Construction methods currently used include panel construction and post and beam technologies combined with modern glazing or wall panels. High levels of prefabrication and standardisation have reduced construction times for timber homes considerably. Wall units are delivered on site, already fitted with the basic electrical installations, windows and doors. Sonnleitner's Lugano housetype can be built within five weeks. The main frame, including roof, doors and windows is erected in just four days. Internal fit-out takes up the remaining four weeks.
All of the houses have a concrete basement, a typical feature in German homes. The main services are sited in the basement, giving more flexibility for layout of the ground and first floor. Basements are built to a high standard of finish and are used not only for storage but often for saunas, mini-gyms or guest rooms.
Solar heating systems come as standard in the purchase price, with photovoltaic panels available as an option. All of the houses are 'low energy homes' which in Germany means that they use 25% less energy than the levels allowed by current building regs. These regulations are already considerably tougher than those in the UK.
Housebuilders give their customers a guarantee of 30 years on the home's structure and five years on services, including five years' free maintenance.
Homes' internal layouts are flexible and can be adapted to customers' demands at the stage of purchase and over the lifetime of the house. Customers can choose from a variety of different finishes for floors, walls and ceilings, or can opt to buy their house at one of several stages of construction. PlatzHaus' Esprit 2000 housetype, for example, can be purchased with its first floor unfitted, which reduces the total price by around £33 000. The first floor can be finished at a later stage and do-it yourself specialists can save money on their home.
Source
Building Homes
