Renovation - what are your "must dos"
Discussion
hairyben said:
Another thing to bear in mind with underfloor heating is with removing unsightly radiators it frees a room both in terms of decor and furniture placement- in the right market this is very desirable.
Home automation.. wouldn't bother unless you personally want it badly. whatever you get will probably be obsolete and a downside to buyers in 10 years
I'd agree with both those points.Home automation.. wouldn't bother unless you personally want it badly. whatever you get will probably be obsolete and a downside to buyers in 10 years
On the home automation front I want to the trouble and expense of Lutron lighting. Expensive to install, a PITA to programme and out of date before the install was done. In the latest house have reverted to a sprinkling of light switches and dimmers. How hard is it to turn a few lights on and off?
Nest does sound like a good idea - I can see the point of that.
open plan with no rads is great. Hidden AV installs/cables chased into wall well worth while. Tons of sockets discretely placed also well worth it. Cable ruin a clean look.
I am a bit cynical about home automation given how quickly software becomes obsolete when compared to the lifetime of bricks and mortar.
I'd wholeheartedly recommend underfloor heating - it creates an even temp with no hot or cold spots.
My only other thoughts would be put as much sound insulation between floors as possible and use high quality internal doors. We used solid oak and it is worth the extra for sound deadening as well as having a high quality feel.
Plus it means people don't shout around the house as they know you can't hear.
I'd wholeheartedly recommend underfloor heating - it creates an even temp with no hot or cold spots.
My only other thoughts would be put as much sound insulation between floors as possible and use high quality internal doors. We used solid oak and it is worth the extra for sound deadening as well as having a high quality feel.
Plus it means people don't shout around the house as they know you can't hear.
Some great points here. Still not sold on wet UFH due to cost of install and hassle, but then I like my old school-type tubular rads in raw metal finish, so radiators are a design feature for me.
Anyone here have recommendations for security people to do alarm system, cameras etc? London/South East.
Anyone here have recommendations for security people to do alarm system, cameras etc? London/South East.
As your in it for 5-10 years & to add value.
Loft conversion
Bottom of the garden sizeable log cabin with electrics maybe a log burner in it too very desirable and hugely increases space (can use it for home office, snug, Cinema room games room full size American or Snooker table
Insulated garage door with rubberised tiles - properly for it out so ether than usual dumping ground (me very very very guilty of this) it's fully organised and could be used for a home Gym in the middle
Brand new fences all round - not the panel fences the ones which are built as you go along. Look great and last decades. So when you come to sell still look really good
Thick solid oak doors and door frames throughout - including the front door. Makes a huge statement
Properly landscaped and returned gardens front and rear so when you sell the shrubs will be mature. This is often overlooked but makes a huge first impression difference and you enjoy it all the time.
Loft conversion
Bottom of the garden sizeable log cabin with electrics maybe a log burner in it too very desirable and hugely increases space (can use it for home office, snug, Cinema room games room full size American or Snooker table
Insulated garage door with rubberised tiles - properly for it out so ether than usual dumping ground (me very very very guilty of this) it's fully organised and could be used for a home Gym in the middle
Brand new fences all round - not the panel fences the ones which are built as you go along. Look great and last decades. So when you come to sell still look really good
Thick solid oak doors and door frames throughout - including the front door. Makes a huge statement
Properly landscaped and returned gardens front and rear so when you sell the shrubs will be mature. This is often overlooked but makes a huge first impression difference and you enjoy it all the time.
desolate said:
My only other thoughts would be put as much sound insulation between floors as possible
Good shout. A couple of houses a go I had1 oak floors
2 sound insulating underlay
3 ply
4 floor boards
5 rockwool layer 1
6 rockwool later 2
7 ceiling boards
Couldn't hear much through that lot
In my most recent someone else did most of the refurb and the difference is noticable. I did have one of the man downstairs ceiling out earlier in the year and so had the new one stuffed with rock wool. Much better. Can crank up the TV and tunes at night without it leaking into one of the kids' bedrooms above.
Welshbeef said:
As your in it for 5-10 years & to add value.
Loft conversion
Brand new fences all round
Properly landscaped and returned gardens
Yes to all that and would add in some garden lighting - a few spots here and there make all the difference.Loft conversion
Brand new fences all round
Properly landscaped and returned gardens
Not so convinced in the oak doors - I prefer period-looking doors in Farrow and Ball. Each to their own and all that.
Harry Flashman said:
I actually junked Lightwave RF as I got enormously frustrated with the control interface which I found clunky and untrustworthy (heating randomly coming on/turning off). And the motorised radiator valves are too noisy to be used in bedrooms.
Went to Nest for the heating, never looked back. Nest won't work in the new house though as no longer a combi boiler...
But for lights, could be a great shout! Do they do any switches that take their power from the mains yet, or do they still require batteries.
Any opinions on Honeywell's Evohome system? I'm giving it serious thought...Went to Nest for the heating, never looked back. Nest won't work in the new house though as no longer a combi boiler...
But for lights, could be a great shout! Do they do any switches that take their power from the mains yet, or do they still require batteries.
Centralised Hoover system - http://www.electroluxcentralvacuums.co.uk/
Attention to socket and TV locations
Wet UFH
Cat6
Comms Cab
Lots of CAT6 terminals in rooms for: Phones, Streaming, HDMI, IPTV
Attention to socket and TV locations
Wet UFH
Cat6
Comms Cab
Lots of CAT6 terminals in rooms for: Phones, Streaming, HDMI, IPTV
Harry Flashman said:
I've been thinking about home automation. It seems reasonably useful, but to me seems rather expensive (Control4 etc) for what you get - but is it a valuable investment, and how disruptive is it to do it when you are already chasing walls and ripping things out? And what can you really automate? Given the usefulness of wifi apps and home devices these days, is there really any need to?
What else are things you would do (or indeed have done) that you are glad you did. Or did you fail to do something you should have done?
Regardless of whether you go for a full home automation system I would make sure the house is wired right. Things like wiring correctly for TVs in the right places, audio round the house will cost peanuts to cable yet leave your options open. If you were so minded you could design the wiring yourself - there have been loads of threads in the past about how to wire - some make more sense than others. If not you could get an AV Consultant to do the designs for you.What else are things you would do (or indeed have done) that you are glad you did. Or did you fail to do something you should have done?
Welshbeef said:
As your in it for 5-10 years & to add value.
Loft conversion
Bottom of the garden sizeable log cabin with electrics maybe a log burner in it too very desirable and hugely increases space (can use it for home office, snug, Cinema room games room full size American or Snooker table
Insulated garage door with rubberised tiles - properly for it out so ether than usual dumping ground (me very very very guilty of this) it's fully organised and could be used for a home Gym in the middle
Brand new fences all round - not the panel fences the ones which are built as you go along. Look great and last decades. So when you come to sell still look really good
Thick solid oak doors and door frames throughout - including the front door. Makes a huge statement
Properly landscaped and returned gardens front and rear so when you sell the shrubs will be mature. This is often overlooked but makes a huge first impression difference and you enjoy it all the time.
Feck me, I'd have to double my mortgage to do half those things. Realistically most people do some new plaster, few more sockets here and there, perhaps some underfloor heating in a renovated bathroom and a new kitchen. You've still spent £30-40k at least. Loft conversion
Bottom of the garden sizeable log cabin with electrics maybe a log burner in it too very desirable and hugely increases space (can use it for home office, snug, Cinema room games room full size American or Snooker table
Insulated garage door with rubberised tiles - properly for it out so ether than usual dumping ground (me very very very guilty of this) it's fully organised and could be used for a home Gym in the middle
Brand new fences all round - not the panel fences the ones which are built as you go along. Look great and last decades. So when you come to sell still look really good
Thick solid oak doors and door frames throughout - including the front door. Makes a huge statement
Properly landscaped and returned gardens front and rear so when you sell the shrubs will be mature. This is often overlooked but makes a huge first impression difference and you enjoy it all the time.
Condi said:
Feck me, I'd have to double my mortgage to do half those things. Realistically most people do some new plaster, few more sockets here and there, perhaps some underfloor heating in a renovated bathroom and a new kitchen. You've still spent £30-40k at least.
Sure they are unusual options but all properly value add and you get the benefit of them for 5-10years while you live there. Harry Flashman said:
Some great points here. Still not sold on wet UFH due to cost of install and hassle, but then I like my old school-type tubular rads in raw metal finish, so radiators are a design feature for me.
Maybe for you. However enough PHers are saying that UFH would be a plus point for them. Listen to the advice you are being given here.
If it's for resale at any point, then you need to keep all decor and 'features' as neutral as possible. Personalise the place with well-chosen furniture and rugs which you can take with you.
Welshbeef said:
Condi said:
Feck me, I'd have to double my mortgage to do half those things. Realistically most people do some new plaster, few more sockets here and there, perhaps some underfloor heating in a renovated bathroom and a new kitchen. You've still spent £30-40k at least.
Sure they are unusual options but all properly value add and you get the benefit of them for 5-10years while you live there. For your average 200k property, non of those actually add anything. I know people on PH dont do average 200k properties
but you have to keep in mind why you are doing things. If you want a log cabin - great, but dont expect the next buyer to pay extra when it might not add anything for them. Edited by Condi on Thursday 3rd September 23:44
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