Advice on building a new house?

[stevepa]

Hey,

So there was a really good thread about this almost a year ago here but I was wondering if anyone has any other advice. I'm graduating in April and plan to move back to my hometown (Kingston, Ontario) when I'm done. I've gone through some of the very preliminary details but any advice about upgrades, etc. would be much appreciated. In particular, in the other thread there's a lot of talk about wiring the house. Can anyone dumb that stuff down a little bit for me?

edit: In case info about the house is important: it's a 2 storey house with a pretty big finished basement. 4 bedrooms upstairs, downstairs is a decent sized kitchen (probably with an island), dining room and living room and a couple rooms we're not sure what to do with. Two bathrooms upstairs (ensuite+main) and one on each of main floor and basement.

Thanks,

Steve

[Scofield]

start at the bottom and work your way up

[1C5]

list away specific questions. I am in the process now. i am in canada also.

i move in this summer.

[stevepa]

[ QUOTE ]
start at the bottom and work your way up

[/ QUOTE ]

but what should I do in the middle!?!?!!

[Quanah Parker]

When I took the wheels off my new home I put 'em on the roof to help hold it down during twisters.

[stevepa]

[ QUOTE ]
list away specific questions. I am in the process now. i am in canada also.

i move in this summer.

[/ QUOTE ]

1. How much prewiring should be done? I'm planning to have a home theatre in the basement, and a couple other tv's around the house. What's the deal with home automation?

2. Any advice on materials for counters/floors/etc.?

I have more but can't think of them at the moment. General advice is also appreciated.

Steve

[NicksDad1970]

Steve, Money is a huge factor. From the little I know about you I would think you want upper middle of the road. Concrete counter tops are pretty popular right now. They are pretty nice looking and top quality.

I'd take a list of your plans to the low voltage/security fella and tell him/her what you plan on doing in each room.

For the floors I'd consider concrete stained or tile with hardwood.

You can get inexpensive tile that looks as good as the expensive stuff. Your biggest cost there is labor. I've found GOOD people that would lay it for 1.50 sf here.

[NicksDad1970]

in my "TV" room I'd try to have a small room behind where the TV is going to go. Then you could put a lot of your components in there so it won't clutter up your room. Especially if you have a UHF remote.

[1C5]

Alright.

1. I paid a local best buy type shop to do the prewire for me for speakers in almost every room so I can have music anywhere in the house, even the main bathroom which I think will b e neat. I alo got wiring for HD TVs in 4 rooms and normal TVs in the guest bedrooms. Those HD cables are $$$!!

Got high speed internet for the office. And then a seperate electrician came and did the lights and fans.

Home automation, specific examples? Not sure what you mean.

2. Personal preference, my bathrooms and kitchens will be nice as I got good connections for them. Floors, I went with mostly tile and carpet in basement and bedrooms. I prefer tile to hardwood or carpet but that is just me. I am also finishing my basement and will have a games area and an area with nice chairs to watch TV but no theater room.

So for the sound/TVs/phones/internet, make sure that stuff is all prewired. I got all that done and I don't have the TVs or speakers picked out yet but when I am ready for them, it will be simple. I got all ceiling speakers throughout the house fyi.

[Paul B.]

Steve, 4homes magazine.