor, a prefabricated installation is required.

- We would like to heat a basement room and have normal flooring installed and rough plaster applied. Can anyone tell me if this is basically possible, even if it is not actually planned?

Yes. It just gets more expensive. But why heat only one basement room? Consider the floor structure and then ceiling height.

-our garden borders two carports (one belongs to us), can we simply put up a privacy screen here?

It’s your garden. Sure.

-the building specification says about roof insulation: 'The wooden beam ceilings or roof surfaces above the living spaces are insulated with diffusion-open mineral fiber insulation between the rafters.'

So no converted attic?