Question 1

How much does an EcoLive home cost?

Accepted Answer

The advanced shell (structure + envelope) averages around €1,000/m²: from €700/m² with the simplest wall package up to €1,350/m² with CliMAX. Turnkey delivery adds around €600/m² on average, from €450 to €750/m² depending on the finish level.

"The price is noticeably higher because we prefer building fewer projects with absolute, almost tailor-made precision."

For a more accessible entry point, a configuration with OSB panels and polystyrene insulation is available, cutting the cost by about 20% compared to the premium version.

Question 2

How does payment work?

Accepted Answer

Payments follow the progress of the works: each instalment matches a stage you can see on site. 30% is paid before the elements reach your land, the rest once the structure has been delivered and assembled. The schedule also works with mortgages, because the bank releases funds when it can check the works. Advanced shell: 10% on signing (confirmatory deposit), 20% sixty days before works start (structure prepared in our facility), 20% when the base shell elements are unloaded on site, 20% when the base shell is assembled, 15% when the final roof covering and exterior skim coat are finished, 15% on completion of the advanced shell. Turnkey, on top: 10% deposit at the end of the advanced shell, 20% on window and door installation, 30% on interior partitions, systems and screeds, 30% on flooring, interior and exterior finishes and doors, 10% on final inspection and handover. "The design fee is deducted from the house price" — no surprise extra costs.

Question 3

Are there any hidden costs?

Accepted Answer

The client covers: the geological survey, the building permit, and the foundation slab. The structural calculations for the timber structure are included in the price, together with the technical specifications. There are no unexpected expenses: the final quote is prepared in-house after reviewing every detail of the project.

Question 4

How long does it take to get the house?

Accepted Answer

For a structure of about 100 m²: the base shell is completed in 3 days, the advanced shell in 7 days, and turnkey delivery in a few weeks. "In the morning there is nothing, by evening you have a structure." These times don't include preparing the foundation slab, which is the client's responsibility.

Question 5

How long does assembly take?

Accepted Answer

The structure is assembled in 7 working days. Days 1–2: columns and load-bearing frame. Days 3–4: walls and bracing. Days 5–6: roofing. Day 7: final fastening and sealing. 8–12 specialised crew members work on site with a crane. Components arrive on site already prefabricated to millimetre precision from our facility in Calabria.

Question 6

What can slow the work down?

Accepted Answer

Typically three external factors: the geological survey, the building permit approval, and the client's contractor preparing the foundation slab. "Bureaucratic timelines are never what the client expects" — that's why we recommend starting the paperwork as early as possible, in parallel with the design phase.

Question 7

What type of wood do you use?

Accepted Answer

We use Bilam glue-laminated timber from Austria, a material with high dimensional stability, kiln-dried, sourced from certified forests. Structural panels are three-layer µXlam. "We aim to develop a local Calabrian supply chain in the future" — a zero-kilometre sustainability project we are working on.

Question 8

Cork or polystyrene insulation?

Accepted Answer

Both are good, and they do different jobs. Polystyrene insulates more for the same thickness: its thermal conductivity is about 0.031-0.036 W/mK, against about 0.040 W/mK for cork. It is light (15-30 kg/m³) and unaffected by moisture, which makes it the right material for the external insulation layer. Cork is much denser (about 110-120 kg/m³) and has a higher specific heat (about 1.8 kJ/kgK against 1.3 for polystyrene): it stores heat and slows summer heat on its way indoors. It is breathable, natural and renewable. That is why the Comfort and CliMAX packages use both: 3 cm of polystyrene outside, where continuous, water-resistant insulation is needed, and 3 cm of cork inside, between the air cavity and the Xlam panel, where it works on summer comfort. The figures are typical values for the two materials.

Question 9

Are the walls fire-resistant?

Accepted Answer

The rock wool used is completely non-combustible. The internal fibre-reinforced gypsum panels are classified A1 (non-combustible) under European regulations. "Wood doesn't burn the way people think — it chars, protecting the structure." Charring creates an insulating layer that slows fire spread, outperforming many steel-based solutions in safety.

Question 10

How long is the warranty?

Accepted Answer

The structure (advanced shell) carries a 30-year warranty. The turnkey supply carries a 10-year warranty — among the longest in the entire industry. "An X-Frame home will last far longer than any masonry house" — the quality of materials and the precision of prefabrication make it possible.

Question 11

What certifications do you have?

Accepted Answer

Our homes reach energy class A4 CliMAX, the highest efficiency level. We are certified by Passive House Institute / PHIUS, ARCA, LEED for Homes and Woodworks. These certifications attest to the highest international standards of energy efficiency, structural durability and environmental sustainability.

Question 12

Do I need to already own land?

Accepted Answer

Yes, to proceed with a project you need a buildable plot with the necessary permits in place. "It's essential that at the first meeting the client arrives with a sketch, dimensions, survey, parcel details, positioning." The more information you have, the faster and more precise the quote will be.

Question 13

Who handles the foundation slab?

Accepted Answer

The slab is the client's responsibility, usually through a local building contractor. We provide detailed technical specifications with the positioning of threaded anchor bars and verify the result before assembly. "The slab doesn't need a precise perimeter beam thanks to the XPS base" — this simplifies the contractor's work and reduces margin for error.

Question 14

What does the construction site need?

Accepted Answer

The site must be delivered ready for assembly: adequate access for trucks and cranes (at least 30 metres of crane reach), manoeuvring space for vehicles, no obstacles to moving structural elements. Before the structure arrives, we carry out a technical inspection of the slab: correct positioning of templates, anchors and levelled threaded bars. This preventive check avoids delays on assembly day.

Question 15

Why does EcoLive cost more than masonry construction?

Accepted Answer

"We prefer building fewer projects with absolute, almost tailor-made precision. The price matches the demonstrated quality." The real saving shows in the total cost: up to 20% less than traditional masonry, thanks to a drastic reduction in site time and construction costs. Fewer workers, fewer days, fewer unexpected issues. If the price were too low, clients might read it as a signal of lower quality. Our construction system, quality and performance fully justify the positioning.

Question 16

How is EcoLive different from Wolf Haus and Rubner Haus?

Accepted Answer

The X-Frame system is a unique hybrid combining Platform Frame, X-Lam and Post & Beam, outperforming the individual construction systems used by competitors. The price is comparable to Europe's leading brands because the quality fully justifies it. The key difference: assembly time cut by up to 70%, and a direct presence in Calabria and Southern Italy. Clients can visit our facility, watch construction happen, see the system in person — something impossible with Northern Italian companies that rarely operate in the South.

Question 17

Why choose wood over concrete?

Accepted Answer

Most homes in Italy have real problems: outdated systems, poor energy efficiency, structural standards that haven't kept up. An X-Frame home is inherently earthquake-resistant, with excellent dissipative capacity. Wood is a renewable material that sequesters CO₂ and produces none during construction. The structure isn't exposed to weather — it's protected by insulating layers and exterior cladding. In Calabria, wooden homes make up about 1% of construction, versus 10–15% in Northern Italy and 70% in Northern Europe. The market potential is enormous.

Question 18

Can I lower the price by choosing different materials?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in specific cases a reduction of up to 20% is possible with some changes: OSB panels instead of three-layer laminated panels and no inner cork layer, as in the Standard package. The load-bearing structure stays unchanged (Bilam frames). The reduction only affects energy performance and the durability of infill materials, not structural safety. A 16 cm layer of rock wool is always present inside the walls, so thermal and acoustic insulation remain high.

Frequently Asked Questions

Costs

How much does an EcoLive home cost?

How does payment work?

Are there any hidden costs?

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