What do you wish you'd done or what do you love that you did?
Bonus for stuff that is cheap but still awesome.
Bonus for stuff that is cheap but still awesome.
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Home building tips??
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Last: 7 yr ago by Kenneth_2003
Don't build a house. It's incredibly stressful dealing with delays, mistakes, and communication breakdowns. No builder will ask for your input on every single aspect so there will invariably be something you notice you had no idea would be done that way. For example I'd never even heard of a direct vent fireplace but was ok with it until the exhaust was installed horizontally into our patio instead of the roof like I thought it would be because of pre conceived notions regarding fireplaces and chimneys. We had to have it repositioned. But to your question.
Eve plug ins for Christmas lights.
Cat5/6 and Coax to every single tv location
Low voltage wires run through conduit
Water line to fridge in garage
Cat5/6 to outdoor camera locations for POE
Cat5/6 to doorbell for video doorbell
Built in dog kennels in laundry room
Dog/mud room shower
Heavy duty attic pull downs
Pot filler above cooktop
Fandelier(if you love a fan but hate the fan as a light)
Eve plug ins for Christmas lights.
Cat5/6 and Coax to every single tv location
Low voltage wires run through conduit
Water line to fridge in garage
Cat5/6 to outdoor camera locations for POE
Cat5/6 to doorbell for video doorbell
Built in dog kennels in laundry room
Dog/mud room shower
Heavy duty attic pull downs
Pot filler above cooktop
Fandelier(if you love a fan but hate the fan as a light)
Hot water hose bib at the driveway.
If you are an outdoor kitchen or a pool type add in a half bath in your garage with direct access to patio.
DOUBKE the hose bibs
Triple the outlets around the house and in the garage
run nat gas lines for outdoor kitchen
pre-wire and run nat gas line for standby generator.
pre-wire every exterior corner for cameras and lights
DOUBKE the hose bibs
Triple the outlets around the house and in the garage
run nat gas lines for outdoor kitchen
pre-wire and run nat gas line for standby generator.
pre-wire every exterior corner for cameras and lights
Spend money on better insulation, air sealing, and windows. The rest is easy.
Get a 3 car garage, People have kids who grow up to be teenagers/young adults and get cars, or people fill their garages with junk and can't park there.
Then their car sits on the street or the driveway and gets broken into or sideswiped by another car. That may be worst case, but at the very least its a pain to scrape ice off those mornings you're running late. And it's friggin' hot in the summer
Then their car sits on the street or the driveway and gets broken into or sideswiped by another car. That may be worst case, but at the very least its a pain to scrape ice off those mornings you're running late. And it's friggin' hot in the summer
On the topic of garages, if you have a truck and are doing a build where you can change dimensions, you may consider making the garage longer/wider so you can actually fit the truck in the garage without leaving only 3" from your bumpers to the wall and garage door.
Definitely make your garage bigger. And something I've noticed recently having 2 small kids in better sound proofing on floors and walls.
Sex dungeon
Regarding floor, get them beefed up. Builders, especially production home builders have become very good at squeezing every square foot out of the minimal lumber. The floor joists in my house meet code, but when the kids start moving around it sounds like the house is falling down. there is just too much bounce in the joists.
Additional receptacles in the garage - standard builders install remarkably few. Get a dedicated circuit for them if you use any power tools at all - two if that includes a decent air compressor.
Map out the wiring/piping before drywall goes up - it makes things easier if you know where that line comes from and goes to.
Pre-wire for surround sound.
Pre-wire CAT5/6 in every room. Run all lines back to a central location to install networking equipment/devices.
If there's any question - run both gas and elec for applicable appliances. (Current gas stoves need 110 AC to power the controls/fans/etc... don't forget a 110 outlet behind the stove as well).
Install a real vent hood - not a microwave that directs the air back into the kitchen.
Built-in clothes storage is great for minimizing the amount of furniture needed in each bedroom.
Return air vents - more is better, especially if people like closed doors.
If you plan on using the attic for storage, get the decking up there early. It's hard to fit full sheets of plywood up a standard attic access.
Go with PEX tubing for your water lines, and insist they install a manifold system so you can isolate individual fixtures. There's no advantage to PEX (to the homeowner) if they install it like standard PVC or copper.
Tankless water heater(s).
Map out the wiring/piping before drywall goes up - it makes things easier if you know where that line comes from and goes to.
Pre-wire for surround sound.
Pre-wire CAT5/6 in every room. Run all lines back to a central location to install networking equipment/devices.
If there's any question - run both gas and elec for applicable appliances. (Current gas stoves need 110 AC to power the controls/fans/etc... don't forget a 110 outlet behind the stove as well).
Install a real vent hood - not a microwave that directs the air back into the kitchen.
Built-in clothes storage is great for minimizing the amount of furniture needed in each bedroom.
Return air vents - more is better, especially if people like closed doors.
If you plan on using the attic for storage, get the decking up there early. It's hard to fit full sheets of plywood up a standard attic access.
Go with PEX tubing for your water lines, and insist they install a manifold system so you can isolate individual fixtures. There's no advantage to PEX (to the homeowner) if they install it like standard PVC or copper.
Tankless water heater(s).
See the following previous thread from December for new home ideas...
Building New Home - Gimme Ideas
Building New Home - Gimme Ideas
Map out where you'll place furniture etc. and add slab outlets for lights, charging station, etc
If you've got kids adding an extra wine/beverage fridge in the kitchen is crazy helpful.
If you've got kids adding an extra wine/beverage fridge in the kitchen is crazy helpful.
I have replaced many of my outlets in strategic areas with outlets that have USB slots. That island/counter in your kitchen where everyone dumps their keys, purse, wallet, etc. is a good place, as are end table areas in places you hang out and next to your bed.
It seems now at least one thing in every room is run off USB, in addition to the mobile devices people own.
http://www.lighting-spot.com/tamper-resistant-20-amp-white-usb-charger.html?fee=24&fep=19750&gclid=CMfu_Jeux9ICFQkMaQodd5sDrg
It seems now at least one thing in every room is run off USB, in addition to the mobile devices people own.
http://www.lighting-spot.com/tamper-resistant-20-amp-white-usb-charger.html?fee=24&fep=19750&gclid=CMfu_Jeux9ICFQkMaQodd5sDrg
BIG BIG one.
Install a separate A/C unit for the master suite. Check into using a mini-split dedicated to the master. There is only the 2 of us and it is beyond stupid to cool down the entire house to a nice sleeping Coll temp for just us. With mini-split or even a separate small traditional unit you can leave the main areas at an efficient temp and only arctic cool the bedroom.
This is also VERY good when your main unit dies EXCTY ON THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR and every AC repair guy is 7 weeks behind . You can retreat to your master suite until life support is restored.
Another advantage of a mini split is that you can have it worked such that WHEN the power goes out for 2 weeks after hurricane you can use a generator to power the AC in the bedroom.
Install a separate A/C unit for the master suite. Check into using a mini-split dedicated to the master. There is only the 2 of us and it is beyond stupid to cool down the entire house to a nice sleeping Coll temp for just us. With mini-split or even a separate small traditional unit you can leave the main areas at an efficient temp and only arctic cool the bedroom.
This is also VERY good when your main unit dies EXCTY ON THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR and every AC repair guy is 7 weeks behind . You can retreat to your master suite until life support is restored.
Another advantage of a mini split is that you can have it worked such that WHEN the power goes out for 2 weeks after hurricane you can use a generator to power the AC in the bedroom.
A few General Board type answers:
- Separate servants' entrance so my maids and butler don't have to use my front door.
- Natural gas heater for my indoor junior olympic pool.
- Hardwood instead of concrete for the basketball court.
- Separate kitchens for gluten and gluten free cooking.
Real answers for my working stiff self:
- More attic ventilation; add solar powered vents.
- HVAC media filter.
- Eve outlets for rooftop Christmas lights.
- Natural gas for outdoor grill.
- Separate servants' entrance so my maids and butler don't have to use my front door.
- Natural gas heater for my indoor junior olympic pool.
- Hardwood instead of concrete for the basketball court.
- Separate kitchens for gluten and gluten free cooking.
Real answers for my working stiff self:
- More attic ventilation; add solar powered vents.
- HVAC media filter.
- Eve outlets for rooftop Christmas lights.
- Natural gas for outdoor grill.
WTF, you racist or something?NoahAg said:
A few General Board type answers:
- Separate servants' entrance so my maids and butler don't have to use my front door.
- Natural gas heater for my indoor junior olympic pool.
- Hardwood instead of concrete for the basketball court.
- Separate kitchens for gluten and gluten free cooking.
Real answers for my working stiff self:
- More attic ventilation; add solar powered vents.
- HVAC media filter.
- Eve outlets for rooftop Christmas lights.
- Natural gas for outdoor grill.
2 car garage should be 25x25 with the door offset to one side to leave room for a laundry sink, fridge, and walk thru door on the other side. It needs to be deep enough to use kitchen base cabinets topped with 3/4" plywood for a work bench. Then run at least 36' of fluorescent or LED lighting on 3 separate switches. Triple the normal number of outlets. Mini split a/c too. Largest tankless water heater available in gas.
Media filter- YESNoahAg said:
Real answers for my working stiff self:
- More attic ventilation; add solar powered vents.
- HVAC media filter.
Solar vents - NO! Use coolply or Techshield (or whatever it's called now) decking for roofing, continuous ridge vents and soffit vents instead of solar vents. A close Aggie friend of mine used the skin vent / radiant barrier construction for his home and he swears by it.
See Figure 7, this is exactly the system he installed.
Radiant barrier & skin vent See figure 7
Not sure how far along you are in design of the home, but if you can work in a garage that looks like this:
Do it! A 3 car garage is one thing, but having a large spot that is deepened in the middle gives you so much possibility. Currently, our space is still unfinished, but we have soft flooring down (those puzzle piece pads), shoe storage, a fridge, lots of shelving.. eventually we'll enclose it and add cabinets, a desk, cubbies for every person in the house to store coats, hats, backpacks, etc.
In my third slot at the back is upper and lower cabinets, counter top/work bench. Seasonal storage above the third garage door and along left wall up high, bicycles hanging upside down, trash cans, kids power wheels, tricycles, etc. Shed out back behind the third slot (makes a perfect spot for it) has all lawn equipment.
Then in the main portion of the garage?? Two cars. A novel concept. I fit my short bed full cab F150 in there with a handful of inches for wiggle room. I park on the right and veer in at an angle to the right, wife parks on left and veers in at an angle to the left, so I can open my door all the way open.
Do it! A 3 car garage is one thing, but having a large spot that is deepened in the middle gives you so much possibility. Currently, our space is still unfinished, but we have soft flooring down (those puzzle piece pads), shoe storage, a fridge, lots of shelving.. eventually we'll enclose it and add cabinets, a desk, cubbies for every person in the house to store coats, hats, backpacks, etc.
In my third slot at the back is upper and lower cabinets, counter top/work bench. Seasonal storage above the third garage door and along left wall up high, bicycles hanging upside down, trash cans, kids power wheels, tricycles, etc. Shed out back behind the third slot (makes a perfect spot for it) has all lawn equipment.
Then in the main portion of the garage?? Two cars. A novel concept. I fit my short bed full cab F150 in there with a handful of inches for wiggle room. I park on the right and veer in at an angle to the right, wife parks on left and veers in at an angle to the left, so I can open my door all the way open.
Deepen that garage a tad.
My LWB F150 SuperCrew is 21ft long before the ranch hand grille guard and hitch. With both of those, I'm closer to 22ft long.
My LWB F150 SuperCrew is 21ft long before the ranch hand grille guard and hitch. With both of those, I'm closer to 22ft long.
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