New home build suggestions/recommendations

[cream]

Took the plunge into a life of debt and gonna build me a home.

Any suggestions from you homeowners out there to include in a house before everything is decided?

So far, I'm floating around the idea of:
Wall oven + stove top vs regular 2in1 unit
Pasta pot filler
240v to garage
Gfci behind toilet for those fancy Japanese seats
Cat6
Ceiling speakers
Sidelight to front door
Liftmaster 8500 garage opener (anyone here have one?)
Also, has anyone raised and extended their garage door tracks to allow space for a car lift? Ceiling should be 14' high but garage rails will be at standard high for 7' door.


There's probably way more but throw around some ideas if you can and this might become a good resource in the future!

My other question is, how would you guys set up a 18' by 12' for a TV room? I want a large sectional that can fit a good chunk of ppl (8?) and will probably upgrade carpet so it can seat any excess. But the 12' seems to restrict what i can fit since I'm aiming for 10' couch so still have 2' to walk behind the couch. Was gonna put TV on 12' wall and couch about 8-10ft away. Maybe a desk behind the couch. But now I'm considering tv in the corner and long a long L sofa looking towards it. Thoughts?

[redblack]

I have a separate wall oven and cooktop that decided to shit the bed a few months apart. A new electric cooktop cost me $900 and convection wall oven was $1800. Those 2 in one ranges are ~$1000 or less.

[thinmyster]

A couple threads you can read through while you are waiting for replies

http://forums.beyond.ca/st/378054/mu...-home-options/

http://forums.beyond.ca/st/320512/th...in-your-home-/

[?????]

Where are you building?

I wanted a pot filler but one of those things where it came down to budget and some other upgrades it had to go.

[Rarasaurus]

Plugs on both sides of the vanity so you and wife have access if it is one shared length.

Plugs in pantry in the event you want to run some appliances in there like a toaster.

Wine fridge or beer fridge in Kitchen for extra drink space.

Move electrical panel to be in the same area as utility room.(not always the case).

9 Ft on all floors.

Irrigation line run under driveway for future or full system install.

Heated tile floors.

[403ep3]

So much of these extras add up

Might want to look at your budget before you get very disappointed with what you can't get lol

I love our built in appliances, but they were definitely pricey.

A few things I added to my new house:
- 9ft (ish) basement height
- removed a bunch of the drywall and replaced with railing (depending on your layout)
- extra pot lights everywhere..
- add lots of extra windows and increase the sizes
- added a couple 8ft doors on the main floor
- added sliding/pocket doors instead of the regular ones
- upgraded my carpet to one that feels like you're stepping on puppy hair
- upgrade your flooring!

I ended up skipping on in ceiling speakers as technology is always advancing and I have a good Sonos setup.
Pot filler would have been nice, but $$$.

[R!zz0]

Hot and cold faucet in the garage (if you want)
Drain in the garage (if you want)

For ceiling speakers, you have anyone in mind or are you going with what they're telling you to go with?

[?????]

Originally posted by 403ep3
So much of these extras add up

Might want to look at your budget before you get very disappointed with what you can't get lol

- removed a bunch of the drywall and replaced with railing (depending on your layout)

I ended up skipping on in ceiling speakers as technology is always advancing and I have a good Sonos setup.

Adds up QUICK!
Railings are super pricey compared to sticking with the stub walls.
Most builders are telling me to also stay away from ceiling speakers for the same reason and most people are going the soundbar route. They only have them in the showhomes to play music.

For those that ran gas lines to the garage and rear deck/patio....what size did you go with for both the main line and the tie in?

What would be the benefits for a 240 outlet in your garage? Welder?

[Mitsu3000gt]

Drain in the garage

240v in garage AND your home theater room depending on how into that you are, just to keep options open. Power outlet on ceiling as well as CAT6/HDMI on ceiling if you have a home theater/media room.

Pre-wire and behind-wall cable channels for media areas

Top floor laundry.

Solid doors with quality hardware

Vacuum ports on the floor in the kitchen you can sweep stuff into

[RealJimmyJames]

Originally posted by Rarasaurus
Plugs in pantry in the event you want to run some appliances in there like a toaster.

Is this legal? I thought you weren't allowed to have any plugs in a "closet" or pantry?

[Rarasaurus]

I have seen it done but I think you may have to upgrade the breaker or have it dedicated.

[benyl]

Get an 8ft garage door and go as wide as you can.

I can put my bike on my NSR rack and pull into the garage without removing my bike (or risk breaking my bike).

Look at the other threads. There is a tonne of info.

[kenny]

Focus on things that are next to impossible or really costly to do afterwards and only if you actually want it yourself. Some ideas from my last build:

- Taller foundation (higher ceiling height in basement)
- wider and taller front door
- bigger windows, extra windows
- add skylights to washrooms/hallways
- garage: water lines (hot and cold), gas line, floor drain, 240v, widen if there is room on your lot
- zoned vent ducts
- pot filler
- hot water recirculation line
- central vac kick plates in kitchens and washrooms
- in-floor heating for washrooms
- outlet in the eaves for christmas lights
- low voltage wiring (cat6 in every bedroom at minimum, ideally to every room in house, ceiling wifi, exterior lines for ip cameras if you plan on going this route)
- wood backing in between studs for tv mounting locations (you can probably go in and do this yourself during the build with scrap wood. The guy framing my house just did it for me as I visited a lot during the build)

[KPHMPH]

The number one thing I want when I build a house ( and possibly the best thing ) is 4 to 5 foot wide stairs..... It makes such a difference....

[403ep3]

Originally posted by KPHMPH
The number one thing I want when I build a house ( and possibly the best thing ) is 4 to 5 foot wide stairs..... It makes such a difference....

This is huge, especially for moving things up and down the stairs.. less scuffs and nicks.

My layout included really wide stairs

[C_Dave45]

Heated tile floor and line drain!!!!
That's all.

[jeffh]

Yes you can have a outlet in the pantry, as long is there isn't any shelving above it.

Exterior potlights in the eaves look really nice in the evening, and are about the same price as exterior sconces.

[suntan]

Window in mud room.

I think when people say "eaves" they're meaning soffit.

[cream]

Haha, wow! Lots of responses! Thanks everyone.

I'm building in Nolan Hill - Zero lot

Yeah, I know it'll depend on budget for sure. I definitely focused on main structural changes first. I have most of the prices for stuff you guys mentioned but I'm at a point where I gotta cut stuff out and really narrow what I want.

- Hot/cold water to garage - few hundred - what's the benefit here? I originally had it but took it out. Haven't used it much @ my parents place

- widened the garage but could only get to 21' by 22'

- windows - added a lot.. the missus thinks it'll make our house too cold

- carpet (the softest one costs $7.39/sqrt) thats ~7000 for the top floor alone. Hmmmmmm might try stick around the 4$ range

I definitely never looked into a floor drain. Hmm..


Low voltage stuff will be handled by SmartSpace - appointment is this Thursday.

Dang, I should've posted this waaay sooner. Haha, keep it coming

[suntan]

Do not rough in plumbing the basement.

Upgrade bathroom fans to quietest available.

Bathroom fan timers.

Rough in for ceiling fans.

Check opening for fridge, you want to make sure you can put a monster in there.

Upgrade from base windows. You don't have to go triple pane though these days (unless for noise).

Exterior trim around all windows (usually only the front windows get it).

Solid core interior doors.

Handles, not knobs.

Box ceilings, failing that flat ceilings.

Rounded corners.

Three way switch for mud room light.

Garburator.

Make sure kitchen island has power.

High output fireplace (watch out for minimum clearance between fireplace and mantle though).

Hardie plank siding.