If you've built a house recently anything you'd do over/again?

[vi edit]

I'm nearing the final bid process of a home construction and to the point where I'm really filling in the gaps on the smaller details.

I've go some little things included like running a natural gas line to my grilling area so I can hook up a line to a natural gas grill and free myself the propane tank.

I'm also going to have them wire up the electrical to so that the essential stuff like furnace/ac/fridge are hooked up and wired to a run that I can plug a generator into if needed.

Also considering a laundry shoot to drop from top floor to the main floor laundry.

Any other (relatively inexpensive) options that you had put into a home that you couldn't live without or wish you had done if given the chance again? Anything that you did get that you don't use or hate (like whole house vaccuums)?

 

[Vette73]

Use 12ga wire instead of 14ga. That way you can upgrade to 20amp later.

Also don't use vinyl windows. I like fiberglass myself.

 

[meltdown75]

my raised ranch was built in 03...

the only thing i wish i had would have cost me another few grand was an outside basement entrance @ the back. that way when my basement is done and the bar area complete, there is a door to the back for smokers. i just think it's a nice feature overall.

 

[Specop 007]

1) Spray in foam insulation. That shit just works.
2) Attic fan. Nice to open the windows and get that cool fall/spring air in quickly.
3) Pre-wire for a generator.
4) If your big in HT I would prewire up (Or have pull strings) for all of that. My buddy went all out and can control his AV rack in the basement from his bathroom. Wild stuff, but a LOT of work.
5) Have outlets on each wall. Yes its more expensive but its nice being able to arrange the room however you want and not work within the constraints of the power cord on the alarm clock.
6) Heated floors in the bathroom. Its really not that expensive for the materials and in new construction would be an easy install.
7) Have the roof line of the house extend a bit more then normal to provide additional shade to the windows.
8) Vent out the side of the house rather then top. This is probably not to code but it give you only less worry in regards to a leaky roof. Additionally having a straight V roof rather then some of the more complicated ones simplifies all that as well. Thats somewhat outside the realm of "small things" though. Then again so is point 7.

 

[vi edit]

I'm speced out for a walkout basement with a double hung door that I could drive a garden tractor through if needed. The basement will be unfinished for now and just a workshop/play area. We've got over 3000 sq/ft finished on the 1st and 2nd floor. If that isn't enough finished room then we've got issues.

As far as wiring goes, what really would I need 20 amp for that the lower stuff amp service wouldn't cover? I'm not sure what's speced out for wiring guidelines and if that's even an upgrade I'm allowed. I'll have to check. My builder uses pretty high quality stuff. I'm not sure I have an option on the windows. The home will be an energy star certified home so he has to go with something that will maintain that rating.

 

[mb]

Forget the laundry shoot - it's a novelty (although I'm sure a few will disagree). So are the whole house vacuums. Had 'em before and never used them. Don't know anyone who actually does.

I like Specop 007's ideas, especially the added insulation.

 

[SammyJr]

At least two Ethernet drops to all bedrooms. 4 drops in the living room/office areas.

Linen closet for extra beds sheets and towels.

 

[her209]

I second the attic fan idea.
Cat 6 cable drops to each area.
In wall wiring for surround sound speaker system.
Wiring for roof antenna and/or satellite.

 

[CountZero]

I don't know about cheap or small but when my dad designed his place the kept a central area of the house open from basement to second floor that could house an elevator should he or my stepmom ever find themselves unable to navigate the stairs.

 

[JTsyo]

-Cable and Ethernet to all the rooms that might need them
-indoor valve that can turn on the sprinklers (in-ground ones can increase property taxes.)
-vent in the bathrooms
-in-wall connections for wall mounted TV
-in-wall surround sound if you know what you want
-build in storage in utility areas.

The house we bought has a central vac. It pretty nice since the vac is powerful and the tube doesn't weigh has much as a full vacuum would. Only issue I have is that there isn't enough inlets. The vac can reach everywhere w/o the furniture but having to go around furniture, it falls short. Also it won't reach to the garage or driveway for cleaning the car.

 

[krunchykrome]

If I could go back, I would have opted for carpet instead of hard wood floors. Carpet is more comfortable. I can't sit comfortably on a wooden floor.

Also, I'd maybe go with Corriender (spelling?) instead of granite, just because granite is easier to chip.

When we sell this place, I don't think I want to buy new again.

 

[KentState]

Two things that I regretted not getting in the house I belt were the not adding in the additional loft and having enough phone and ethernet ports throughout the house. The wiring of cat5/6 is very simple and many builders will let you handle that before putting up the insulation and drywall.

 

[vi edit]

I'll be doing ethernet drops when they are still roughing in the rest of the low voltage stuff.

Insulation wise, the builder is incredibly proud of their building techniques. They are the only one in the area that get their homes Energy Star certified. They have people send in utility bills each month to them to show off and they have 4200 sq/foot homes averaging $150 a month. This is in the midwest where we get below zero in the winter, and have hot, humid summers. That's fantastic energy usage for the size of the home.

Counters will likely be quartz. Combines low maintenance of corian with the heat resistance and even more durability of granite.

Most flooring will be tile or wood'ish. Our current home is mostly hardwood and our allergies (even the dogs) have improved vastly over the previous carpeted home we had. Plus it's easy to clean up. Either wipe it up or dust it up. No vaccuum needed.

Our master bedroom & closet and will likely have carpet, but kids rooms will probably be either laminate or bamboo.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: KentState
Two things that I regretted not getting in the house I belt were the not adding in the additional loft and having enough phone and ethernet ports throughout the house. The wiring of cat5/6 is very simple and many builders will let you handle that before putting up the insulation and drywall.

Most houses in our area/building price boast a 2 story family room. It's basically one big 20+ foot tall room. We are having the builder cap it and turn the space above into a second 20 x 14 family room on the second floor. Pretty much anyone with young kids have told us that they wish they had done that instead of the vaulted main floor room.

We get almost another 300 sq/foot for essentially free, and it's not wasted space that we'd just have to heat/cool anyway.

 

[2dt Drifter]

Give your electrician a 6 pack to put in 2x as many electrical outlets in your garage with GFI's.
Pretty sure at this stage your garage floor has already been poured, but if not you could ask to get a floor drain. Perfect for snow and rain runoff from the cars.

 

[JTsyo]

Originally posted by: 2dt Drifter
Give your electrician a 6 pack to put in 2x as many electrical outlets in your garage with GFI's.
Pretty sure at this stage your garage floor has already been poured, but if not you could ask to get a floor drain. Perfect for snow and rain runoff from the cars.

ahh a drain in the laundary room would be handy.

Also haivng the sewer line be below toliet height in the basement will prevent you from having to put a masticating pump if you ever put a bathroom in the basement. That's something you don't want to deal with.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Originally posted by: vi edit
I'm speced out for a walkout basement with a double hung door that I could drive a garden tractor through if needed. The basement will be unfinished for now and just a workshop/play area. We've got over 3000 sq/ft finished on the 1st and 2nd floor. If that isn't enough finished room then we've got issues.

As far as wiring goes, what really would I need 20 amp for that the lower stuff amp service wouldn't cover? I'm not sure what's speced out for wiring guidelines and if that's even an upgrade I'm allowed. I'll have to check. My builder uses pretty high quality stuff. I'm not sure I have an option on the windows. The home will be an energy star certified home so he has to go with something that will maintain that rating.

You probably won't need it, but if you are thinking of long term .... making a room into a dedicated home theter, or making a room into a "computer room", etc ... you may want 20 amp service in those rooms, or you may want 2 dedicated separate 15 amp runs to each room ...

14 gauge wire is a lot easier to work with than 12 gauge, and it's less expensive ..... but the additional capacity can come in handy .... Especially for lan parties!

 

[DrPizza]

Not sure if it's too late or not, but you mentioned laundry shoot. At my father's townhouse, I was amazed to see his laundry on the 2nd floor. I remodeled the smallest of 4 bedrooms (not counting the attic which was 2 more bedrooms) of our house to be a laundry room. It was the greatest change I ever made. It's so much more convenient to not have to carry a load of laundry down the stairs, wash it, then carry it back up. Even with a laundry shoot, you still have to carry all the laundry back to the point where it originated. Washer & dryer upstairs - you can simply take your clothes off, toss them in the washer, and start a load when you go to bed.

 

[imported_noonedoes]

*If you're going to wall mount the tv, have they re-enforce the back...so you don't have to look for studs.
*upgrade the carpet
*Make sure you have enough outlets in the garage, maybe a 220v line in there too...incase you want the Telsa cars.
*A utility sink in the garage.

 

[SammyJr]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Not sure if it's too late or not, but you mentioned laundry shoot. At my father's townhouse, I was amazed to see his laundry on the 2nd floor. I remodeled the smallest of 4 bedrooms (not counting the attic which was 2 more bedrooms) of our house to be a laundry room. It was the greatest change I ever made. It's so much more convenient to not have to carry a load of laundry down the stairs, wash it, then carry it back up. Even with a laundry shoot, you still have to carry all the laundry back to the point where it originated. Washer & dryer upstairs - you can simply take your clothes off, toss them in the washer, and start a load when you go to bed.

I'm a big fan of our second floor laundry, but be careful of the front loading washers. We have some Whirlpools and the washer had major vibration issues. You could feel it downstairs. After a few repair visits, it seems to have settled down, but its something to be aware of.

Apparently, its a common problem.

 

[MotF Bane]

I'll ask my parents when they get home.

If you like playing with computers, find a probable bench location, add more 20 A circuits. Ethernet in all the walls.

 

[Gabornski]

We had them put extra wood in the framing by the top corners of the windows so window blinds would for sure have a stud to screw into. Ran conduit into the attic from the utlility room where all the phone, cat5 and cable connections go to in case I ever wanted to try satellite tv. I hate the look of wire running on the outside of the house. Probably too late but build the garage as big as possible. Fairly cheap and you will never regret having the extra space. I ran speaker wire for future speaker locations I may use. Lot easier than trying to add them later. We spend a lot of time in the family room in the basement. Wish I would have had them put a another doorbell down there. We can never hear it if the TV or music is turned up. If you plan on using a home theater with a subwoofer add a couple extra coax runs from your receiver location to spots you may want to add have a subwoofer. I plan on hiding mine under a bench on the side of the room someday and won't have to worry about running cable around since it is already in the wall. You just put a rca connector on the cable ends and it will work fine as a subwoofer cable.

 

[squirrel dog]

A 4' shower or larger . After its built its a real pain to redo a 3' to a 4' .

 

[shortylickens]

More toilets for my harem.

 

[spidey07]

Insulated garage door
In yard sprinklers and separate water meter for it
Electric/voice/video/date outlets EVERYWHERE
Dual zone/dual unit HVAC
ALL brick
Generator or at least wired for it
Big exhaust fan over the cooktop - 6-8 burner stove top gas please. Oh, and a tile or stainless steel backsplash.
Very amble utility room with big deep sink
Washer/Dryer on same floor as master bedroom