Which type of house to choose?

Hi everyone,

until yesterday evening (we were at a developer) my husband and I were sure, we are building a house with 2 captain’s gables...

We finally got a plot in a development area here approved (due to demand, this is not so easy here)! Unfortunately, in the development area a TH of max 4m and a FH of 9m are specified. Our dream has always been a house in the Mediterranean style, which is planned as a one-story house. We both find sloping ceilings in the upper floor impractical. But when we received the development plan, an alternative had to be found.

We then decided on two captain’s gables, since at least a few slopes can be avoided there.

Yesterday we were at the developer and he told us that it is a pity when you build a house (which is not exactly cheap) and then have to make such compromises. And then he also told us (and we were not aware of this before) that the Mediterranean style is much simpler than gables and therefore also quite a bit cheaper. Conclusion: We would have to pay even more money for a house that we also find nice, but not as nice as a Mediterranean house.

We were somehow quite frustrated... And to top it off, he told us that we probably wouldn’t finish the building application this year anyway, so we would lose the Kfw70 funding, since it will be the standard from next year anyway. Right?

Do you have any idea what other house type would be nice? And feasible with a TH of 4m and a FH of 9m? Since our plot is 706m2, a bungalow is not an option for us.

Thanks in advance and best regards!

How many people are supposed to live in the house?
Open kitchen-living area or closed kitchen?

Give us some details about your specific wishes.

But gladly!
There should be 4-5 people living in the house. Between 150-160 sqm.

Ground floor:
- Utility room + storage room
- Guest WC with shower
- Kitchen with cooking island (already kept open, also gladly separable from the living room by a sliding door)
- Living room with a fireplace
- possibly an office

Upper floor:
- min. 3 bedrooms (depending on whether there is an office downstairs, otherwise 4 rooms upstairs)
- Bathroom with walk-in shower

I think that’s all. It should be nice and bright everywhere. And as said, if possible with as few sloping ceilings as possible...

Hello,

Our dream has always been a house in the Mediterranean style, planned as a single-story house.

Mediterranean and single-story is a contradiction in itself. You probably mean a two-story city villa?

We then decided on two captain’s gables, since at least you avoid a few slopes that way.

Not most of them; just the triangular floor with the rising masonry; unless the captain’s gable is placed over a dormer.

Yesterday we were at the developer and he told us that it’s really a pity when you build a house (which isn’t exactly cheap) and then have to make such compromises.

He could have suggested the staggered floor. There’s a lot of leeway there; if designed cleverly, the house really looks Mediterranean (example estate).

By the way, building a house always means making compromises; it’s always a question of where the compromise is found. And TH 4.00 and FH 9.00 meters is not “that” bad either; it allows—assuming the ridge height is unrestricted?—very nice architectures if you want to build classically.

And then he also told us (which we were not aware of before) that the Mediterranean style is much simpler than gables and therefore also quite a bit cheaper.

Provided I guess correctly, then two-story construction is not really much cheaper than classic gable roof houses. Especially not if no attic floor is permitted.

We were then somehow pretty frustrated... And to top it all off, he told us that we probably wouldn’t finish the building application this year anyway,

It is November 19, 2015—you first have to sign a construction contract; you shouldn’t rush that. Afterwards, you need a preliminary site plan (must-have for the building application) and all surveyors are fully booked. Then the building application must be prepared; that’s not done just like that. The lead time from contract signing to submitting the building application usually takes, if everyone delivers and works promptly, a good six weeks. This also assumes that you approve the plans and do not want to make any changes. That would at best bring us to Christmas.

thus the KfW70 funding would also be lost to us since it will be standard starting next year anyway. Right?

Yes, because you won’t manage to submit the building application in time; you could still apply for the funding until the end of March 2016.

On the other hand, in my opinion, the funding is negligible, firstly monetarily and secondly considering what some providers have to improve in their offer to meet the KfW funding requirements.

Rhineland regards

Mediterranean and one-story is a contradiction in itself. You probably mean a two-story city villa?

No, I actually mean like in your plan, that is a staggered floor. I’m not very familiar with the individual terms.

Not most of it; just the triangle floor with the ascending masonry; unless the captain’s gable is placed over a dormer.

The captain’s gable is actually supposed to be placed over a dormer.

He could have suggested the staggered floor to you. There is a lot of leeway; if cleverly designed, the house really looks Mediterranean (example plan).

Yes, he said for a staggered floor you need at least a ceiling height of 5.25 m.

By the way, building a house always means making compromises; it’s always a question of where the compromise is found. And ceiling height 4.00 and ridge height 9.00 m is not “that” bad; it allows – I assume the roof pitch is free? – very nice architectures if you want to build classically.

Hm, I don’t know what you mean by roof pitch, but otherwise the building style is flexible. Yes, I also think we will certainly find something... but it would all be a little compromise somehow. So I hope that someone perhaps has a breakthrough idea here that we like even more.

On the other hand, the subsidy is in my opinion negligible, first monetarily and secondly considering what some providers have to modify in their offer to fulfill the KfW funding.

But since KfW will be standard from next year anyway and has to be built accordingly, it wouldn’t be financially wise to forego the subsidy. Or am I totally mistaken here?

Somehow, I feel like I can’t see the forest for the trees anymore.

-----------------------------

I tried to edit your reply to make it “readable”; please try to use the quote function next time (bottom right, under each post).

Thanks
Bauexperte

Yes, he said for an attic floor he needs at least a ceiling height of 5.25m

Then he should go back to school again

But since KfW will be standard from next year and buildings have to be constructed accordingly, it wouldn't be financially wise to forgo the subsidy. Or am I totally thinking wrong?

The reference house from 01.01.16 roughly corresponds to the current KfW 70; it depends on the equipment of the respective provider, which is covered by their building description (BB). Wise or not – a building permit by Christmas doesn’t work anymore; "between the years" the building authority also works only rudimentarily. Addition: DN = roof pitch Rhineland regards