My mom has had a "builder" who built her small house. It is very small with two small rooms and a bathroom. It cost over 500,000 SEK to build. I think it seems expensive. Now, he says that 5 cm of polystyrene + 5 cm of wool in the walls is sufficient for winter living. In the ceiling, there's a maximum of 20 cm and in the floor, I think it's the same as in the ceiling.
The first thing that happened when she moved in was that the water froze. Then he installed a cable in the water pipe. The cable is too long and the rest is coiled up in the bathroom.
There are 5 or 6 radiators in the house. They run on electricity. It's not possible to get the temperature up to more than about 20 degrees with just the radiators, and that's when all of them are running at full blast. My mom has a stove that she uses to get the temperature up.
Don't you think this sounds strange???
I think my mom has been deceived. She naturally doesn't want to believe it herself and gets angry when you point out facts. He is soooo nice and unfortunately, she has fallen for it.
What to do???
What do you think about the insulation???
I think she plans to hire the same "builder" again to expand, and I thought I'd have a little more "on my feet" before I talk to her again.
Caisa
The first thing that happened when she moved in was that the water froze. Then he installed a cable in the water pipe. The cable is too long and the rest is coiled up in the bathroom.
There are 5 or 6 radiators in the house. They run on electricity. It's not possible to get the temperature up to more than about 20 degrees with just the radiators, and that's when all of them are running at full blast. My mom has a stove that she uses to get the temperature up.
Don't you think this sounds strange???
I think my mom has been deceived. She naturally doesn't want to believe it herself and gets angry when you point out facts. He is soooo nice and unfortunately, she has fallen for it.
What to do???
What do you think about the insulation???
I think she plans to hire the same "builder" again to expand, and I thought I'd have a little more "on my feet" before I talk to her again.
Caisa
The thickness of insulation they may have had in houses 20 years ago. In modern houses today, it's about 400mm in the ceiling and 200mm in the walls - so it sounds a bit like a summer cottage. However, it's not necessarily just due to the insulation; it could be how the work is done. Because I think the radiators should still be able to raise the temperature in the house. Otherwise, you could just buy more radiators.
I would therefore look for something else that seems odd. Is cold air coming from the windows - maybe he forgot to seal them properly? How is the ventilation? Is the insulation comprehensive, or is there a significant oversight somewhere?
I would therefore look for something else that seems odd. Is cold air coming from the windows - maybe he forgot to seal them properly? How is the ventilation? Is the insulation comprehensive, or is there a significant oversight somewhere?
"Regular" Styrofoam does not insulate better than "regular" insulation, so your mother's house is VERY poorly insulated.
Check the power of the radiators. There is a little "sign" indicating how many Watts they are. Add up the power of all the radiators so you can see the total heating capacity. Perhaps the radiators are simply too "small". Please write and inform about their power.
Also consult a surveyor regarding your concerns, check in the Yellow Pages, under the section: Property Inspections.
Don't give up, because according to your description, the carpenter seems to be a trickster.
Kind regards from: Staffan
Check the power of the radiators. There is a little "sign" indicating how many Watts they are. Add up the power of all the radiators so you can see the total heating capacity. Perhaps the radiators are simply too "small". Please write and inform about their power.
Also consult a surveyor regarding your concerns, check in the Yellow Pages, under the section: Property Inspections.
Don't give up, because according to your description, the carpenter seems to be a trickster.
Kind regards from: Staffan
How did it come about when your mom ordered this house? Did she give the builder free rein to build a house exactly how he wanted, or was there some kind of plan? There must have been a drawing and a construction description, if nothing else for the building permit? There must have been a quality manager. He must have some opinion on this, right?
has he insulated the ground properly?
concrete slab or Krypgrund?
concrete slab or Krypgrund?
Hi and thank you to everyone who responded.
A drawing existed and my mom approved it, but she doesn't know anything about insulation and relies on this "builder." My mom claims that an inspector from the municipality has been there to inspect. He asked if mom was satisfied!!!???? Of course. The house is very charming, and she trusts the "builder."
I don't actually know what type of foundation it is, but I think it's poured. I believe it's piers.
Regarding the radiators, I don't know what they say because I don't live nearby to check. Right now, my mom is so upset that we don't think the "builder" is good, so I can't ask her to look.
It's also the case that my sister has inquired about this "builder," and he has lots of dissatisfied customers. He is known for tricking elderly people. I find this difficult because my mom thinks he is so nice, so she definitely wants him to do the extension. Troublesome! Thank you anyway for your commitment. I will try to get my mom to change her mind and see if we can get someone to properly look at the insulation.
Kind regards, Caisa
A drawing existed and my mom approved it, but she doesn't know anything about insulation and relies on this "builder." My mom claims that an inspector from the municipality has been there to inspect. He asked if mom was satisfied!!!???? Of course. The house is very charming, and she trusts the "builder."
I don't actually know what type of foundation it is, but I think it's poured. I believe it's piers.
Regarding the radiators, I don't know what they say because I don't live nearby to check. Right now, my mom is so upset that we don't think the "builder" is good, so I can't ask her to look.
It's also the case that my sister has inquired about this "builder," and he has lots of dissatisfied customers. He is known for tricking elderly people. I find this difficult because my mom thinks he is so nice, so she definitely wants him to do the extension. Troublesome! Thank you anyway for your commitment. I will try to get my mom to change her mind and see if we can get someone to properly look at the insulation.
Kind regards, Caisa
Self-builder
· Stockholm
· 8 594 posts
The insulation sounds like what I'll have in my vacation home - not like what you usually have in newly built permanent houses.
But as someone above said, the question is if it's something else since you should be able to get the temperature above 20 degrees at least - even if it costs a bit of electricity, of course.
500 tkr - expensive?
Well, it depends on how big the house is.
For a 45-60 sqm house, it's probably not unreasonable if frame assembly, carpentry, and painting etc. were included.
For a small garden shed of 15-20 sqm, it might be on the high side though.
It sounds like your mother lives in a less insulated vacation home, rather than a villa. Small cabin, but that insulation on stilts = vacation home standard!?
It doesn’t have to be wrong - as long as you realize that's the case and you find it acceptable. It's a bit surprising that the municipality approved it for permanent residence though since handicap toilets, modern insulation standards, good ventilation solutions, etc., are usually included as points in the control plan. There must have been a KA, in the worst case "the builder" - but you can easily call the municipality and find out - also how the control plan looked etc. - if you just know the address and/or property designation.
/K
But as someone above said, the question is if it's something else since you should be able to get the temperature above 20 degrees at least - even if it costs a bit of electricity, of course.
500 tkr - expensive?
Well, it depends on how big the house is.
For a 45-60 sqm house, it's probably not unreasonable if frame assembly, carpentry, and painting etc. were included.
For a small garden shed of 15-20 sqm, it might be on the high side though.
It sounds like your mother lives in a less insulated vacation home, rather than a villa. Small cabin, but that insulation on stilts = vacation home standard!?
It doesn’t have to be wrong - as long as you realize that's the case and you find it acceptable. It's a bit surprising that the municipality approved it for permanent residence though since handicap toilets, modern insulation standards, good ventilation solutions, etc., are usually included as points in the control plan. There must have been a KA, in the worst case "the builder" - but you can easily call the municipality and find out - also how the control plan looked etc. - if you just know the address and/or property designation.
/K