I am Swiss and did my engineering degree back home. I worked in Switzerland, Germany, Israel, England, Ireland and am now in North America. Building codes and technics believe it or not are generally similar in their bases everywhere while their standards are impacted mainly by cost and the present climate. Switzerland has high building standards where noise and room insulation are most important for its clientele. Privacy is an essential aspect of any Swiss House development with Energy efficiency closely followed (Energy costs are much higher in Europe (especially Switzerland) than in North America). The buildings in Switzerland are a lot more expensive to build and purchase (on average) than the US home while being a lot smaller in sq ft. North American building techniques are sufficient and cost-effective - in fact, some newer home builds in Europe have started copying the North American Style House building (they call it Scandinavian House Type) with additional outside insulation layers to overcome the climate challenges (Germany and France) to achieve cheaper housing purchasing prices and speed up development times. From my experience, Europe has better quality control and standards when it comes to building supplies - whereas here in North America the contractor is responsible for the quality assurance of the raw materials. Anyway, long story short - any building method has its benefits and disadvantages. With the exchange of information and technologies any building code develops and improves over time - no matter where. There is no better way of building than building for the existing market and given environment. I highly doubt that an average North American Householder would be ready to pay for a Swiss House type in his or her home town when getting a lot more sq ft and space for the same price. For us builders - higher spec and technology are always of more interest. Thank you for your great videos - I am following PR Buildings for a long time.
Thanks for that insight. I like the details and quality spent on most European structures but recognize they come with a bump in cost vs the American way. As usual, the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence.
@@95thousandroses that's correct. This said governmental buildings as well as large office blocks (new construction) are often superior in the US and parts of Canada. Europe is a long way behind modern skyscrapers - I realized that while working on the Bau 1 in Switzerland Basel which is a pharmaceutical office building.
@@MBarram Well explained. I grew up in Switzerland and yes, energy costs but also energy related standard (e.g. Minergy) are a big factor. Our current home in California is zero energy efficient and requires a lot of energy for temperature control, which isn’t only a cost but mainly an environmental nightmare… BTW: I work for the „Bau 1“ company.
@@GoTTi0374 True. If you don't mind me asking; are you working for Alpiq? Bau 1 was an interesting built. They have added two more since then. Have a great day
@@MBarram no, misunderstanding… I work for the pharmaceutical company. From 2003 - 2016 in Basel and since then in (South) San Francisco. I’m in a completely different profession but I love carpentry and follow this channel for a while…
It's great! My shed has been completed and it turned out nice looking and sturdy and it is way better than the sheds that many of my neighbors had put up. Of course, I'm pleased with the outcome and this Ryan's czcams.com/users/postUgkxGZedDTcDfgD7fG_uU4esfx_EgxzlY2_1 Plans was extremely useful to me as a guide.
I lived in Switzerland for three years in one of these modern multi family builds with all these details. 0F in winter up to 90F in summer and not one time did we turn on the heat. No aircon installed and we were never uncomfortable. You do not want to know the price of these units…
Do you think you can tell us how much your rent was?? I’m just wondering how a building this solid is able to make a profit with such little units. Just curious
Indeed, same reaction! (I'm from Belgium too) Actually, I just bought an old house and on the first floor it's the "old way" windows without this option and I'm struggling to get confy :p
You and I had the same reaction! I was a carpenter building homes in California for about 5 years. After moving to Sweden, I was blown away at the quality difference between lumber and other materials compared to California. Glad you get to see the European way!
They can't. They have standards for that. For example my German friends had small imperfections in their windows (like little specks), and since some exceeded the limit (yes there is a standard for that!), they have been replaced. Think 1 tiny barely visible think per 10 sq feet.
@@mrsbradpittiful I would say its call the right to choose. If you want to pay $200 for a harware store window and deal with the lesser quality you can. If you want to order a window from a European manufacturer for $2000 then you can do that as well.
Building codes here in sweden with our cold climate demands thick insulation. My parents new built house have 400mm insulation in the Walls and 600mm in the roof. 500mm of styrofoam underneath the concrete slab. 6000kWh in a year is needed to heat the house. Mean temperature during a year is 7C (44F).
Good stuff!!!!! Switzerland follows Passive House guidelines. I loved Ben's response to a house breathing. Very true that "the physics does not lie". Once everyone here in the US understands "the physics", we can start to see more builders adapting to most of the techniques shown in your video. These are proven methods that work.
As a home owner and novice builder in the PNW, I really appreciate the high quality lumber and laminates. Last couple projects I've done, I've struggled getting quality lumber (and it's costly no matter what). How cool would it be to not have to wrestle with warped boards and inconsistent dimensional lumber... Thanks for sharing the Swiss way.
For those wondering, not only is mass timber a fully sustainable and recyclable way of building, the building itself will sequester a huge amount of carbon over it's lifetime , nice win for the environment. It also does a great job as an insulator and thermal break across the building. Seems stone age but is actually the future. Unreal!
I want to build my next home for retirement using a Post Frame Swiss Chalet... Being a Mechanical Engineer I respect the Swiss for their expertise and practicality. Look at a way to combine metal roofing and wall panels with the wood decorations for the chalet details and large eaves.
Love the fact Matt Risinger, NS Builders and now RR Buildings all go to a job site in Switzerland with a comparable design and basically make the same video. Well, since the swiss lift wood construction to the highest level, cant blaim them.
That is amazing how they do construction over there. I think we could and should learn something from them. Thank you for letting us tag along and for showing the building science included with this.
Being Swiss, let me tell you, the average home price is over a million and thats for an apartment, in bigger cities it's more like 3. And houses are significantly more expensive. What you see here is probably in the 1.2 to 1.5 range with maybe 1400 to 1600 sqft. (which is huge by Swiss standards), and these are apartments in a more rural setting (I recognise the mountains there, this is "Schwyz"). This house probably has anywhere from 12 to 16 units maybe more (couldn't really see it), so you do the math (that building probably costs some 16 to 20 million or so). For that amount you can get an equally impressive house in the US. But they are quality and they do hold up. I live in an internally modernised 250yo house right now, you could never tell.
Awesome content Kyle. Really interesting how different things are built in Switzerland compared to here in the US. Big beefy buildings well insulated. Would love to have a house built like that.
Very cool look at how they build in Switzerland! My son is currently living in Zurich and is an architecture major attending ETH university. He is really enjoying his time there learning how they do what your showing in the video!
Great series . It would be great to hear the wall systems explained by a vendor like you see at trade shows. Usually they have cutaways on display that really showcase the benefits and differences. Hope the suggestion helps. ...
I was putting this off to watch, but I'm so glad I came back to it This is insane on every level! I would love to see this come over to the states when it comes to that wall detail. The only thing I could see is cost pushing many people away. but with sheathing staying so high in price maybe it's a welcome time.
The reason for the very thick floors is to create heat capacity; I presume that the floor heating will be rather low-temperature (maybe 35°C). So, the whole block will be slowly heated up, and it will keep that heat for some longer time. This is needed because the walls are very well insulated, but their heat capacity is not very high.
That’s incredible! The cost of oil and natural gas in Europe is so high that building it this way cost lest to heat, cool and climatized keeps molds from growing. Again just an incredible video, thanks for sharing.
I dont use 2x4 exterior walls anymore..all homes i build i use 2x6 on 2 foot centers..all my rafters use 2x6 on bottom runs instead of 2x4..it may b more expensive but save money on cooling and heating in long run
Is Greg the camera man? He is doing a great job panning and zooming between you and the construction details. The camera is always pointed exactly where it needs to be.
Great information, Kyle. It is all about the cost and square footage on person living in this apartments - very different from what you are used to in US
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is really starting to gain momentum in the states. The University of Washington just finished a building on campus with that design.
Understanding the level of noise that goes into these spaces would be everything. i bet inside they are dead quiet. They are using 2-4x the materials we use, so it better be amazing.
Wow! That is something else! Insane floor/ceiling thinkness! They surely are well insulated for temperatures and sound! Where we use 2x4's it seems they use 4x4 posts or 2x10's! It would be great to raise the American build standards to something similar! Better insulated and heavy duty structures would surely withstand hurricanes and tornadoes much better! These type of builds should be mandatory in major storm zones. Very interesting! Can't wait to see what else they do different...
@@jaredanson it is, but lots of factors involved, mostly the value of the finished building alongside high levels of safety and health of occupants. That building is built to meet environmental change in 50 to 100 years time
@@jcoul1sc This is not high up, I'd say maybe at 550m/ 1500 feet (I live not far from here) But yes this norm now. The insulation is there to keep heat in during winter and to keep it out in the summer. It reduces the energy use (energy costs are much higher here than in America), this I believe is a passive house.
well yeah as an European I always watch in disbelieve how not insulated those houses can be in US I specifically remember a video of a guy spray foaming gap under the window and he went on on a 10 minute rant of how this will help the insulation and so on well that was the bear minimum we were doing in Europe 20 years ago :D :D
Great info. Proves U.S. doesn't always have the best ideas. People build for the environment. Cold, cold in Alpenland Definitely not overkill. Appreciate thermo barriers sound deadening qualities.
*Abstract* This video explores construction practices in Switzerland, with a specific focus on a multi-family residential building. Key observations, discussed with an emphasis on building science, include: * **Robust Materials:** The structure uses solid wood framing everywhere, including thick ceiling beams created from glue-laminated timber. * **Extensive Insulation:** Multiple layers of mineral wool insulation are used both inside and outside the walls, and even under the concrete floors for soundproofing and thermal efficiency. * **Unique Wall Assembly:** The exterior walls have no weather-resistant barrier or sheathing. Instead, they rely on water-resistant mineral wool insulation and a ventilated rain screen for moisture management. * **Soundproofing:** Measures like aggregate layers under the floors and significant insulation help reduce sound transmission between units. * **High-Quality Details:** Custom-fabricated windows with multiple opening options, smooth-operating heavy doors, and precisely fitted components demonstrate build quality. The speaker compares these techniques to conventional North American construction (specifically post-frame buildings). He concludes by acknowledging the potential for incorporating some of these robust Swiss building practices into future construction projects in other regions.
Another thing about those windows is that if you set handle position mid-way between vertical open and horizontal open, it's still closed but there is air gap all around window seals to let some air in
This type of construction is not specific only to the Swiss. All countries in europe construct similarly. It's not overkill, it is the norm and well worth it when you can heat your house with a hair drier and absolutely no need for air conditioning. When I see those stick buildings in America, all I can think about is that my grandparents hen-house is built better..
These are all passive builds and I’m from Ireland and we have started to use the same method over the past 10 years and it’s better than any other building method I’ve ever done
Love to see these European videos as a European. You should come to the Netherlands once though, it's a totally different building technique compared to Switzerland, Austria, Germany
Ben said the houses don't need to breath. In some clips in the video you see the windows sealed of from the window to the floor to create an air tight seal. That's more commen in Europe the last years. But no vapor bariers is new for me. Cool video i really enjoyed it and learned some things!!
Great video presentation and veddy interesting. Has to be quiet as a tomb and so comfortably draft free. On the other hand, even if costs were no object, we know people who would choose 20 gables of asphalt shingles enclosing a 1/2 mile of hanging ductwork every time.
Not over kill, just different methodology. We vapor barrier and allow separate climates on both sides of the wall they eliminate the vapor barrier and allow a climate to exist between both sides of the wall. Because they don't have the vapor barrier they need a thicker wall to allow for drying and to slow the speed with which the exterior climate becomes the climate of the interior and vise versa. We can reduce the thickness of a wall because we separate one climate from the other and stop vapor from penetrating from either side which allows us to get good thermal potential. Well, that's my story and I'm sticking with it! BUT, i really liked looking at what they do, it works and is probable greener and a longer lasting product.
I wish the door and window manufacturers can build to the European standard. To much plastic rollers and parts. I know a lot of it has to do with are disposable mind set here in America. Btw the time I went to Germany I fell in love with the windows.
These types of windows have been in the North American market for some time. If the builder down the street uses a low performing window which costs half as much and can get the same $ per sq. ft. in his build, you can see how better technology is not utilized. When americans go abroad they can count on being surprised.
The wooden floor separation is not normal in Denmark, but the rest is. when building in wood construction we become 19,5 inches of rockwool in outer walls, floor and ceiling construction
Netherlands as well, I live in a house like that and men is it comfortable. Energy bill, we only have electric, is € 60,- / month, with only 12 solar panels on our roof. We have heatpumps, cold warm water storage in ground to heat and cool our house.
Great video guys! Glad your showing us what is being done in other parts of the world... You might as well be on another planet because of how foreign these details are to the north American market.... North America likes to trap vapor where the Swiss let it move.... It's very similar in their roofing systems as well 👍
In the Netherlands we could only dream of such high quality construction. Unfortunately we got lazy after gas was discovered. Only in the past few years the building standards have improved, but we are nowhere near Swedish or Swiss standards. This is passive house level, R 6+ at minimum, but I think more likely R 10+. In the Netherlands the standards for new builds have just been updated to R 4.7. Timber frame construction is also very rare in the Netherlands. It is unfortunate, because there are other areas of construction (infrastructure) in which we have been able to be on the front of innovation.
I watched a tv show once about a rich Norwegian that lives it us. He had built his house like in norway. When a hurricane struck his house was the only one standig aftervards. No offence on american way of building but i think it is built a lot more solid in europe😃
No WRB or floor joists? I’ve never seen anything like this, I’d liked to see some of those 200-250 year old houses he was talking about. Most of the houses that old in America are made out of brick
Key point with there buildings no ac needed and heat will be very minimal. All you hear in the us is the drain on the power grid. Need to go green. No we need to build to the climate in the areas and the usage will go down on all energy.
Netherlands as well, I live in a house like that and men is it comfortable. Energy bill, we only have electric, is € 60,- / month, with only 12 solar panels on our roof. We have heatpumps, cold warm water storage in ground to heat and cool our house.
@@BoatLakeHouseKids I wasn't saying go green it's all the wacko greenest that push bull but won't look at better was to realistically long term save energy. Trust me I love the black smoke roll out of my semi to keep this country going. But there is better ways and so what if it costs more or uses more energy up front it's what you can save in the long term is all I was saying.
@@BoatLakeHouseKids Really? How much energy (gas / petrol / electric) is used in building a standard single family home and keeping it warm / cold etc in US? Compare that to the 60,=/month ( I use, do this for roughly 30 years and come back to me.
Curious. I know I’m late to this video but I came back to try to understand this wall design. So, what if you place the vapor barrier on the interior framing prior to drywall? Would this give an additional security for water never reaching the interior as well as additional air barrier? Furthermore, what if you were to do sheathing on the interior framing and then drywall over top? Obviously zip sheathing facing exterior. I know the cost would be extreme but as far build quality, this would be the ultimate in my opinion.
this is certainly not "how we do it in europe" this is very regional, especially in the alps, where you get 30c (100f) in the summer, and 3 meter snow in the winter. you will find completely different buildings in southern or eastern europe. europe is very much not a country nor shares anything in building codes or systems between countries.
You can get the windows in different grades for security and insulation. If you buy a high grade Window or glass door you can be sure no bad guy breaks in without some fight. I talk 3 layers of laminated glass, if you with laminated tempered security glass in a steel reinforced wood frame. 300€ for a baisc window up to 800 per window for security. BUT....many insurance companys in germany give you a bonus for your home insurance when you get the better security option.
The reason most of Europe generally doesn't install AC in residential is because it wasn't really necessary up until a couple of years ago. Most of western Europe summers for example would be low to mid 20's (so in the 70s°F) which doesn't really require AC as it's not that hot, and especially if it's only this kind of weather for 2 weeks (if unlucky) or 4-6 weeks (if lucky) a year. Countries like Spain and Portugal have a warmer climate so they usually have AC from my experience. Obviously this has been changing the past 4-5 years due to climate change and our summers are starting to get much hotter as it's been +32°C/86°F here the past few weeks, so a lot of people have been installing AC. I built my house 3 years ago and installed a multi-split AC in all bedrooms and I'm glad I did with a summer like this. My house in Belgium has the same kind of windows and infloor heating but the insulation is not as thick, maybe about 70% from what you saw here. We generally build to keep the heat in.
Actually, the traditional mediterranean houses are stone houses with sometimes pretty thick walls. Also, the mediterranean climate means dry heat during the day, but it cools down during the night. Which means that during the day, you keep out radiation, and close shutters etc., but during the night, you open up the windows, and it can cool sufficiently down. So, absolutely no need for air condition. Another thing helping is if you have protruding roofs, making sure that there is no direct sun when it is hottest.
I obviously haven't been in every house in Spain or Portugal but every airbnb I've been at or looked at on websites had AC installed, but I guess they'll just have installed it to cater to tourists.
@@matthi_be As stated, my reference is to traditionally built houses. But, yeah, because the tourists don't know how to handle it, it was easier to install AC (and allows to charge more… :). ). And I also must admit that my experience is based on the Provence and a bit of Italy.
I wish builders in the USA had this much pride in their work. You would have a VERY hard time finding a builder that could do this. I love the USA, but Europe just has us beat in some regards.
You can find a builder that could do this - but the price would be astronomical...as it likely is here. This house is not representative of typical build quality anywhere
@@bicker31 Agree that you could find a builder and that this is not typical anywhere. But, it's well known that Switzerland (and other European countries) in general have higher quality standards across the board than the United States. I just wish we followed suit in that regard.
Its not overkill because it provides great thermal mass and protection against the elements. Its probably gonna equal out after 30 years considering heating and cooling costs because they are simply very low. Not comparable to the energy waste thats required to keep US houses temperated with air vent systems and no thermal mass and minimal insulation.
I am Swiss and did my engineering degree back home. I worked in Switzerland, Germany, Israel, England, Ireland and am now in North America. Building codes and technics believe it or not are generally similar in their bases everywhere while their standards are impacted mainly by cost and the present climate. Switzerland has high building standards where noise and room insulation are most important for its clientele. Privacy is an essential aspect of any Swiss House development with Energy efficiency closely followed (Energy costs are much higher in Europe (especially Switzerland) than in North America). The buildings in Switzerland are a lot more expensive to build and purchase (on average) than the US home while being a lot smaller in sq ft. North American building techniques are sufficient and cost-effective - in fact, some newer home builds in Europe have started copying the North American Style House building (they call it Scandinavian House Type) with additional outside insulation layers to overcome the climate challenges (Germany and France) to achieve cheaper housing purchasing prices and speed up development times. From my experience, Europe has better quality control and standards when it comes to building supplies - whereas here in North America the contractor is responsible for the quality assurance of the raw materials. Anyway, long story short - any building method has its benefits and disadvantages. With the exchange of information and technologies any building code develops and improves over time - no matter where. There is no better way of building than building for the existing market and given environment. I highly doubt that an average North American Householder would be ready to pay for a Swiss House type in his or her home town when getting a lot more sq ft and space for the same price. For us builders - higher spec and technology are always of more interest.
Thank you for your great videos - I am following PR Buildings for a long time.
Thanks for that insight. I like the details and quality spent on most European structures but recognize they come with a bump in cost vs the American way. As usual, the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence.
@@95thousandroses that's correct. This said governmental buildings as well as large office blocks (new construction) are often superior in the US and parts of Canada. Europe is a long way behind modern skyscrapers - I realized that while working on the Bau 1 in Switzerland Basel which is a pharmaceutical office building.
@@MBarram Well explained. I grew up in Switzerland and yes, energy costs but also energy related standard (e.g. Minergy) are a big factor. Our current home in California is zero energy efficient and requires a lot of energy for temperature control, which isn’t only a cost but mainly an environmental nightmare… BTW: I work for the „Bau 1“ company.
@@GoTTi0374 True. If you don't mind me asking; are you working for Alpiq? Bau 1 was an interesting built. They have added two more since then. Have a great day
@@MBarram no, misunderstanding… I work for the pharmaceutical company. From 2003 - 2016 in Basel and since then in (South) San Francisco. I’m in a completely different profession but I love carpentry and follow this channel for a while…
It's great! My shed has been completed and it turned out nice looking and sturdy and it is way better than the sheds that many of my neighbors had put up. Of course, I'm pleased with the outcome and this Ryan's czcams.com/users/postUgkxGZedDTcDfgD7fG_uU4esfx_EgxzlY2_1 Plans was extremely useful to me as a guide.
I lived in Switzerland for three years in one of these modern multi family builds with all these details. 0F in winter up to 90F in summer and not one time did we turn on the heat. No aircon installed and we were never uncomfortable. You do not want to know the price of these units…
Do you think you can tell us how much your rent was?? I’m just wondering how a building this solid is able to make a profit with such little units. Just curious
As I'm from Europe (Belgium) I found it surprising on how mesmerized you were by the windows, as for us almost all windows are thay way!
Indeed, same reaction! (I'm from Belgium too) Actually, I just bought an old house and on the first floor it's the "old way" windows without this option and I'm struggling to get confy :p
Yep, also from Belgium. 😉 My full time job is maintenance of window an door systems. America has stuff to learn here …
You and I had the same reaction! I was a carpenter building homes in California for about 5 years. After moving to Sweden, I was blown away at the quality difference between lumber and other materials compared to California. Glad you get to see the European way!
It drives me crazy how poor US (and UK) build quality is compared with EU projects. Stuff out there is built to last a century or more.
Construction quality in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland is world-leading. They simply don't do doors and windows that leak. It would be a scandal.
In alps french italy ✅✅
They can't. They have standards for that. For example my German friends had small imperfections in their windows (like little specks), and since some exceeded the limit (yes there is a standard for that!), they have been replaced. Think 1 tiny barely visible think per 10 sq feet.
In America you have freedom to do whatever the heck you want for windows and doors.
@@JerryPonds it’s called low standards
@@mrsbradpittiful I would say its call the right to choose. If you want to pay $200 for a harware store window and deal with the lesser quality you can. If you want to order a window from a European manufacturer for $2000 then you can do that as well.
Building codes here in sweden with our cold climate demands thick insulation. My parents new built house have 400mm insulation in the Walls and 600mm in the roof. 500mm of styrofoam underneath the concrete slab. 6000kWh in a year is needed to heat the house. Mean temperature during a year is 7C (44F).
not overkill at all.
construction like that needs to come to the United States. ASAP.
It is not overkill ! it is quality . American condos has no sound barrier you hear every sound from upstairs
Those 8" solid boards are insane. Blows my mind to think about cost. Thanks for sharing!
Good stuff!!!!! Switzerland follows Passive House guidelines. I loved Ben's response to a house breathing. Very true that "the physics does not lie". Once everyone here in the US understands "the physics", we can start to see more builders adapting to most of the techniques shown in your video. These are proven methods that work.
Those building details are insane.
Swiss standard :) :)
As a home owner and novice builder in the PNW, I really appreciate the high quality lumber and laminates. Last couple projects I've done, I've struggled getting quality lumber (and it's costly no matter what). How cool would it be to not have to wrestle with warped boards and inconsistent dimensional lumber... Thanks for sharing the Swiss way.
For those wondering, not only is mass timber a fully sustainable and recyclable way of building, the building itself will sequester a huge amount of carbon over it's lifetime , nice win for the environment. It also does a great job as an insulator and thermal break across the building. Seems stone age but is actually the future. Unreal!
I just love watching stuff like this, your enthusiasm just puts a smile on my face
Ive just come back after 1 week of backpacking Switzerland... The builders are incredible there.
I want to build my next home for retirement using a Post Frame Swiss Chalet... Being a Mechanical Engineer I respect the Swiss for their expertise and practicality. Look at a way to combine metal roofing and wall panels with the wood decorations for the chalet details and large eaves.
Love the fact Matt Risinger, NS Builders and now RR Buildings all go to a job site in Switzerland with a comparable design and basically make the same video. Well, since the swiss lift wood construction to the highest level, cant blaim them.
That is amazing how they do construction over there. I think we could and should learn something from them. Thank you for letting us tag along and for showing the building science included with this.
Being Swiss, let me tell you, the average home price is over a million and thats for an apartment, in bigger cities it's more like 3. And houses are significantly more expensive. What you see here is probably in the 1.2 to 1.5 range with maybe 1400 to 1600 sqft. (which is huge by Swiss standards), and these are apartments in a more rural setting (I recognise the mountains there, this is "Schwyz"). This house probably has anywhere from 12 to 16 units maybe more (couldn't really see it), so you do the math (that building probably costs some 16 to 20 million or so). For that amount you can get an equally impressive house in the US. But they are quality and they do hold up. I live in an internally modernised 250yo house right now, you could never tell.
Awesome content Kyle. Really interesting how different things are built in Switzerland compared to here in the US. Big beefy buildings well insulated. Would love to have a house built like that.
With energy prices raising every month in Europe, this insulation is not overkill.
You mean, with energy providers getting rich by war profiteering? I'm sure you meant that.
Very cool look at how they build in Switzerland! My son is currently living in Zurich and is an architecture major attending ETH university. He is really enjoying his time there learning how they do what your showing in the video!
Great series . It would be great to hear the wall systems explained by a vendor like you see at trade shows. Usually they have cutaways on display that really showcase the benefits and differences. Hope the suggestion helps. ...
Swiss precision. thank you for the video.
I was putting this off to watch, but I'm so glad I came back to it
This is insane on every level!
I would love to see this come over to the states when it comes to that wall detail. The only thing I could see is cost pushing many people away. but with sheathing staying so high in price maybe it's a welcome time.
The reason for the very thick floors is to create heat capacity; I presume that the floor heating will be rather low-temperature (maybe 35°C). So, the whole block will be slowly heated up, and it will keep that heat for some longer time. This is needed because the walls are very well insulated, but their heat capacity is not very high.
That’s incredible! The cost of oil and natural gas in Europe is so high that building it this way cost lest to heat, cool and climatized keeps molds from growing. Again just an incredible video, thanks for sharing.
VERY nice content Kyle! This is the way to build structures....
I definitely like those details on the wall assembly, love the T&G rockwool.
Im from Norway. And this is very similar to how they do it there. I believe its a very good system.
I dont use 2x4 exterior walls anymore..all homes i build i use 2x6 on 2 foot centers..all my rafters use 2x6 on bottom runs instead of 2x4..it may b more expensive but save money on cooling and heating in long run
In the states we think of time in generations, maybe. In Europe it’s more like centuries. Just a very different approach. Interesting stuff, thanks!
Is Greg the camera man? He is doing a great job panning and zooming between you and the construction details. The camera is always pointed exactly where it needs to be.
Very, very interesting building techniques and materials!!
Keep it coming brother!!!!!
Great information, Kyle. It is all about the cost and square footage on person living in this apartments - very different from what you are used to in US
That's some pretty wild stuff
Man, when the music started I thought I was in a SteveWillDoIt video 😂😂
I am astonishing! Just WOW!
Forester- So how many trees do you need for this apartment project?
Switzerland- ….all of them!
Just Wow !
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is really starting to gain momentum in the states. The University of Washington just finished a building on campus with that design.
Understanding the level of noise that goes into these spaces would be everything. i bet inside they are dead quiet. They are using 2-4x the materials we use, so it better be amazing.
Wow! That is something else! Insane floor/ceiling thinkness! They surely are well insulated for temperatures and sound! Where we use 2x4's it seems they use 4x4 posts or 2x10's! It would be great to raise the American build standards to something similar! Better insulated and heavy duty structures would surely withstand hurricanes and tornadoes much better! These type of builds should be mandatory in major storm zones. Very interesting! Can't wait to see what else they do different...
Its not as simple as that. U build to meet needs. Thats high up in Switzerland so will have to cope with snow, wind maybe avalanche.
@@jcoul1sc basically all construction in Western Europe is better quality than the US. This example from Switzerland is not an outlier.
@@jaredanson it is, but lots of factors involved, mostly the value of the finished building alongside high levels of safety and health of occupants. That building is built to meet environmental change in 50 to 100 years time
Sure, you can do the same in USA just now, byt as you use 4 times more material, expect the price to go up x4 also 🙂
@@jcoul1sc This is not high up, I'd say maybe at 550m/ 1500 feet (I live not far from here) But yes this norm now. The insulation is there to keep heat in during winter and to keep it out in the summer. It reduces the energy use (energy costs are much higher here than in America), this I believe is a passive house.
Excellent content! This is how we should be building.
well yeah as an European I always watch in disbelieve how not insulated those houses can be in US I specifically remember a video of a guy spray foaming gap under the window and he went on on a 10 minute rant of how this will help the insulation and so on well that was the bear minimum we were doing in Europe 20 years ago :D :D
Great info. Proves U.S. doesn't always have the best ideas. People build for the environment. Cold, cold in Alpenland Definitely not overkill. Appreciate thermo barriers sound deadening qualities.
But we live in actual separate houses. The middle class in Switzerland live on top of each other.
All of Europe do there building different Kyle. It’s mad but good to see how everyone builds. 🤙
*Abstract*
This video explores construction practices in Switzerland, with a specific focus on a multi-family residential building. Key observations, discussed with an emphasis on building science, include:
* **Robust Materials:** The structure uses solid wood framing everywhere, including thick ceiling beams created from glue-laminated timber.
* **Extensive Insulation:** Multiple layers of mineral wool insulation are used both inside and outside the walls, and even under the concrete floors for soundproofing and thermal efficiency.
* **Unique Wall Assembly:** The exterior walls have no weather-resistant barrier or sheathing. Instead, they rely on water-resistant mineral wool insulation and a ventilated rain screen for moisture management.
* **Soundproofing:** Measures like aggregate layers under the floors and significant insulation help reduce sound transmission between units.
* **High-Quality Details:** Custom-fabricated windows with multiple opening options, smooth-operating heavy doors, and precisely fitted components demonstrate build quality.
The speaker compares these techniques to conventional North American construction (specifically post-frame buildings). He concludes by acknowledging the potential for incorporating some of these robust Swiss building practices into future construction projects in other regions.
HOLY WHAT IN THE BUDGET!
welcome in Switzerland. So you can understand that I am so surprised when I see how you construct!
Welcome to Switzerland.
That is something new and different
Very cool and intersting to see how it's done in other parts of the world.
Another thing about those windows is that if you set handle position mid-way between vertical open and horizontal open, it's still closed but there is air gap all around window seals to let some air in
It depends because for some manufacturers this is an ''option'' ($)
This type of construction is not specific only to the Swiss. All countries in europe construct similarly. It's not overkill, it is the norm and well worth it when you can heat your house with a hair drier and absolutely no need for air conditioning. When I see those stick buildings in America, all I can think about is that my grandparents hen-house is built better..
@@BoatLakeHouseKids we don't live on the moon + your famous moon landing is a hoax
Awesome video, really cool to get a knowledgable comparison between US and european construction.
This is awesome content! Appreciate you doing this!
These are all passive builds and I’m from Ireland and we have started to use the same method over the past 10 years and it’s better than any other building method I’ve ever done
Love to see these European videos as a European. You should come to the Netherlands once though, it's a totally different building technique compared to Switzerland, Austria, Germany
Ben said the houses don't need to breath. In some clips in the video you see the windows sealed of from the window to the floor to create an air tight seal. That's more commen in Europe the last years. But no vapor bariers is new for me. Cool video i really enjoyed it and learned some things!!
While you're here you should visit Sika and maybe bunkers in older buildings would be interesting to see.
In the US, check out Innotech windows and doors. Many off the same setups and very secured against outside irritants.
Great video like your unbiased views
Kyle, I'm from Europe, it would be very interesting if you compared the prices by surface area of the object! Then everything would be clear to you...
Great video presentation and veddy interesting. Has to be quiet as a tomb and so comfortably draft free. On the other hand, even if costs were no object, we know people who would choose 20 gables of asphalt shingles enclosing a 1/2 mile of hanging ductwork every time.
Very interesting
That's awesome they seem to do good work out there I'd love to see it years from now when they remodel and see how everything is holding up!!
What do you mean remodel ? We don’t remodel. Nowadays, in Europe, we build to last until it’s torn down.
So they don't update at all either?? That's awesome nice work
Great video. I live in the UK, never seen anything like this 👍
btw Kyle, the two layers of gypsum is generally on fire risk areas 👍
Not over kill, just different methodology. We vapor barrier and allow separate climates on both sides of the wall they eliminate the vapor barrier and allow a climate to exist between both sides of the wall. Because they don't have the vapor barrier they need a thicker wall to allow for drying and to slow the speed with which the exterior climate becomes the climate of the interior and vise versa. We can reduce the thickness of a wall because we separate one climate from the other and stop vapor from penetrating from either side which allows us to get good thermal potential. Well, that's my story and I'm sticking with it! BUT, i really liked looking at what they do, it works and is probable greener and a longer lasting product.
We in the states should be building that way. At least in the northern portion of the country.
I wish the door and window manufacturers can build to the European standard. To much plastic rollers and parts. I know a lot of it has to do with are disposable mind set here in America. Btw the time I went to Germany I fell in love with the windows.
These types of windows have been in the North American market for some time. If the builder down the street uses a low performing window which costs half as much and can get the same $ per sq. ft. in his build, you can see how better technology is not utilized. When americans go abroad they can count on being surprised.
The wooden floor separation is not normal in Denmark, but the rest is. when building in wood construction we become 19,5 inches of rockwool in outer walls, floor and ceiling construction
Netherlands as well, I live in a house like that and men is it comfortable. Energy bill, we only have electric, is € 60,- / month, with only 12 solar panels on our roof. We have heatpumps, cold warm water storage in ground to heat and cool our house.
That is not overkill. My house is brick masonry on the outside, insulation and concrete walls on the inside. 👍😁
Great video guys! Glad your showing us what is being done in other parts of the world... You might as well be on another planet because of how foreign these details are to the north American market.... North America likes to trap vapor where the Swiss let it move.... It's very similar in their roofing systems as well 👍
Interesting reportage!
In the Netherlands we could only dream of such high quality construction. Unfortunately we got lazy after gas was discovered. Only in the past few years the building standards have improved, but we are nowhere near Swedish or Swiss standards. This is passive house level, R 6+ at minimum, but I think more likely R 10+. In the Netherlands the standards for new builds have just been updated to R 4.7. Timber frame construction is also very rare in the Netherlands. It is unfortunate, because there are other areas of construction (infrastructure) in which we have been able to be on the front of innovation.
I watched a tv show once about a rich Norwegian that lives it us. He had built his house like in norway. When a hurricane struck his house was the only one standig aftervards. No offence on american way of building but i think it is built a lot more solid in europe😃
No WRB or floor joists?
I’ve never seen anything like this, I’d liked to see some of those 200-250 year old houses he was talking about. Most of the houses that old in America are made out of brick
I live in sweden, our house is made out of timber and turns 180y next year. I dont see why it would not stand 180y more.
@@Fextreme93 that’s awesome
Key point with there buildings no ac needed and heat will be very minimal. All you hear in the us is the drain on the power grid. Need to go green. No we need to build to the climate in the areas and the usage will go down on all energy.
Netherlands as well, I live in a house like that and men is it comfortable. Energy bill, we only have electric, is € 60,- / month, with only 12 solar panels on our roof. We have heatpumps, cold warm water storage in ground to heat and cool our house.
@@BoatLakeHouseKids I wasn't saying go green it's all the wacko greenest that push bull but won't look at better was to realistically long term save energy. Trust me I love the black smoke roll out of my semi to keep this country going. But there is better ways and so what if it costs more or uses more energy up front it's what you can save in the long term is all I was saying.
@@BoatLakeHouseKids Really? How much energy (gas / petrol / electric) is used in building a standard single family home and keeping it warm / cold etc in US? Compare that to the 60,=/month ( I use, do this for roughly 30 years and come back to me.
Welcome to Europe Construction Sites Kyle 😉
🏆🏆🏆👍🇺🇲🙏.
Thank you for sharing.
Dude, I'd live there, and that view.....
Curious. I know I’m late to this video but I came back to try to understand this wall design. So, what if you place the vapor barrier on the interior framing prior to drywall? Would this give an additional security for water never reaching the interior as well as additional air barrier? Furthermore, what if you were to do sheathing on the interior framing and then drywall over top? Obviously zip sheathing facing exterior. I know the cost would be extreme but as far build quality, this would be the ultimate in my opinion.
Great video
I would like to see a blower door test on that once its done.
Our codes on airtightness are insane. These house don’t leak AT ALL !
@@Stefan_Van_pellicom how don't they leak I'd they don't have a vapor barrier? The wall is just so thick that the friction resistance is so high?
wow...i want one of those house...i can tell...it will last for 200+ years...
this is certainly not "how we do it in europe" this is very regional, especially in the alps, where you get 30c (100f) in the summer, and 3 meter snow in the winter.
you will find completely different buildings in southern or eastern europe.
europe is very much not a country nor shares anything in building codes or systems between countries.
You should do a tour in the netherlands
You can get the windows in different grades for security and insulation. If you buy a high grade Window or glass door you can be sure no bad guy breaks in without some fight. I talk 3 layers of laminated glass, if you with laminated tempered security glass in a steel reinforced wood frame. 300€ for a baisc window up to 800 per window for security. BUT....many insurance companys in germany give you a bonus for your home insurance when you get the better security option.
They build to last 100's of years to very high quality standards. The upfront costs are much higher, but maintenance and repair is little to nothing.
that building will last 1500 years
energy efficiency of this building verses usa typicall build? these are very high spec buildings . Great video.
The reason most of Europe generally doesn't install AC in residential is because it wasn't really necessary up until a couple of years ago. Most of western Europe summers for example would be low to mid 20's (so in the 70s°F) which doesn't really require AC as it's not that hot, and especially if it's only this kind of weather for 2 weeks (if unlucky) or 4-6 weeks (if lucky) a year. Countries like Spain and Portugal have a warmer climate so they usually have AC from my experience. Obviously this has been changing the past 4-5 years due to climate change and our summers are starting to get much hotter as it's been +32°C/86°F here the past few weeks, so a lot of people have been installing AC. I built my house 3 years ago and installed a multi-split AC in all bedrooms and I'm glad I did with a summer like this. My house in Belgium has the same kind of windows and infloor heating but the insulation is not as thick, maybe about 70% from what you saw here. We generally build to keep the heat in.
Actually, the traditional mediterranean houses are stone houses with sometimes pretty thick walls. Also, the mediterranean climate means dry heat during the day, but it cools down during the night. Which means that during the day, you keep out radiation, and close shutters etc., but during the night, you open up the windows, and it can cool sufficiently down. So, absolutely no need for air condition.
Another thing helping is if you have protruding roofs, making sure that there is no direct sun when it is hottest.
I obviously haven't been in every house in Spain or Portugal but every airbnb I've been at or looked at on websites had AC installed, but I guess they'll just have installed it to cater to tourists.
@@matthi_be As stated, my reference is to traditionally built houses. But, yeah, because the tourists don't know how to handle it, it was easier to install AC (and allows to charge more… :). ). And I also must admit that my experience is based on the Provence and a bit of Italy.
I wish builders in the USA had this much pride in their work. You would have a VERY hard time finding a builder that could do this.
I love the USA, but Europe just has us beat in some regards.
Builds have tons of pride, their customers are either to cheap or can't afford the best
@@daveklein2826 Yeah, pride in their profit.
You can find a builder that could do this - but the price would be astronomical...as it likely is here. This house is not representative of typical build quality anywhere
@@bicker31 Agree that you could find a builder and that this is not typical anywhere. But, it's well known that Switzerland (and other European countries) in general have higher quality standards across the board than the United States. I just wish we followed suit in that regard.
To call it over-kill seems to be an understatement...
Its not overkill because it provides great thermal mass and protection against the elements. Its probably gonna equal out after 30 years considering heating and cooling costs because they are simply very low. Not comparable to the energy waste thats required to keep US houses temperated with air vent systems and no thermal mass and minimal insulation.
Crazy 👍👍
It's not overkill, it is just several levels more advanced that North American building practices. Simple as that.
You can make this an hour video!!