HANSE HAUS Buyer Guide - Ecobuild
HANSE HAUS Buyer Guide - Ecobuild
HANSE HAUS Buyer Guide - Ecobuild
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Made in<br />
Germany<br />
Built in<br />
the UK<br />
1<br />
Your <strong>Guide</strong> To Self Building with <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong>
The right home for<br />
everyone<br />
Dear Homebuilder,<br />
Having your own home is a lifetime’s dream that, with the right<br />
construction partner, can be realised quickly and easily – in keeping<br />
with your own ideas and your own style.<br />
Plan your house with us so that it is one of a kind. Flexible<br />
architectural planning combined with the highest standards<br />
of artisanship and loving attention to detail provide you with<br />
reassurance that your dreams can be realised perfectly, so that<br />
you can be inspired and let your creative juices flow. Whether it is<br />
a house for a young family, an adapted home for the elderly with<br />
a lift, an exclusive villa or an eco-friendly Passivhaus, we plan and<br />
build to an exceptionally high standard and finish. When it comes to<br />
energy saving too, our homes are perfectly equipped for the future,<br />
and go far beyond UK building regulations in terms of insulation.<br />
This means that heating starts to become a minor matter as the<br />
less heat energy you lose, the less heat energy you require.<br />
Providing inspiration for your new home.<br />
Building across<br />
the UK<br />
Index<br />
6-7 Bespoke design<br />
8-9 Low energy homes/<br />
Passivhaus<br />
10-11 Pre-build specification<br />
12 Creating an airtight<br />
envelope<br />
13 External features<br />
14-15 Environmental/Home<br />
technology<br />
16-17 Outstanding Interiors<br />
18-19 Your Home from<br />
Start to Finish<br />
20 Case Study: Nottingham<br />
21 Case Study: Tewkesbury<br />
22-23 Case Study: Essex<br />
Marco Hammer<br />
Managing Director<br />
Wilfried Bolz<br />
Managing Director<br />
24-25 Case Study: Somerset<br />
Passivhaus<br />
26-27 Case Study: Hertfordshire<br />
28-29 Before getting started<br />
30 Accessible homes<br />
3
Tradition<br />
Experience<br />
Innovation<br />
4
Offering construction<br />
experience and<br />
security since 1929<br />
Over 80 years of home construction experience<br />
When master carpenter Hermann Wandke founded the <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong><br />
company in Lübeck-Travemünde, Northern Germany in 1929, he<br />
could surely not have suspected that his small carpenters‘ workshop<br />
would one day grow into one of the top names in the prefabricated<br />
house industry. <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> can today look back on over 80 years<br />
of experience in the construction industry and more than 30,000<br />
completed houses. With 360 permanent employees – some from their<br />
families‘ third generation of <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> workers – and around 30<br />
apprentices, the company has unrivalled knowhow in prefabricated<br />
house construction.<br />
The Schörghuber Group<br />
Putting faith in a reliable construction partner<br />
When choosing a construction partner, it pays to play it safe. <strong>HANSE</strong><br />
<strong>HAUS</strong> is a subsidiary of the Schörghuber Group, which operates<br />
successfully in the hotel industry as well as the fields of aircraft<br />
leasing, beverages, property and construction, both in Germany<br />
and internationally. Many of the family-run group’s building projects,<br />
including the Arabella Park in Munich and the current redevelopment<br />
of Berlin’s Zoobogen, have had a major influence on the urban<br />
development of several German cities.<br />
Sustainability and energy efficiency – even on a large scale<br />
One of the largest projects for the Schörghuber Group’s property and<br />
construction arm is the m.pire in Munich.<br />
This imposing landmark on the north of the city is unmissable and<br />
unforgettable thanks to its unique combination of light, glitter and<br />
transparency. At the same time, it constitutes a modern emblem<br />
of sustainability and energy efficiency that the German Society for<br />
Sustainable Construction certified in advance with its Gold Seal of<br />
Approval.<br />
5
Bespoke design,<br />
whatever the size,<br />
whatever your needs<br />
We build houses OUR CUSTOMERS want and so we never build the same house twice. At<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> we realise that all of our customers are different people with different ideas of<br />
how they want to live. There are commonly a multitude of questions that will arise as soon as<br />
one begins to imagine building their own home;<br />
What kind of house do I really want to live in<br />
How should the house be designed to suit my family now and in the future<br />
Will my dream home be received well by the local planning department<br />
Will my budget match my ideas<br />
We always aim to deliver the house YOU really want and are able to help you at every stage<br />
of the process. We will happily take your ideas and transform them into the highest technical<br />
design. The following designs are meant as EXAMPLES only. They are able to outline some<br />
variations in styles, living space and design features.<br />
2 storey 4 bedroom house<br />
Approximate floor area – 116m 2<br />
2 storey 3 bedroom house<br />
Approximate floor area – 152m 2<br />
2½ storey 5 bedroom house<br />
Approximate floor area – 362m 2<br />
7
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong>:<br />
Where every home<br />
has a low energy requirement<br />
UK Building Regulations are there to protect us and to ensure that your new home is built to a required<br />
standard. The Government has set a route map for improvement of sustainable design and construction<br />
of new homes.<br />
There is a requirement that by 2018, all public buildings will be zero carbon and new homes, by 2020.<br />
European house building regulations are already well advanced of British standards, so <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> is<br />
able to construct your new home with energy requirements that are just 25% or less of UK regulations.<br />
In order to do this, <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> pay particular attention to the “envelope” of your new home. Thermal<br />
‘U values’ of external walls, roofs and windows are critical to produce an airtight building and this<br />
detailed and specialist process undertaken by <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> creates an ultra-low energy home.<br />
For more information, please contact your local agent and allow them to advise you on the latest<br />
requirements, as definitions are changed regularly.<br />
How they compare<br />
Energy consumption in KW/m 2 per annum<br />
The design rating categories included in present codes are:<br />
Energy/CO2<br />
Water<br />
Materials<br />
Surface water run-off<br />
Waste<br />
Pollution<br />
Health & Well-being<br />
Management<br />
Ecology<br />
Hanse Haus<br />
Passivhaus<br />
Standard Build<br />
Hanse Haus<br />
Present UK<br />
Building Regulation<br />
15 KW/m<br />
60 KW/m<br />
2<br />
2<br />
220 KW/m<br />
2<br />
50<br />
100 150 200<br />
8
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> 60kw build<br />
With the right construction partner, building your ultimate dream home can quickly and easily become a reality.<br />
With our specialist in-house design and construction teams, we are able to turn your ideas, your unique style<br />
and your budget into home which you will love.<br />
Each new home is produced in our state of the art factory in Germany and, through this specialist process,<br />
we are able to build properties which enjoy exceptional air tightness and therefore benefit from extremely low<br />
levels of energy loss. Our standard 60kw build far exceeds UK regulations for insulation and energy efficiency<br />
and many designs can be modified to ultra-low energy Passivhaus standards.<br />
Whether your dream home is large, modern and contemporary or more small country cottage, we can build<br />
it for you. And with integrated environmentally friendly and energy saving technologies in every home as well<br />
as the high levels of air tightness and insulation, those exorbitant energy bills will be a thing of the past. So let<br />
your imagination be our guide and let us to make your dream home a reality.<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> 15kw Passivhaus<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> Passivhaus The Future of Energy Saving<br />
In a Passivhaus, there are a multitude of technical construction details which have to be taken into<br />
consideration and have to inter-connect. Particular attention is paid to the airtight construction of the building<br />
envelope - the shell - to ensure that no heat can leak out through joints or gaps.<br />
Thermal bridges and any areas around the building where heat can be lost, are reduced to a minimum. In a<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> Passiv Haus, the entire construction process and the individual structural elements, such as<br />
the walls, windows and roof are verified by the Passivhaus-Institut in Darmstadt, Germany. This Passiv Haus<br />
certification provides official confirmation that the building is built to the correct specification.<br />
For more detailed information on Passivhaus,<br />
please ask your agent for our brochure or visit<br />
www.passivhouseinternational.org<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong><br />
are proud to be a<br />
Certified Passivhaus<br />
builder<br />
9
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> Visitors and Sample Centre, <br />
Oberleichtersbach, Germany<br />
10
Pre-build specification enables fixed contract sum<br />
Customised service packages<br />
By choosing the requested services, our customers can select between two different service packages<br />
‘STARTER’ and ‘TURNKEY’. It’s up to you to decide what should be done by <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> and what you<br />
would like to achieve in personal contribution. The summary below and the following building specification for<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong>-houses above concrete slab show which services are already included in the different packages.<br />
Market Leading brands<br />
To ensure that we can bring you the best quality fittings for your new home, we have developed<br />
partnerships with many of the best-known building product manufacturers.<br />
This symbol shows the services provided for a ‘STARTER’ house. It is the best for customers wishing to<br />
have a full ‘do-it-yourself’ involvement.<br />
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This symbol shows the services provided for a ‘TURNKEY’ house.<br />
Summary of service<br />
SIP external walls (in storeys) with sound and thermal insulation surfaced on both sides with OSB boards<br />
SIP internal walls with sound and thermal insulation<br />
Accessible ceiling<br />
Front entrance door, windows and french windows installed<br />
Roofing, roof drainage<br />
Facade in a selected colour<br />
Comprehensive <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> service<br />
Electrical installation<br />
On site plumbing<br />
Fresh air ventilation system with heat recovery<br />
Screed<br />
Preliminary plumbing installation<br />
Stairs to the top floor<br />
Plasterboards mounted on walls and ceiling<br />
Roof with sound and thermal insulation<br />
Vertical walls in a converted top floor roof space<br />
Paint work<br />
Internal doors<br />
Flooring<br />
Sanitary ware in bathroom / shower room / downstairs cloakroom<br />
Tiling in bathroom / shower room / downstairs cloakroom<br />
Service packages<br />
Starter Turnkey<br />
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11
How we create an energy<br />
saving airtight envelope<br />
Uncontrolled air leakage is one of the<br />
major factors causing heat losses and<br />
high energy consumption in dwellings.<br />
In the past buildings were ‘leaky’, and<br />
much of the required ventilation was<br />
provided by the high level of air leakage<br />
and uncontrollable window trickle vents.<br />
Modern building regulations however<br />
require buildings to be far more airtight.<br />
This legislative requirement for new<br />
buildings has arisen as a result to conserve<br />
fuel and power. The building regulation<br />
requirement throughout the UK is that<br />
the air infiltration rate should not exceed<br />
10 m 3 per hour per m 2 at a pressure of<br />
50 Pa. With Hanse Haus, air tightness is<br />
a priority from the start of the production<br />
line to the completion of the build. Our<br />
recently finished Passivhaus in West<br />
Somerset achieved an air infiltration rate<br />
of 0.45m 3 per hour per m 2 at a pressure<br />
of 50Pa – well in excess of Government<br />
requirements.<br />
Saddleback Roof Detail<br />
External Wall Section<br />
SIP external wall (width 31 cm):<br />
1 2 mm Float synthetic render in a range of<br />
different colours<br />
2 3 mm Reinforcement plaster and fibreglass<br />
mesh<br />
3 150 mm Thermal insulation for efficient<br />
protection against heat loss<br />
4 8 mm OSB (Oriented Strand Board) glued to<br />
the timber-frame structure<br />
5 125 mm Timber-frame structure with mineral<br />
wool infill in the cavities to provide thermal<br />
and sound insulation. The OSB panels are hot<br />
glued to the whole timber-frame structure<br />
under high pressure. This provides maximum<br />
stability and prevents any sagging or slippage<br />
of the internal insulation. The innovative<br />
service conduits integrated in the structural<br />
posts will carry electric cabling, etc.<br />
6 8 mm OSB (Oriented Strand Board) glued to<br />
the timber-frame structure (Panelling on both<br />
sides with OSB is also included in the shellonly<br />
house (STARTER-Package)<br />
7 0.2 mm Vapour control barrier for air and wind<br />
tightness<br />
8 12.5 mm Plasterboard which provides good<br />
sound insulation and, through high moisture<br />
and heat retention potential, a pleasant and<br />
well-balanced living environment<br />
9 High insulated windows with a thermal<br />
efficient triple glazing (U g<br />
=0,7 W/m 2 K) 1<br />
1<br />
as far as technically feasible<br />
The outstanding advantages of a <strong>HANSE</strong><br />
<strong>HAUS</strong> wall:<br />
Floor Cassette Detail<br />
Pent Roof Detail<br />
• U valve: in the inner wall cavity 0.11 W/m 2 K<br />
• Fire resistance to F30B level tested by<br />
the Materials Testing Institute at Stuttgart<br />
University<br />
• Compliance with DIN 4109 (German norms)<br />
standard for noise insulation<br />
12
What external features are available<br />
Roofing Options<br />
Window Options<br />
Timber Options<br />
Exterior Finishes<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> offer various roofing options<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> fit triple glazed windows as standard.<br />
They can be supplied in several finishes<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> can supply several exterior timber<br />
finishes<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> have a number of exterior finishes<br />
which can be used for your home<br />
Tile<br />
White PVC<br />
Red Cedar<br />
Render<br />
Slate Aluminium Douglas Fir Stone<br />
Zinc<br />
Wood Untreated Larch Brick<br />
Comprehensive details of standard & upgrade options are listed on the <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> Building Specification version 03/2011<br />
13
What makes up your Low Energy Home<br />
Heating & Environmental Technology<br />
Air Source Heat Pump<br />
How it works<br />
Even cold air is full of energy and air source<br />
heat pumps use the freely available heat in<br />
the ambient air to provide efficient heating<br />
and hot water at air temperatures as low<br />
as -25 °C. Because the source of heat – the<br />
air – is abundantly available all around us,<br />
air source heat pumps have the advantage<br />
of low installation costs and minimal space<br />
requirements, making them ideal for new<br />
build applications.<br />
Suitable for either indoor or outdoor<br />
installation, air source heat pumps can be<br />
used for heating, cooling and to produce<br />
domestic hot water and with the relatively<br />
mild winter temperatures in the UK, can<br />
achieve seasonal co-efficient of performance<br />
comparable with ground source, meaning<br />
excellent levels of performance can be<br />
achieved throughout the year.<br />
Ground Source Heat Pump<br />
How it works<br />
The earth stores an enormous amount of<br />
solar energy from both solar radiation and<br />
rainfall, ground source heat pumps extract this<br />
freely available energy to provide low cost,<br />
low carbon, high efficiency heating and hot<br />
water. To extract the energy ground source<br />
heat pumps use collectors, filled with a mix<br />
of water and antifreeze, buried in the earth,<br />
either horizontally or, if available land area is<br />
limited, vertically. Although more costly to<br />
install than an air source heat pump, with the<br />
constant temperatures below the surface of<br />
the earth throughout the year, ground source<br />
heat pumps deliver high levels of efficiency all<br />
year round irrespective of seasonal variations<br />
in air temperature.<br />
Gas/Oil Condensing<br />
Heating System<br />
How it works<br />
Modern condensing boilers simultaneously<br />
generate warmth for heating and for hot-water<br />
provision through the combustion of gas or oil.<br />
By using the heat that remains in exhaust gas,<br />
the energy content of the fuel is used almost<br />
in its entirety, making gas-fired condensing<br />
technology especially efficient as well as very<br />
convenient.<br />
These boilers can be wall or floor mounted<br />
and an appropriately sized model will<br />
be installed depending on the heating<br />
requirement of the individual property.<br />
Heat Recovery Unit<br />
How it works<br />
With air tighter new buildings, whole house<br />
heat recovery ventilation is the most effective<br />
ventilation strategy on the market.<br />
Heat recovery continuously extracts humid<br />
air from wet areas such as kitchens and<br />
bathrooms and using a heat exchanger,<br />
transfers the heat to filtered incoming outside<br />
air which is redistributed to the living areas<br />
and bedrooms.<br />
Heat exchangers are up to 93% efficient<br />
which significantly help reduce heating<br />
bills, plus the effects of condensation are<br />
dramatically reduced.<br />
14
Home Technology<br />
Rainwater Harvesting<br />
Solar Water Heating<br />
PV (Photovoltaics)<br />
Integrated Technology<br />
Rainwater Harvesting works by taking the<br />
rain from your roof gutters, filtering out leaves<br />
and debris and storing the water in an above<br />
ground or underground tank. This water can<br />
then be used for non-potable applications such<br />
as vehicle washing, irrigation, toilet flushing<br />
and washing machines.<br />
Solar water heating systems use solar panels,<br />
called collectors, fitted to your roof. These<br />
collect heat from the sun and use it to warm<br />
water which is stored in a hot water cylinder.<br />
There are two types of solar water heating<br />
panels, they are evacuated tubes (like in the<br />
picture above) and flat plate collectors. Flat<br />
plates collectors can be fixed on the roof tiles<br />
or integrated into the roof.<br />
An air source heat pump heater can be used<br />
as a back up to heat the water further to<br />
reach the temperature set by the cylinders<br />
thermostat when the solar water heating<br />
system does not reach that temperature.<br />
Solar PV panels require only daylight, not<br />
necessarily sunlight to operate, and they are<br />
therefore capable of generating electricity<br />
even on cloudy days. Solar PVs will work<br />
equally well in urban or rural locations and can<br />
be installed on the roof of most homes that<br />
can support the equipment. They can easily be<br />
connected to a building’s electricity supply and<br />
any unrequired energy can be sold back to the<br />
national grid.<br />
When in use, Solar PVs do not generate<br />
greenhouse gases or cause pollution. Each<br />
kilowatt-peak (kWp) of electricity produced can<br />
save approximately 455 kilograms of carbon<br />
dioxide emissions compared with electricity<br />
generated from fossil fuels.<br />
The UK Government is currently offering<br />
attractive incentives for those creating their<br />
own ‘green electricity’ .<br />
To find out more please visit http://www.<br />
fitariffs.co.uk/<br />
Hanse Haus are able to design and install<br />
leading edge control, media and security<br />
systems which can be tailored to your<br />
individual requirements.<br />
We offer a wide range of Home Technology<br />
solutions from<br />
• Complete home automation systems<br />
• Multi-room audio video systems<br />
• Home cinema systems<br />
• Cutting edge home security technology<br />
15
Outstanding<br />
Interiors<br />
16
Your Home: From first to last<br />
• No obligation site visit.<br />
• Project Discussion<br />
• Planning application placed with<br />
local planning department.<br />
• Prepare draft engineering drawings<br />
• Sample tour to German factory for a<br />
minimum of 2 days to discuss specifications<br />
and costs<br />
• Prepare detailed construction drawings,<br />
structural calculations, design of foundations<br />
and floor slab and Building Regulations details<br />
Day<br />
1<br />
Planning<br />
& Design<br />
Month 1 Month 2 Month 3<br />
Month 4<br />
Manufacture<br />
Cashflow<br />
No Cost<br />
10% due upon<br />
signing of contract<br />
Fixed price agreed<br />
bank guarantee in place<br />
18
Preparation of foundations, floor slab<br />
and other on-site pre-delivery activities<br />
Your home is built in our<br />
state-of-the-art factory.<br />
Onsite construction of your<br />
new home commences<br />
All exterior work completed<br />
Customers take delivery of<br />
their new home<br />
Month 5 Month 6<br />
Month 7<br />
Construction<br />
Month 8<br />
Month 9<br />
Completion<br />
75% due upon completion<br />
of roof covering<br />
10% due upon completion of<br />
plumbing and electrics<br />
5% due on<br />
property hand over<br />
All <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> properties benefit from -<br />
A 10 Year Structural Warranty<br />
A 20 Year Manufacturing Warranty<br />
A 3 Year Maintenance Warranty<br />
This timeline is for guideline purposes only and is not legally binding<br />
19
What are your overall thoughts on building with <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong><br />
We found out, through experience, that <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> follow through with what they promise.<br />
The actual build was faultless and they worked incredibly efficiently to build us a quality house.<br />
The after sales service has also been fantastic.’<br />
Has your new home met your expectations<br />
‘It’s definitely met our expectations. We love the house and the overall finish is excellent. We<br />
took a few months to learn how to ‘drive’ the heating system and now that it’s summer time, it<br />
does get hot inside when the sun is shining in. We need to learn a bit further about how to keep<br />
it cool. In the winter months, even through the very coldest spell, it was beautifully warm inside.<br />
It’s early days still, but we can already see that it costs about a third of our previous house to run<br />
which is fantastic.<br />
COMPLETE START TO FINISH BUILD TIME – 10 weeks<br />
Case study – Nottingham<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> customers in Nottingham did some designs for a conventional build but after putting it out to tender they<br />
found the costs were way too high and that it was outside of the remit for most traditional builders to build an energy<br />
efficient house. It became clear to them that to achieve energy efficiency, the two most important factors were to build a<br />
house that was airtight and well insulated so they set about the search for companies that offered this. ‘<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong><br />
stood out in terms of investment they’ve made in machinery at their plant. We also visited a couple of houses that they’d<br />
already built in the UK. We found that <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> had the edge in every aspect of technology and we felt their highly<br />
efficient manufacturing process would achieve the house that we wanted.’<br />
The Build<br />
At 6.30am on the first morning, two lorries arrived from Germany, with our house on board. The construction crew<br />
worked incredibly hard and were very nice people. Even having started so early in the morning, they were still working at<br />
8.30pm that night and we actually had to ask them to stop out of consideration for the neighbours! From then on, they<br />
worked from 7 ‘til 7 each day. We were on-site virtually all the time just to watch and take photos. The whole build was<br />
seamless and in less than 8 weeks the house was completed.<br />
20
Case study – Tewkesbury<br />
Has your new home met your expectations<br />
Yes, it has. The house is really lovely and warm (and not drafty) even through the cold winter<br />
months. We did light our wood burning stove just once when we first moved in but it quickly<br />
became too hot and we found ourselves opening the windows. It’s really unlikely that we’ll need<br />
to use the underfloor heating on the ground and first floors at all. The basement is naturally a<br />
bit cooler, so it might be needed from time to time down there. We do sometimes turn the<br />
ventilation system off as we like to open the windows for fresh air. However, when it’s on,<br />
which it is most of the time, the whole house has a really lovely quality of fresh, clean air.<br />
Given your experience, can you offer any tips to other self builders<br />
One of the things I would advise someone else to consider is that you need to allow space for<br />
all the machinery that is required to run the house. I would advise anyone to build a designated<br />
plant room into your design, either into a basement or a small utility room for example.<br />
COMPLETE START TO FINISH BUILD TIME – 10 weeks<br />
For <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> customers in Tewkesbury, the motivation to build their own house came<br />
primarily from living in older houses, including a listed building for more than 30 years. ‘They<br />
were lovely to look at but had little effective draught proofing and were difficult to insulate<br />
properly. Coming originally from countries with cold climates, we knew what it was like to live in<br />
a well-insulated draught-free house, feeling warm, even when it was –20C outside. We’d already<br />
met the main <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> sales agent in the UK and instantly took to his hands-on, can-do<br />
attitude. Once our house was delivered, the <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> construction crew were fantastic.<br />
They took great pride in everything they did. They would start at 8 in the morning and finish at<br />
6pm, or 1pm on Saturdays. They were so keen to get on with the job, they had asked if they<br />
could work until 10pm as the evenings were becoming lighter!<br />
So, what are your overall thoughts on building with <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong><br />
They have given an exemplary service. We feel that, as customers, our best interests have been<br />
at heart to the highest level and we’d happily go with <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> if we were to self build<br />
again.<br />
21
Case study – Braintree, Essex<br />
22
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> customers in Braintree, Essex found a plot of land<br />
which was being sold off by the neighbouring house and then began<br />
researching how best to go about their build. ‘After researching many<br />
different companies, we decided on <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong>, who offered us<br />
the security of building on time and on budget. Given our previous<br />
experience, we knew that the efficiency with which <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong><br />
operate was to be of huge advantage and after visiting the German<br />
factory, we knew that the quality of build would be uncompromised.<br />
Although 3 of our children have left home, they still spend a fair bit<br />
of time here, along with their partners and friends so we wanted to<br />
build a large family home where everyone could have their own space.<br />
Knowing exactly what we wanted, we designed the house ourselves<br />
and submitted plans to the local council. As is usual with planning,<br />
there had to be some compromise, and in our case, it was with the<br />
exterior appearance of the house needing to fit in with the surrounding<br />
buildings. I had to submit my drawings several times before we<br />
got it exactly right, and ultimately I would have liked to build a more<br />
contemporary house but certainly internally, the house has a very<br />
modern feel to it and has, in many ways, exceeded all expectations.’<br />
What are your overall thoughts on building with<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong><br />
‘<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> have been incredibly efficient from start to finish. Firstly,<br />
and given our previous experience, the benefit of knowing exactly what<br />
the build was going to cost before we even started, was invaluable.<br />
Secondly, <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> opened our eyes to a different, and more<br />
effective way of building – they work at the edge of design and use<br />
all the latest technologies. They also have an extraordinary level of<br />
commitment to the job and find a way to overcome any issues which<br />
might arise as well as accommodating changes wherever possible.<br />
Thirdly, we felt like we were being looked after, as a valued customer,<br />
throughout the entire process. Even when the house was snagged,<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> picked up on things that we couldn’t even see, and went<br />
that extra mile to meet their own high expectations.’<br />
Has your new home met your expectations<br />
‘It certainly has, it’s a fantastic house to live in and everything about<br />
it, is good quality. Despite the size of the house, we’ve also noticed a<br />
vast reduction in energy costs. With all 4 teenagers, and sometimes<br />
their partners and friends in the house, we were concerned about the<br />
running costs but we needn’t have been. In addition, with the rainwater<br />
harvesting system, we’re also paying less for our water. This is<br />
obviously a bonus for us, but is also good news in terms of the possible<br />
re-sale value of the house in the long term.’<br />
COMPLETE START TO FINISH BUILD TIME – 8 weeks<br />
‘<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> picked up on things that we couldn’t even see, and<br />
went that extra mile to meet their own high expectation’<br />
‘We signed the initial contract with <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> in July and after<br />
another trip to Germany to choose everything from the bathroom<br />
suites to the ceramic floor tiles, we came home to start work, with<br />
the ground workers, on the foundations and the concrete pad. We did<br />
come up against some unexpected problems during the dig out, but<br />
the experienced ground workers who were recommended by <strong>HANSE</strong><br />
<strong>HAUS</strong>, did a fantastic job of redirecting errant pipework while meeting<br />
the differing standards of both UK and German regulations.’<br />
23
Case study – Certified Passiv Haus, <br />
West Quantoxhead Somerset<br />
The property owners found out about <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> in March 2009 at<br />
The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show. After consideration<br />
they settled on building a <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> Passivhaus, which was to<br />
be the first certified built in the UK. The property owners commented<br />
that- ‘<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> stood out for a number of reasons. We particularly<br />
liked the idea that, unlike many other companies, we would be dealing<br />
directly with the manufacturer. Having visited the factory and sample<br />
centre in Germany in June 2009, the quality of the <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong><br />
product was evident. It wasn’t just this though; we were also placing<br />
our trust, and investing in, the people we were dealing with. Their cando<br />
attitude shone through.’ ‘Although energy efficiency and associated<br />
low running costs hadn’t been a primary objective when first setting<br />
out to build our own house, it became more apparent that these factors<br />
did make long-term economic sense. In the end, the fact that we’ve<br />
built the house we wanted, which is also a Passivhaus is the icing on<br />
the cake.’<br />
24
What are your overall thoughts on building with <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong><br />
‘The quality and speed of build is excellent. Also, when the house was<br />
being constructed, we watched the crew work with great precision<br />
and efficiency, even clearing and tidying as they went. The quality<br />
of workmanship was paramount. All in all, it’s been a really good<br />
experience and we would do it all over again’.<br />
Has your new home met your expectations<br />
‘The house has definitely met our expectations. From paper to the<br />
finished version, we have the house that we wanted. We love the big<br />
windows which make it a really light, airy house and it’s position means<br />
that the sun pours in to every room at some point throughout the day.<br />
In the design process, there were some things that we weren’t in<br />
control of such as the staircase, although we’re really pleased with it.<br />
Like everything, it’s manufactured to a very high quality. The same goes<br />
for the windows and external doors, which are really solid and robust<br />
as well as being triple-glazed. The house is quite exposed and we used<br />
to hear the wind whistling through our old house but it’s so quiet now.<br />
Although energy efficiency wasn’t our main concern when we first set<br />
out to build our own house, the fact that I don’t have a gas bill landing<br />
on my doormat any more, puts a smile on my face. We had oil-fuelled<br />
heating and hot water in our old house which cost a small fortune.<br />
Those costs would likely have doubled after the cold winter we’ve<br />
just had, and the increase in fuel costs. Our new house feels so much<br />
warmer in comparison and that’s without having any heat on at all!’<br />
Given your experience, can you offer any tips to other self<br />
builders<br />
‘It’s essential to be fully involved in the design process of a house and pay<br />
attention to the details. When we went to Germany for sampling of fixtures<br />
and fittings, we’d made a decision on where we wanted everything to be<br />
placed but over time, you get to reflect on things like the position of the<br />
lighting, for example. Some things have worked out wonderfully well for us<br />
but for other things, like the lighting, we had to make a few minor tweaks,<br />
as well as a few compromises. I’d also say that, especially if you’re self<br />
building whilst also working full time, the Turnkey Service is what you need.<br />
We run our own business so although we were very involved with the<br />
design and the fixtures and fittings for the house, our involvement with the<br />
actual build was minimal’.<br />
COMPLETE START TO FINISH BUILD TIME – 8 weeks<br />
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After struggling to find a home to match their needs, <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong><br />
customers from Elstree began to look into the possibilities of self<br />
building. ‘We started looking for a 4-bed property with a garage, and<br />
a kitchen big enough to eat in. We also wanted to be within walking<br />
distance of the station and thought we’d find somewhere that needed<br />
a coat of paint but not much else. That wasn’t the case! There was<br />
just nothing like that available on the market so we started to think<br />
about the alternatives.’<br />
The couple started researching for a suitable build partner and found<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> along with other manufacturers on the internet. ‘We<br />
then went to the Homebuilding & Renovating Show at the NEC<br />
and also <strong>Ecobuild</strong> at Excel where we talked to the various building<br />
companies. We showed the sales representatives our own concept<br />
design and this is when <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> first stood out. Where others<br />
took one look at the vaulted ceilings and multi-levelled roof structure<br />
and said they couldn’t do it, <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> had a can-do approach and<br />
invited us to Germany to discuss it further with one of their architects.<br />
Their attitude was refreshing and inspiring from the outset and no other<br />
manufacturer offered what they did both in terms of the package and<br />
costs. The <strong>HANSE</strong> architect in Germany was able to ‘tidy up’ our design<br />
and also suggest improvements here and there.’<br />
Once the plot had been purchased, planning granted and the existing<br />
dilapidated 1950s home on it demolished, <strong>HANSE</strong> approved ground<br />
workers started to lay new foundations & drains. ‘A pre-manufactured<br />
house can be finished up to 9 months quicker than a traditional build<br />
and we had no concerns over budget as <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> offered a fixed<br />
cost contract, which didn’t even vary with the fluctuating exchange<br />
rate. We were able to build a modern, functional, highly energy<br />
efficient yet very comfortable home, which is suitable for family life in<br />
the 21st Century. Now that we’re living in it, our new home really has<br />
exceeded our expectations.’<br />
Case study – Elstree, Hertfordshire<br />
26
Has your new home met your expectations<br />
‘Yes, the house has certainly met our expectations. We feel a real<br />
sense of calm and tranquility here. It’s really quiet and even though<br />
there are train lines nearby, we can’t hear them at all. This house is<br />
quite a selfish house in that, we designed it especially for us. It works<br />
for our lifestyle and felt like our home as soon as it went up.‘<br />
Given your experience, can you offer any tips to other<br />
self builders<br />
‘It’s really important that you know what you’re signing up for from<br />
the outset. If you’re hoping that when you move into your new home,<br />
you’ll walk in and get your TV to work at the press of a button, be<br />
aware that, even with a turnkey service, this isn’t always the case. <br />
We had many issues with all the utilities companies (not just BT),<br />
which meant days of hanging around waiting for them to arrive with the<br />
right team of workers and the right equipment to make the necessary<br />
connections. This of course all amounts to extra time and cost. <br />
We would also recommend a ‘condition survey’ on neighbours’ houses,<br />
especially when you’re building a basement as this can prevent any<br />
argument further down the line about potential damage to foundations/<br />
building.’<br />
Coupled with the insulated shell, and the solar panels, the house is<br />
very economical to run. There is absolutely no wastage here. In fact,<br />
we’re our own little power station. Our project manager was excellent.<br />
Despite the problems with the plumbing and electrical work, he did<br />
everything he possibly could to assist the process and never once said<br />
it wasn’t his responsibility. <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> have been a very dedicated<br />
company and are determined to leave us with a high standard product.<br />
At times this has even meant flying an engineer over from Germany at<br />
the drop of a hat, to fit a simple part.<br />
All in all, it’s been a really good experience. We would recommend<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> and would build with them again ourselves. We placed<br />
our confidence in them from the start, and would do that again.’<br />
COMPLETE START TO FINISH BUILD TIME – 20 weeks<br />
(including basement)<br />
So, what are your overall thoughts on building with<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong><br />
‘From the start, <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> stood out in saying that they can build<br />
almost anything in terms of design and they followed through on this.<br />
They have a can-do attitude, which is very appealing. They also offer<br />
a great range of fixtures and fittings – even the standard spec is top<br />
quality. We found that the staff at their sample centre gave excellent<br />
guidance and were very clear and honest about what was needed<br />
and what wasn’t – they didn’t try to sell us anything we didn’t need or<br />
want. <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> really know what they’re doing when it comes<br />
to building energy efficient homes. Although our house doesn’t<br />
meet passive standards, (mainly because we wanted so many doors<br />
and extra windows) it does have passivhaus features, including the<br />
entrance lobby which acts as an airlock, and the heat pump. <br />
<br />
<br />
27
Before getting started –<br />
what other costs should be<br />
considered<br />
Funding<br />
Funding a self build project can be a daunting and occasionally very complex task. <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> partner <br />
Mary Riley Solutions have a wealth of experience within the Self Build arena and are able to expertly advise<br />
and guide clients through the process, coordinating the professional and financial service providers from A - Z<br />
of their build project.<br />
Building your own house is for most, a once in a lifetime event. Hardly surprising then that the<br />
majority of people have little or no directly relevant experience on which to draw to help them<br />
make the right decisions or take the right steps at the right time.<br />
The first time around most people will see the granting of planning permission as being the point<br />
at which their involvement switches to finances and choosing the finishes, fixtures and fittings<br />
whilst the rest of the work is taken on by the builder.<br />
Whilst that is fine for the construction of the house itself, the reality is that there are a whole<br />
series of other activities on which the house construction is dependent. These need to be<br />
undertaken at the right time and in many cases, the right sequence.<br />
One can get a reasonable idea of how much time and consideration these activities might take<br />
based on how much of the overall project cost they account for.<br />
Typical cost breakdown for a turn-key project<br />
Foundations<br />
All sites will need a specialist soil investigation to determine the type of foundation needed. In most cases,<br />
your new <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> will be built on traditional trench fill foundations.<br />
An independent structural engineer will need to verify all the information to Building Regulations.<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> recommend P & P Groundworks Ltd<br />
Please visit them at www.pandpgroundworks.co.uk<br />
Basements<br />
A properly designed and constructed basement can be an immensely beneficial addition to your home and<br />
can add large areas of internal floor area without altering the footprint of your house. <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> are proud<br />
to have a long standing partnership with the market leading basement manufacturer Glatthaar Fertigkeller. All<br />
Glatthaar basements are manufactured off-site in their fully automated computer controlled production facility<br />
and constructed in the UK in days rather than weeks.<br />
www.glatthaar.co.uk<br />
28
Building Control Process –<br />
How does it work<br />
Feasibility, Planning and Pre-Tender Stages<br />
• Qualified Building Control Surveyors can provide early advice on projects including Fire Safety, Energy,<br />
Access and other Building Regulations issues.<br />
• They are able to assist clients through reducing potential for abortive and potentially expensive design<br />
work and delays in the process.<br />
• They are able to contribute to value engineering early in the design stage.<br />
• They can be complemented by in-house fully qualified and highly experienced SAP, SBEM, BREEAM and<br />
Code assessors where required. This includes Thermal Modelling to assist with effective enhancement<br />
of designs.<br />
Initial Notice Stage<br />
• An Initial Notice is submitted at least 7 working days prior to commencement of work on site.<br />
Detailed Design Stage<br />
• A dedicated Surveyor can provide consistent and knowledgeable interpretation of the Building<br />
Regulations and other legislation.<br />
• Structural design advice and checking by in-house Engineers.<br />
• A checking and approval process geared to the provision of design drawings and information. No<br />
restricted time limits or rejections.<br />
• Continued co-ordination with BBS Environmental assessors.<br />
• Wide-ranging and detailed experience in fire strategy and fire engineering solutions.<br />
• Our Surveyors act as integral members of the Design Team, accessible and able to provide support<br />
throughout the design process.<br />
• Extensive experience and knowledge of all building types and uses.<br />
• Facility for Type Approvals for residential units – houses, apartments, common parts and specifications.<br />
• Consultation with Fire Authority and Sewer Authority where required.<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> Health & Safety<br />
In the UK and Channel Islands, the work undertaken by <strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> GmbH is in accordance with<br />
all current Health & Safety legislation as set out in the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, in<br />
particular The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007 & The Health and Safety<br />
at Work (General) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 1987 and the Code of Practice for the Organisation and<br />
Management of Health and Safety in Construction.<br />
All site operatives have undergone training in General Site Safety Awareness and hold a<br />
European Safety Pass issued by Health & Safety Europe.<br />
All construction sites have the necessary site Health & Safety documentation, together with<br />
Method Statement & Risk Assessments, Health & Safety Europe monitor the site activities on a<br />
regular basis and are always on site for the first day of any house erection.<br />
Construction Stage<br />
• Smooth and effective flow between design and construction stages.<br />
• Inspection fully geared to the construction programme.<br />
• Accessible qualified Inspection Surveyors who will respond to your inspection requests and provide<br />
practical support and advice throughout.<br />
• Final Certificate (equivalent to Completion Certificate issued by Local Authorities) issued on satisfactory<br />
completion of project.<br />
29
Accessible homes<br />
Quality of life without barriers<br />
When planning and realizing an accessible living design, the focus falls not only on creating a<br />
welcoming living environment but also on tailoring the home to the day-to-day requirements of<br />
those with a disability. The accessible ‘Belvita’ showhome was planned in collaboration with two<br />
disabilities consultants who are both wheelchair users themselves. The result of this collective<br />
planning process is an attractively designed bungalow that offers a high quality of life by meeting<br />
the needs of those with or without disabilities in every living situation.<br />
Customised solutions for happy, carefree living<br />
The daily lives of the disabled can be made easier through a wide range of detailed <strong>HANSE</strong><br />
<strong>HAUS</strong> solutions. Not only does the accessibility design tick boxes in terms of living comfort for<br />
the disabled but it also allows those of advancing years to continue living in their own homes as<br />
they enter later life.<br />
Our recommendations during the planning of an accessible home include:<br />
Arranging all living spaces, bedrooms and a bathroom on one level, or alternatively installing a<br />
wheelchair-adapted lift, as can be viewed in our “Vivario” showhome in Mannheim, Germany or<br />
the “Cubico” showhome in Suhr, Switzerland.<br />
· Space for manoeuvre with wheelchair turning areas of a diameter of 140 cm<br />
· Doors and hallways with a minimum width of 100 cm<br />
· External doors without a threshold<br />
· A floor-level, wheelchair-accessible shower with shower seat<br />
· Wheelchair-accessible washbasin and handles on all sanitaryware<br />
· Wheelchair access to the house from the garage/carport<br />
· Durable floorings with low rolling resistance, such as laminate floors or tiles<br />
30
Meeting Notes Checklist<br />
Plot suitability<br />
House design<br />
Proposed budget/quotes<br />
Timetables<br />
Planning permission<br />
Sampling in Germany<br />
Building Regulations<br />
Discuss other costs<br />
Site visits – During Construction & on completion<br />
Finance & Contracts<br />
Notes<br />
31
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong>, an expert<br />
construction partner for<br />
your custom designed<br />
home<br />
Choosing the right construction partner means you avoid compromising<br />
on quality, service and reliability. We are a financially secure, dynamic<br />
company and have a long tradition in construction. We offer you:<br />
<br />
• A high quality build with fixtures and fittings from leading<br />
manufacturers.<br />
• Leading edge thermal insulation systems and energy saving home<br />
automation.<br />
• Guaranteed fixed price<br />
• Strong focus on delivering excellent customer service.<br />
• Our experience of over 80 years and a track record of over 30,000<br />
completed houses.<br />
• A guide for customers from 'Start to Finish'.<br />
Your partner agent<br />
Parent Company:<br />
<strong>HANSE</strong> <strong>HAUS</strong> GmbH<br />
Ludwig-Weber-Straße 18<br />
D-97789 Oberleichtersbach<br />
UK Contact:<br />
Telephone: 0845 658 9780 (local call rate)<br />
info@hanse-haus.co.uk<br />
www.hanse-haus.co.uk