[ajfoggy]

So some of you know I have sacrificed my car to buy a nicer house. The process is ticking along slowly and there have been numerous issues to resolve during the process but seem to finally be getting there.

Had a meeting with the architect the other day and have the initial plans to have a look over and move so things around. After that we need to do the service plans and send them out for quotes.

I'm just after ideas so I don't miss anything off the plans that I might want later and don't want a lot of extras adding for obvious reasons.

So what do you think is essential to be put in a new home? Well it not actually new build but will nearly be once we have finished. I'm not talking home cinemas and saunas, not got that type of money. But running CAT6, etc to rooms, camera systems, etc.

Any thoughts?

[mcoops]

One thing we benefitted from when we moved into our current home is that the previous owner had installed underfloor heating. There are no radiators in our hallway or kitchen / family room, but the u/f means the ambient temperature is always really nice, and the floor never feels cold. Maybe irrelevant if you are carpeting everywhere or don't have any particularly large rooms, but it's great if you have large tiled or hardwood areas.

[MarkG_M5Comp]

I think you are on the right lines... cabling.

Put in more than you need now, future expansion. Ideally add voids in the walls to help with future needs (if space allows) which will also help for sounds/heat insulation.

Beyond that I would also consider:

• Laundry chute to the utility room
• Underfloor heating everywhere you can
• Central vacuum system for cleaning
• Central air conditioning
• Lighing - outdoor security at mutliple points
• Cabling for HD cameras - ideally PoE I imaging
• Mutiple coax cabling for Virgin Medica (if in your area) so you can decide where to place your router
• Power feeds to garden - seating areas - driveway - electric gates - electric car hookup?
• 32 amp hookup for your hottub

[ajfoggy]

Originally Posted by mcoops

One thing we benefitted from when we moved into our current home is that the previous owner had installed underfloor heating. There are no radiators in our hallway or kitchen / family room, but the u/f means the ambient temperature is always really nice, and the floor never feels cold. Maybe irrelevant if you are carpeting everywhere or don't have any particularly large rooms, but it's great if you have large tiled or hardwood areas.

Yep this is on my list for the kitchen/dinner, just wasn't sure how good it is at heating all that space.

[ajfoggy]

Originally Posted by MarkG_M3CP

I think you are on the right lines... cabling.

Put in more than you need now, future expansion. Ideally add voids in the walls to help with future needs (if space allows) which will also help for sounds/heat insulation.

Beyond that I would also consider:

• Laundry chute to the utility room
• Underfloor heating everywhere you can
• Central vacuum system for cleaning
• Central air conditioning
• Lighing - outdoor security at mutliple points
• Cabling for HD cameras - ideally PoE I imaging
• Mutiple coax cabling for Virgin Medica (if in your area) so you can decide where to place your router
• Power feeds to garden - seating areas - driveway - electric gates - electric car hookup?
• 32 amp hookup for your hottub

Cheers, I have taken note of a couple of those.

[simon.]

More plug sockets than you think you need. Put them everywhere & put in ones with USB's.

Underfloor heating if done as a proper wet system works very well. Aftermarket electric isn't as good.

[mcoops]

Originally Posted by ajfoggy

Yep this is on my list for the kitchen/dinner, just wasn't sure how good it is at heating all that space.

I think if you get a decent hot water-based one it will be epic. Our kitchen / family room is about 25ft x 20ft and it gets sweltering!

[davyk31]

Underfloor heating and central vac were going to be my suggestions but they are covered above. Also cabling for outside lights and electric gates are easily installed at build stage.

And plans for a massive majorly oversized garage is essential.

[davyk31]

Oh and also forget the fact that you think you have a budget and enough money for the project. Little add Ons appear everywhere with so many things done just in case or because it's easier to do at build stage. Just have access to plenty of cash as it's worth doing the job properly once.

[ajfoggy]

Not sure how possible underfloor heating is with a raised wooden floorboard base?

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by MarkG_M3CP

I think you are on the right lines... cabling.

Put in more than you need now, future expansion. Ideally add voids in the walls to help with future needs (if space allows) which will also help for sounds/heat insulation.

Beyond that I would also consider:

• Laundry chute to the utility room
• Underfloor heating everywhere you can
• Central vacuum system for cleaning
• Central air conditioning
• Lighing - outdoor security at mutliple points
• Cabling for HD cameras - ideally PoE I imaging
• Mutiple coax cabling for Virgin Medica (if in your area) so you can decide where to place your router
• Power feeds to garden - seating areas - driveway - electric gates - electric car hookup?
• 32 amp hookup for your hottub

Wow, I want to move into your house!

Air conditioning perhaps a bit OTT for the two days this year oop north that we'd have needed it. Swap that for a nice environmentally friendly heating system!

[dopper99]

Not only a tap out the back, but an easily accessible tap out the front - for when you wash your car.

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Originally Posted by Alex440

Wow, I want to move into your house!

Air conditioning perhaps a bit OTT for the two days this year oop north that we'd have needed it. Swap that for a nice environmentally friendly heating system!

Alas I don't have all of that - but would if building my house.

'Climate control' is one thing I would love to have in the house - I can't stand sleeping in a hot bedroom...

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by ajfoggy

Not sure how possible underfloor heating is with a raised wooden floorboard base?

Not a problem, sits within trays between joists, insulation below, have to use 'engineered' flooring above not your old T&G.

Apart for the points already raised, if you don't have gas (or even if you do) Air source heat pumps in place of conventional boilers, couple that up with PV panels on the roof, many combinations possible.

If you're have nice big glazed doors to the usual kitchen dining sitting space, make sure they are triple glazed, also if the opening is big enough (6m) use sliders not Bi-fold, nothing worse than loads of vertical door sections spoiling the view when they are closed. Split the sliders into 3, so only 2 vertical and use slimline 30mm junction so virtually seamless glass. Option then to slide both ways and 2/3rds open.

Do remember that UF heating in solid floors is not instant, works like a storage radiator so have a funky designer rad in the loop as an option, or wet system plinth heaters in kitchen, don't have to use them but really handy if temp bottoms out quickly & you get caught out!

[AndyTo]

Do you need a patress in any stud walls? Are you wanting to put any shelving up in utility room etc... so you want to strengthen the wall so you can fix heavy items to stud walls.

Seperate the heating plumbing so up/down stairs are on seperate circuits and can be heated independantly or together, not too much more money if done from new but can be expensive to retro fit.

Get a decent heating controller, i'm having one one these fitted soon. https://www.plumbnation.co.uk/site/w...et-thermostat/

Have a space made for wheelie bins in the fencing so they have a hardstanding and can be hidden away.

Have extractor vents built into the roof tiling for bathrooms, not holes cored through a wall.

Have PIR's fitted to toilets, if like my kids they never turn the fracking lights off, they'll auto switch off after 20 minutes of no movement.

[MSCD]

Having grown up in the UK and now living in the US here are s few things I notice! Of course not sure if the house is wood frame or plaster walls?

Air Con is a smart idea. We have a system in a heat pump that does heat and cool.

Ceiling fans... very cost efficient.

Walk in shower.... love this!

App controlled temperature and lighting system.

Led lighting - dimming.

A lot of good ideas above!

[isleaiw1]

I think the main thing coming through is either expect to have your budget burst wide open or be very good at identifying the really important from the nice to have from the cool at first but then of no use!

[creepy coupe]

Gimp dungeon.

[ajfoggy]

Thanks all so far some good stuff coming from this :

The list is getting longer! But not in a bad expensive way just a good complete list!

[ronime]

Originally Posted by simon.

More plug sockets than you think you need. Put them everywhere & put in ones with USB's.

... and look forward to replacing them all in a few years time when we have moved to USB C connectors.

[MrChumley]

Our aircon was installed by the previous owner and I have to say I'm surprised at how often we use it. It's great to be able to keep the windows closed in the summer and not wake up to a room full of moths.

Digitally controlled showers are great too - just press the button and step in once it's warmed up.

I also want a swim spa in my next house - like a hot tub but with a jet you swim against.

At the moment I'm really struggling to find the right place, so we might go down the self-build route but frankly it all seems a bit daunting.

Hope yours goes well.

[JustChris]

Gym.
Spa.
Pool.
Lap Dance pole in the bedroom.

No offence Foggy but what we would suggest surely might not be anywhere near your wants or needs, or is this just brainstorming?

If so.

Ensuite for every bedroom
CAT5/6 cabling throughout
Double garage / man cave
Mega kitchen and family open plan
Binfolding doors to garden area