Killucan
Co. Westmeath

Killucan
Co. Westmeath

Meelick
Co. Clare

Bray
Co. Wicklow

Bray
Co. Wicklow

Greystones
Co. Wicklow

Greystones
Co. Wicklow

Kilkelly
Co. Mayo

Milltown
Dublin 6

Rathgar
Dublin 6

Smooth house build with very high quality

For nearly 10 years we looked into the building procedures from Mallorca. Because of substantial risk in quality, ongoing price variations and lack of punctuality we decided not to build on the site we had purchased before. Only when we got to know HANSE HAUS we became convinced that we can take the leap and that we will miss out on the normal building problems in Mallorca. As expected with HANSE HAUS we could realise our building project quick and without any mess. The pre-planning of the house was dealt with very professionally by HANSE HAUS and without any delay; even difficult points were sussed out with energy and friendliness. On site we were speechless how well organised the house was erected within a few days and in time. The interior work was finished to a very high standard without a delay. Now that we live in the house for a while we can confirm that the material used and the finish of the house is to a very high quality specification. Especially the future orientated highly insulated building technique comes across superb in several points:  We experience a pleasant climate in our house and this at every season on this lovely island all year around. Because what is good against the cold is also good against the heat. We did not fit any oil- or gas system. We decided to go for a solar system combined with a heat pump. When we are not present in the house during the winter time we just wanted to switch everything on to solar power. This would never be possible in Germany, but it works perfect here in Mallorca. When we are in need of after service from HANSE HAUS – really nothing substantial – the service is provided without any problems.
If someone is looking for a smooth build procedure with high quality and does not want to look into the building unfavourability of the south - to this person we can highly recommend HANES HAUS.

We would build with HANSE HAUS again.

Best Regards
Family W.

We had seen a pre-constructed timber-frame house in Dublin and were impressed by the high specification of the building. When we came across Hanse Haus we were impressed by not only the finish, but the "U" values they deliver and the attention to detail.

With five of six children still living at home and a busy interior design and furniture business to run the prospect of having the house constructed off-site and erected in just three weeks was an ideal solution. What we didn't anticipate was the length of time all the design specifications we made would take. There can be no changes made once manufacturing in Germany is underway. The whole process took about 10 month and 2 trips to Germany to meet with the architects and choose finishes.

Meanwhile Brian, who had groundwork’s construction experience through his company in Africa, had undertaken all the preparatory work with the foundations. From this point on though, the pace quickened rapidly and within weeks five 40 foot containers arrived with six men and one very large crane. It was amazing to watch. Every single thing is worked out in advance. After fitting the internal doors, the last week of the three-week build saw the builders tackle the under-floor heating and install the heating system.

That was it. Three weeks and we had a fully constructed house.

Would we do it again? We don't regret it. It saved a lot of time and frustration. For us the speed was the main consideration. From start to finish construction took just one month. From experience we know only too well how stressful building is; having the responsibility for it carried by the company made the experience exciting rather than stressful. The result is a house that's comfortable to live in and very efficient at keeping us warm in the winter.

The Hughes & Jacobs family - Glencree, County Wicklow

“Having previously restored an old property, we were well aware of the work involved and the limitations of building with bricks and mortar so when we decided to build our new farmhouse, we went for a timber frame.  We had the planning in place and drawings from our architect before we went to a self-build show and came across Hanse Haus.  We were instantly impressed with their efficiency and commitment to quality and after a trip to Germany, where we saw the high standards of the manufacturing process, we easily made the decision to build a Hanse Haus. 

Only 4 months after putting in our order, our house arrived in 3 arctic lorries from Germany.  By the end of day two, the roof was on making it weather-proof and an astonishing 4 weeks and 6 days later, the remarkably efficient and concise construction team had completed the entire house.  From start to finish, it was an incredibly smooth operation with a ‘nothing is too much trouble attitude’ and we now have exactly the home we wanted…and at the right price too”.  Nicola Day.

Background
Chris and Nicola Day’s house is located on their farm in Cannington, Somerset.  It was the very first Hanse Haus to be built in the UK and led the way for many more to follow.  Largely modern in design but with some traditional features, the 4 bedroom property provides approximately 200sqm of living space.

With a busy life on the farm, the functionality of the house was of primary importance for Chris and Nicola.  “We wanted a house which would fit in with the local area but it also needed to be practical to our needs.  With lots of restrictions in the Sedgemoor planning department, our architect pleased everyone when he came up with the final drawings.

We’re more than happy with what we’ve got, but, in hindsight, and having been to the Hanse Haus visitor centre in Germany, we might have challenged the planning restrictions and looked at a bespoke Hanse Haus design.  As well as building something a little different to the norm in UK terms, Hanse Haus architects maximise use of space by incorporating fully waterproof basements, for example”, says Chris Day.

Exterior
A sweeping entrance drive leads past the farm buildings and up to the house, which is built on a concrete foundation slab, constructed by a local builder. 

The house has a timber frame and hardwood windows.

Exterior walls are 255mm thick and outside, are finished in a textured yellow render.
The windows and patio doors are triple thermal glazed and are PVC foiled.  The outside colour is dark oak and the inside is white.

The roof is a saddleback, purlin roof and is covered with tiles.

Interior
On the ground floor there is an entrance porch and utility area, as well as a wet room with separate entrance, large kitchen/diner, separate dining room, spacious hall/reception area and living room.  There is also internal access, leading off from the hall, into a double garage.  The groundfloor hall, kitchen, bathroom, utility room, storage room, shower rooms and downstairs cloakroom are fitted with ceramic floor tiles.  Carpets as selected from the Hanse Haus sample range, are in all other rooms.

Upstairs is a large master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, a second large bedroom, also en-suite and two further bedrooms as well as a family bathroom.  The four bedrooms each incorporate large windows with dramatic views at every angle across the Sedgemoor district.

There is also an open-plan and spacious landing, which is set off by elegant wooden banisters. The staircase is made from solid Oak or Beech wood, including mortice and tenon steps with risers, and a banister with straight balusters as well as an inner handrail.

Upstairs has carpets throughout, with ceramic tiles in the bathrooms. 

The entire house benefits from under-floor heating.

The house also boasts the Hanse Haus solid wall system, which combines the advantages of a timber frame and solid wall construction.  “The walls have a stud every 300mm and they are completely glued on both sides with OSB boards. That makes them loadbearing and the fixing of wall units, including heavy kitchen units for example, is possible everywhere“, says Hanse Haus architect, Bianca Keil.

UtilitiesHeatingAn air to water boiler provides heat and domestic hot water which is stored in a buffer tank.  There is no need for any gas or oil.  With under floor heating as fuelled by the Air to Water boiler, the ambient room temperature can be around 2 °C lower than with radiator heating, which whilst keeping you warm, also means 8 to 10 % less heating costs.WaterInitially, Chris and Nicola planned to use the onsite borehole for water but when they discovered it needed a treatment plant, they opted for mains water.VentilationThe house boasts a controlled air ventilation system, which means that humid and odorous air is extracted from rooms such as the kitchen, bathroom and toilet through a short, central duct and fed outdoors.  The required supply of fresh air is then provided by decentralised outside air openings known as fresh-valves.  The many benefits of the controlled air ventilation system include the following:

• High levels of humidity and the resultant problems such as the build up of mould on walls in living areas and bathrooms are prevented.

• By defining the air exchange rate, you can automatically control the warm-air heating needs, leading to a reduction in heating energy requirements.

• The regulated room ventilation increases a sense of wellbeing as the room air hygiene is guaranteed.

Insulation
Walls, ceilings and roofs are insulated with a GLASSWOOL product, which is produced with 90% natural mineral raw materials, like for example, sand and more than 50% recycled glass. The GLASSWOOL product recently gained recognition as an environmental product due to it’s high content of waste glass and also gained a quality control mark to confirm that it’s harmless to health.  What’s more, the type of insulation ensures low heating demand in the house. 

Chemical-free
Only the roof rafters and the battens were impregnated with BOR salt to protect the wood against humidity, otherwise, no wood preservation was used and all materials are chemical-free.

Energy Efficient
Consisting of a timber frame, and given that wood has the lowest energy consumption and the lowest CO2 emission of any commonly used building material, Chris and Nicola’s house can be described as energy efficient.  Added to this, the short construction time on-site meant that there was minimal disturbance on the surrounding environment.  What’s more, the entire house can also be rebuilt and recycled!


So, what’s the house like to live in? 
“The house feels really solid, yet it’s very light and airy and with such lovely views, it’s certainly a pleasure to live in”, says Nicola Day.  “Compared to our old house, it’s also been noticably warmer through the winter months and although we haven’t had any utility bills yet, we’re certainly hoping that they won’t be too high“.

“Watching our old Chalet Bungalow being knocked down in just 3 hours was quite a daunting experience.  We’d lived in it quite happily for the past 5 years but with 3 children, space had become an issue and we decided it was time for something bigger.  The bungalow also had zero insulation, which meant that we were constantly feeding the Rayburn with wood to keep the place warm – it was labour intensive and with a camping and caravan site and log cabin retreat to run, it was taking up far too much time. 

We wanted to build our own bespoke house but had concerns about the time it would take and the cost.  Then, our local district councillor mentioned HANSE HAUS to us and since then we didn’t look back.  Our plans were passed in February ’08, we signed a contract with Hanse Haus in April ’08 and the house was built in November ’08.  We then moved into our new home for Christmas”.  Helen Gurd.

Background
Helen and Richard Gurd’s house is located on their camping and touring caravan park, called Alpine Grove Woodland Park, near Chard in South Somerset.  The house stands at one end of the quiet 8.5 acre woodland site and has the site reception and shop attached to it.

With the business to run as well as the park to maintain, and three children to add to the mix, Helen and Richard needed their house to be spacious, functional and somewhat low maintenance. 

“We employed an architect to do our drawings but had a few issues with the Planning Department at South Somerset & Yeovil Council when they told us that they couldn’t pass the house on the basis of it’s size, shape and roof design.  We were told that the new house could only be 15% bigger than the original property but after 4 weeks and numerous discussions, our plans were passed and the house we’ve ended up with is 25% bigger than the old one.  Obviously we had to compromise on some things, but ultimately we’ve got the house we wanted.

Fortunately, we were able to live in one of our log cabins whilst it was being built so we didn’t have to move far and we were on-site throughout the process.  With between 4 and 6 builders working on it at any one time, the entire house and shop/reception annex was built within 6 weeks.  It was a highly organised procedure, which for us, was altogether stress-free.  There were a few small things that weren’t quite as we’d wanted but being so close by we were able to tell them quickly enough and they were able to make the necessary changes.  Otherwise, it was just a case of letting them get on with it”, says Helen Gurd.

Exterior
On entering into the leafy setting of the park, the part European/part English style house is situated to one end.  Despite a previous dwelling, Helen and Richard had concrete supplied by a local contractor and then laid a new foundation pad themselves.

The exterior walls are 25.7 cm thick and comprise a mixture of cream-coloured render and stonework on the outside, which lends itself to the natural setting. 

The house has triple-glazed PVC windows with a foil.

It has a pitched tiled roof and copper guttering.

Although it’s a modern house, it has many traditional features.

Interior
The house provides 235.95 SqM of living space with a +42.89 SqM attic, which is not converted.

The ground floor is accessed through a porch and into a spacious dining hall.  Both the lounge, with a brick built fireplace and wood-burner, and double patio doors to the rear, and the open plan kitchen/breakfast room lead off the dining hall.  The shop/reception/office is accessed via the kitchen/breakfast room and also through an external door from the campsite.  There’s also a separate WC and large utility/boiler room on the ground floor. 

Downstairs is fitted with ceramic floor tiles throughout with carpet in the lounge.

Upstairs comprises of 4 spacious bedrooms, a family bathroom and large, open landing.  The master bedroom has an en suite bathroom and dressing area.  A children’s playroom/guestroom, which is situated in the loft space above the shop/reception, is accessed through one of the bedrooms.

The bedrooms and landing is laid with carpet throughout and the bathrooms have ceramic tiles.  The stairs are made of solid oak and the entire house benefits from under-floor heating.

The interior walls are 12 cm thick and the house also boasts the Hanse Haus solid wall system, which combines the advantages of a timber frame and solid wall construction.  “The walls have a stud every 300mm and they are completely glued on both sides with OSB boards. That makes them loadbearing and the fixing of wall units, including heavy kitchen units for example, is possible everywhere“, says Hanse Haus architect, Bianca Keil.

Utilities

Heating
An Air to Water Boiler provides heat and domestic hot water, which is stored in a buffer tank.  There is no need for any gas or oil.  With under floor heating as fuelled by the Air to Water boiler, the ambient room temperature can be around 2 °C lower than with radiator heating, which whilst keeping you warm, also means 8 to 10 % less heating costs.

Water
As well as water heated by the Air to Water boiler, Richard and Helen’s house benefits from a rainwater harvesting system, which supplies water for the laundry, flushing toilets, general cleaning and garden irrigation meaning that approx. 50% of the ground water can be saved.  The rainwater doesn’t require immediate percolation but is retained on the property.  This storage and recycling facility makes sound ecological sense.

Ventilation
“We have installed a mechanical exhaust air system. This system is used for the demand-based supply of air to and extraction of air from low and ultra low energy houses. Used air, which is often contaminated with pollutants, such as moisture and odours from kitchens, bathrooms, etc, is continuously extracted. This regulated room ventilation increases a sense of well being, as it guarantees room air quality and hygiene and what’s more it leads to a reduction in heating energy requirements”, says Bruno Kleinheinz, Hanse Haus sales director for the UK and Ireland.

Insulation
The walls, ceilings and roofs are insulated with a ROCKWOOL product, which is produced using rocks (basalt).  ROCKWOOL is liquified then bloated for insulation pruposes.  It’s more expensive than it’s GLASSWOOL equivalent but is fireproof up to and above 1000 oC.  What’s more, it’s a very effective insulator and ensures low heating demand in the house. 

Chemical-free
Only the roof rafters and the battens were impregnated with BOR salt to protect the wood against humidity, otherwise, no wood preservation was used and all materials are chemical-free.

Energy Efficient
Consisting of a timber frame, as well as timber stairs, side and main doors, and given that wood has the lowest energy consumption and the lowest CO2 emission of any commonly used building material, the main structure of Richard & Helen’s house can be described as energy efficient.  More than this though, the rainwater harvesting system means that they are conserving water for domestic needs and due to the Rockwool insulation system, heating energy requirements are reduced.  “Added to this, the short construction time on-site meant that there was minimal disturbance on the surrounding environment.  What’s more, the entire house can also be rebuilt and recycled“, says Bruno Kleinheinz.


So, what are your overall thoughts on building with Hanse Haus?
„Undoubtedly, Hanse Haus have been incredibly efficient from start to finish.  Our first trip to Germany involved many decisions on fixtures and fittings, which was a bit daunting at first but the staff took any confusion out of it for us and were able to make solid recommendations on what would work best and helped us visualise what it would all look like. 

Another great benefit is that we knew exactly what we were getting into financially and despite the Pound falling against the Euro during the build, Hanse Haus were very honourable and stuck to the original pricing structure.  What’s more, the builders were so well organised and genuiunely hard working, which meant that the house was finnished on time and with minimal amount of hiccups along the way.  Having experienced this, we certainly wouldn’t use an English builder again.  All in all, the house has definitely exceeded our expectations“, says Helen.