The business with the toilet

However, then you have the insight without benefit – usually something like this only comes about later during the sampling, and by then the contract is often already in place.

Then you can scream, cry, stomp, but it is simply your own fault because you really have to think about such things.

If you want high transparency, you have to award the trades yourself. That was the main reason I built this way.

Hi,

If you want high transparency, you have to contract the trades yourself. That was the main reason I built this way.

Absolutely right, my answer was more about offers in general. It’s clear that a general contractor won’t disclose their individual calculations to you, especially after the contract is signed, the negotiating position is pretty weak...

I’m currently also a bit annoyed about surcharges (e.g., 160 bucks per window for RC 2 fittings), a lot could also be cheaper with individual contracting. Yes, sometimes I also wish I had built with individual contracts.

The problem is that at some point, you lose track and don’t get the construction moving, and you’d also fairly have to take 2-3 months of unpaid leave to handle it all. That doesn’t really help either, so we build with a general contractor and get annoyed about the surcharges. Although ours is still relatively mild and we knew the surcharges beforehand.

Best regards,

Andreas

@ andimann

You can't seriously compare the advantages of single trade contracts through an architect - in terms of breakdown of equipment/surcharges - with the fixed price of a general contractor (GU), can you? As you already pointed out in your second response on the subject, both types of providers have their justification, pros and cons; it is ultimately a personal decision for each individual.

In any case, the same applies here as there: keep your eyes open, use your common sense, and have providers as well as offers checked by experts. The good ones in their respective fields will estimate costs very well and calculate any surcharges in a reliable manner. With the rest, it's like with everyday cookware: every pot finds its lid.

Construction expert on the go

Shower doors/partitions.

these are often not included in constructions and therefore fall through the cracks during the build. and if you later check during the construction phase (because you previously had other/more important/urgent decisions to make), you are completely surprised by the exorbitant prices for a simple glass panel with a hinge. the joke is, the less frills there are, the more expensive it gets. these full-frame parts are cheap to throw in, but don't look great and after 2-3 years can't be cleaned back to a like-new condition (too many corners...). the variants with hinges + glass (completely without all the sealing stuff) cost over 2000€, although the hinge can be easily bought for 50€ in specialist stores. laminated safety glass doesn’t cost a fortune either, and the holes (for the hinge/handle) are also included by the glazier. by the way, the shower doors can be very well installed externally after construction (or done yourself), since they have nothing to do with the rest. the installation is harder than one initially thinks. after 3 hours, however, the part was done with a carpenter who has 30 years of professional experience. the instructions were really for people who do it daily ^^ i personally think the option of starting with a certain budget is the best solution. this way you can look at everything completely unrestricted and decide where you really want to spend your money in the end and where not. above all, you won’t be shortchanged with ridiculous credits for individual trades (they wanted to give us less than 95€ for 1 sink upstairs, although installing a new one suddenly would have cost 300€...) we now have standard sinks and will just replace them ourselves with something chic in a few years.

now have standard tubs and will simply replace them with something fancy ourselves in a few years.

Great post. Proof that you are established in life, clever and pragmatic.

These shower clothes can cost a small fortune.

My pragmatic suggestion, taken from real life:
Cheaper is: wipe the lip and a towel.
Even after showering daily (sometimes multiple times) for 2 years, our two showers still look like new and built just yesterday.

Wipe clean, briefly dry the frame with a towel. Takes <1 minute. You’re in the shower anyway, so standing there an extra minute doesn’t matter.

Even the super expensive equipment would get grimy if you just shower without doing anything. Just in 3 or 5 years. Maintenance is the be-all and end-all here, and it’s quick and easy to do...

Your assessment of the installation taking 3 hours: completely correct, done properly something like that takes that long (or longer).

Best regards
Thorsten

We wipe the glass every time, but the frame less often (also because we hardly have any). I never would have thought before the installation that it would take 3 hours. Basically, it’s 6 or 8 holes in the wall, putting the parts together and mounting them. When the outdoor area is finished, we will dismantle the lips (they are just plugged in) and treat them outside with chemicals thoroughly. Otherwise, there will be new ones eventually. I don’t feel like wiping the whole cabin dry every time. Because if you start, you also have to wipe the tiles...