Underfloor heating Yes or No?

Hello Roland,

First of all, I compared and searched for a good two years.
But it’s all about location, location, and location again, and I would have paid much more to get a property exactly where the house is being built now.

Underfloor heating may be standard for some, but there are plenty of builders where underfloor heating is not standard.

If you are so convinced you made the right choice, why then discuss TEUR 8?

The €8,400 is by the way only for the ground floor, each additional floor would cost another €1,000 extra.

See below

The garage is a plain prefabricated garage, which is in this price range at most providers, I already checked that. The paving work at the garage referred to the driveway in front of the garage. This is included in the €12,000 price. Whoever does not order a garage also does not get a paved driveway.

A proper prefabricated garage of size 2.96 x 9.00 x 2.45 m costs, as mentioned, including an electric sectional door, electrification of the garage, garden door and strip foundations, TEUR 12. How can it be that the paving work in front of the garage – 5.00 m? – is already included in that price? In NRW you can roughly expect €90.00/95.00 per sqm for simple paving, all in about €1,500. Or do you get “only” a simple prefabricated garage without sectional door etc.?

The floor is described in the contract. However, I cannot repeat it exactly now, the fact is the notary explained everything so that I understand it.

That is certainly the case. The question, which “Koempy” connects with it, relates to whether you have considered contingencies for possible additional foundation costs.

Whether the basement is completely made of WU concrete or in sandwich style, what am I supposed to do with that as a layman? The contract states "basement made of WU concrete".

But you yourself said above you compared for 2 years?

Most builders have now started to make sandwich walls in basements per se from WU = waterproof concrete. That means the basement is “only” protected against ground moisture; nothing more. If the soil report now shows that on your property, for example, seepage water or water-bearing layers etc. are present, the sandwich parts need special sealing/more reinforcement, and this can – for a basement of the size described above – cost between TEUR 5 and 8; depending on what the soil expert/structural engineer requires.

I find the extras like the garage or e.g. electric shutters on the ground floor for €2,500 or the basement etc. not that expensive, only the underfloor heating for €8,400 for one floor is totally out of proportion.

Whether the costs for electric shutters are justifiable I cannot say. But I still maintain that TEUR 25 for a basement is set too low. Unless the necessary earthworks (excavation, sloping, lateral storage of excavation material as well as backfilling (if the material is suitable)) are added cost-wise on top.

For me, the question remains whether 1. to leave out underfloor heating (by the way, heating is with district heating) 2. underfloor heating only on the ground floor for €8,400 and basement, 1st floor and attic converted have normal radiators without extra charge or 3. underfloor heating on the ground floor, 1st floor and attic for €10,400 and radiators remain in the basement in any case.

So what now? TEUR 8.4 for the ground floor or TEUR 8.4 for underfloor heating on ground floor plus basement? What about the necessary basement insulation? Included in the price?

You write yourself: "But it’s all about location, location, and location again, and I would have paid much more to get a property exactly where the house is being built now." Then – and also with regard to a possible resale – it should be worth this money to you. Especially since you said you would have paid more ...

Rhine regards

My garage has a completely normal up-and-over door that is not electric and also has no electricity/water connection.
A water connection is at the back of the garden, that should be enough and I will take care of the door and the electrical work myself.

Reserves are available, about 30,000€, but underfloor heating would have to be deducted from that. However, I still have 10,000€ for miscellaneous items included in the calculation.

The underfloor heating costs 8,400€ for the ground floor and an additional 1,000€ each for the 1st floor and attic; for the basement, underfloor heating would cost an additional 2,000€. But who needs underfloor heating in the basement?

For me, it’s not about the money at all here, it’s simply a matter of principle. Of course, I can pay the extra 8,400€, but I somehow feel a bit ripped off and that is the problem.

Unfortunately, I can’t say exactly how the price of the basement is composed. Whether the costs for excavation and backfilling are integrated somewhere else in the purchase price is not apparent from the contract; it only shows a 25k€ extra charge for the basement. The insulation is included in the price. But it could also be that the price is calculated somewhere else again. They insulate with these panels that look like Styrofoam and the joints are sealed and glued with some black stuff. Sorry for this layman’s description.
The basement consists of many large concrete parts that are placed next to each other. The house in general is built from large Ytong (is that what they’re called) blocks.

The underfloor heating costs €8,400 for the ground floor and an additional €1,000 each for the first and attic floors; for the basement, the underfloor heating would additionally cost €2,000. But who needs underfloor heating in the basement.

In the green forum you wrote about "€1,000 per room on the upper floor"... highway robbery!

Now about the fixed price: We also had a fixed price guarantee; house xy, for example, cost €150,000. That was the starting price. Then you want technology here and there (e.g., underfloor heating), of course better tiles and sanitary fittings (like you), and all kinds of upgrades... Overall, you end up at €200,000 without having even included an additional socket. So €200,000 is the fixed price.

I think you haven’t in any way dealt with a new build beforehand: that the initial (bait) offer and the final price are not the same, that additional technology costs money, is self-evident. Maybe you should have dealt with all the prices that might still come your way in advance. You don’t just want a garage — in the end, you have a new house but less "standard" than in your apartment?!

Especially since the location matters to you and you won’t find anything better for yourself, the costs of further technology from the builder/general contractor are interesting... an additional external water tap, which is located at the front of the house near the garage, is something that naturally lends itself, for example...

But I don’t want to blame you either — you will surely be happy in your home anyway.
At least you have read enough and received advice over the last few days about whether or not underfloor heating is necessary.

Is it a developer who delivers the house to you?

Then I first sincerely apologize, because €1,000 per room would really be even worse, it is €1,000 extra for the ENTIRE 1st floor and €1,000 extra for the whole upper floor.

I didn’t just think about it a little, I even thought very carefully. Everything is factored in, even the kitchen and upper floors, I even included the mailbox and I certainly would not be tempted by a cheap offer since there is a 3 at the front, and I wouldn’t exactly call that cheap. So house + land.

The fixed price is set in stone. If you want something extra, it’s logical that you pay for it. There are certainly people who don’t want any extras and then pay exactly the €150,000 that was estimated before.

In my current apartment, I also don’t have underfloor heating and I don’t miss it either. My parents live below me and they have underfloor heating. Do I like it when I’m downstairs? No idea, I ALWAYS wear slippers.

The costs were also all transparently disclosed by the BT. I knew from the beginning that the underfloor heating costs an additional €8,400 but at first I completely excluded the underfloor heating because I "actually" don’t need it.

Whether a water tap at the front of the house makes sense I don’t know, I haven’t missed one for 30 years but I now have a water connection in the garage. Nevertheless, I will be flexible enough to connect the water hose to the tap located at the back of the house.

It’s also not about having to sell my last shirt to afford the underfloor heating, it’s purely a matter of principle that I simply can’t understand why the underfloor heating costs so much extra. I can absolutely understand the cost for all other extras. Okay, let’s just exclude the bathroom, you can sink a small car there if you want.

The advantages of underfloor heating were clear to me from the start but do they justify the extra cost?

It’s the same as if I could buy a Golf for €5,000 or one with cruise control that costs €10,000.

But now I’m at the point where I will pay the €8,400 for the ground floor and on the 1st upper floor and attic I will keep the radiators anyway. Otherwise, I will certainly regret it later.

Yes, it is a BT that then commissions the various trades to build the house.

I'll guess - convent?

It's all about location, location, and location...

That's something you're told over and over again. If you see your house mainly as an investment, then location should indeed be prioritized more. If you rather/also value high-quality features and want "more than standard" (underfloor heating, basement, electric shutters, air heat pump, ventilation system, fireplace, etc.), then the "location" depends on the budget. Of course, ideally, you want both. But most have to make a choice (just like you ).

Underfloor heating might be standard for some, but there are plenty of BTs where underfloor heating is not standard...

What do you think, would a house without underfloor heating still be considered "standard" in 10, 20, 30 years? You invest in location but less in features.

For me, the question remains whether 1. to leave out underfloor heating (by the way, the heating is by district heating) 2. underfloor heating only on the ground floor for €8,400 and normal radiators in the basement, 1st floor, and finished attic at no extra cost or 3. underfloor heating on the ground floor, 1st floor, and attic for €10,400 and radiators definitely remain in the basement.

A "mix" between underfloor heating and radiators makes absolutely no sense and is even more expensive (check it out!)! If underfloor heating, then everywhere! And also in the basement! Or do you want to use your entire basement area as a cooling/storage room ?