More new build advice required
Discussion
I have a few meetings set up with various 'consultants' to discuss some of the details around my impending build project in Devon, we are going out to tender in a few weeks time. I'm interested to know what those in the know think about heating systems and AV/data stuff.
Our thoughts are that we want underfloor downstairs (gas) and rads upstairs with a MVHR system, though we would like a nice gas fire in a couple of rooms, the initial advice from the M&E bloke is not to bother, though the house won't be to passive standards he thinks it will be overkill and that a flue will reduce efficiency.
On the AV side I don't want to get too complicated (I have friends who spent big on auto curtains/lights etc and are forever having problems), I want a decent cinema system, sound, vision and data in most rooms and a fairly simple security system, with some external sensors and CCTV looking down the lane. Be very interested to know what others think and any advice prior to meetings much appreciated.
Our thoughts are that we want underfloor downstairs (gas) and rads upstairs with a MVHR system, though we would like a nice gas fire in a couple of rooms, the initial advice from the M&E bloke is not to bother, though the house won't be to passive standards he thinks it will be overkill and that a flue will reduce efficiency.
On the AV side I don't want to get too complicated (I have friends who spent big on auto curtains/lights etc and are forever having problems), I want a decent cinema system, sound, vision and data in most rooms and a fairly simple security system, with some external sensors and CCTV looking down the lane. Be very interested to know what others think and any advice prior to meetings much appreciated.
I would just go with 4 off CAT6 cables to each point in the room where the TV is likely to be located, including snugs, kitchens, bedrooms etc. All wired back to a central locations, which itself has the master BT socket, 4 off sky aerial cables, multiple power sockets etc. Get them terminated into proper CAT6 sockets sat next to the power sockets, and you will never notice them until you find you need them.
I'd then run a handful of CAT6 cables to the loft, for future alarm/CCTV/extensions out the house.
CAT6 cables to top corners of the room where alarm systems could be installed, again back to a central location.
For the lounge buried 5.1 speaker cable going back to the central cupboard.
Have the central point setup in such a way that your Router, Sky box, NAS, Blue Ray, AV Receiver etc would be installed, with HDMI over CAT6, with IR injectors to send the remote signals back and forth to each TV point.
Proper CAT6 cable can be had for £80 for 305m, so go wild with the stuff and run double what you know you will need. Buy 3-4 boxes of different colours to give yourself a chance of organising it all.
The next step is the potential for ''smart' home stuff - smart lighting, blinds, curtains etc - in which case CAT6/power near to potential locations where this could be retrofitted at a later date. Other members will be better at advising on this aspect, I have only gone down the Audio/Visual centrally distributed route.
As for the heating side, UFH is great, definitely go with it. I highly doubt you will need gas fires if it is a modern insulated house with the likes of UFH installed. Look at something like Evohome to control it, especially if you are considering radiators upstairs. Evohome is wireless, but cheaper setup can be created if you are OK with a wired system fixed to the walls.
I'd then run a handful of CAT6 cables to the loft, for future alarm/CCTV/extensions out the house.
CAT6 cables to top corners of the room where alarm systems could be installed, again back to a central location.
For the lounge buried 5.1 speaker cable going back to the central cupboard.
Have the central point setup in such a way that your Router, Sky box, NAS, Blue Ray, AV Receiver etc would be installed, with HDMI over CAT6, with IR injectors to send the remote signals back and forth to each TV point.
Proper CAT6 cable can be had for £80 for 305m, so go wild with the stuff and run double what you know you will need. Buy 3-4 boxes of different colours to give yourself a chance of organising it all.
The next step is the potential for ''smart' home stuff - smart lighting, blinds, curtains etc - in which case CAT6/power near to potential locations where this could be retrofitted at a later date. Other members will be better at advising on this aspect, I have only gone down the Audio/Visual centrally distributed route.
As for the heating side, UFH is great, definitely go with it. I highly doubt you will need gas fires if it is a modern insulated house with the likes of UFH installed. Look at something like Evohome to control it, especially if you are considering radiators upstairs. Evohome is wireless, but cheaper setup can be created if you are OK with a wired system fixed to the walls.
Edited by Andehh on Wednesday 18th January 12:36
OP - As an AV designer/installer - your friends had issues as they chose a bad installer. If you want this kit and want it reliable then do lots of research and get them involved early. The above is good advice by Andehh if you are happy to install yourself but if you want a pro to guarantee your job then allow them to design it and the earlier the better.
An AV system with issues is a badly installed system by someone who didn't know what they are doing.
PS - If you would like advice on specific elements then feel free to ask.
An AV system with issues is a badly installed system by someone who didn't know what they are doing.
PS - If you would like advice on specific elements then feel free to ask.
With regard V stuff. I built in a projector and screen which are hidden in the ceiling. Wall speakers and secondary Zone in the kitchen. All rooms have at least two Cat6 and 2 Coax points. Coax is fed back to a multi switch in the loft.
I also put in BT sockets in every room but not had a use for them
All bedrooms have 3 light switches, one either side of double bed and one at the door. Led wall lights up the stairs and landing for a night light.
i looked long and hard at Smart home stuff, especially with scene based lighting etc but I discounted as it can be very expensive. Also I thought about stuff fitted years ago which is now obsolete and wondered whether it might eventually go like that.
We have UFH controlled by Heatmiser touch screens and connected to the internet. So I have Cat6 in the boiler control room.
my only regret is not running Cat6 to the garage as we have now built above it and am having to use powerline adapters.
I also put in BT sockets in every room but not had a use for them
All bedrooms have 3 light switches, one either side of double bed and one at the door. Led wall lights up the stairs and landing for a night light.
i looked long and hard at Smart home stuff, especially with scene based lighting etc but I discounted as it can be very expensive. Also I thought about stuff fitted years ago which is now obsolete and wondered whether it might eventually go like that.
We have UFH controlled by Heatmiser touch screens and connected to the internet. So I have Cat6 in the boiler control room.
my only regret is not running Cat6 to the garage as we have now built above it and am having to use powerline adapters.
Wish I could have had some choice on my big builder new home 20 years ago. The main thing I'd have done is have a concrete (bison bean) upper floor no creaking floorboards and would have gone for underfloor heating throughout. Ground source heat pump and cheap heating for life. Also there's those few weeks each summer when it's so hot it's difficult to sleep so whether it's possible to get the GSHP to run cool water for cooling??.
Light switches about 3' 6" off the floor is more comfy to use. Fit a few wall sockets in suitable places with USB charger points built in. Qooker instant boiling water tap would be brilliant. Properly tanked double power showers. Cable up for external PIR LED floodlights. External taps front and back. External power points for garden lighting or power tool use. All stuff that's a pain to post fit.
Light switches about 3' 6" off the floor is more comfy to use. Fit a few wall sockets in suitable places with USB charger points built in. Qooker instant boiling water tap would be brilliant. Properly tanked double power showers. Cable up for external PIR LED floodlights. External taps front and back. External power points for garden lighting or power tool use. All stuff that's a pain to post fit.
Muncher said:
Why not go for UFH upstairs?
It's on the agenda for discussion next week, the initial thought is that rads will allow you to keep it cool while you sleep but warm up more quickly when you wake.In terms of wood burners/gas fires, the M & E bloke thinks any extra heat source, will be a white elephant as the house will be too warm, again it's a point we want to cover next week. After 10 years of wood burners, cleaning them out, chopping and storing wood etc I have had enough, the latest high end gas fires are very authentic and kick out plenty of heat, though it's probably a moot point now! Thanks again for responses.
Blue62 said:
It's on the agenda for discussion next week, the initial thought is that rads will allow you to keep it cool while you sleep but warm up more quickly when you wake.
In terms of wood burners/gas fires, the M & E bloke thinks any extra heat source, will be a white elephant as the house will be too warm, again it's a point we want to cover next week. After 10 years of wood burners, cleaning them out, chopping and storing wood etc I have had enough, the latest high end gas fires are very authentic and kick out plenty of heat, though it's probably a moot point now! Thanks again for responses.
He is not wrong, a wood burner in a modern insulated house will stifle you in no time at all. I would still go for a small one for the ambience as well as the nice focal point that comes with it. Also a plan B should you suffer a power cut. Planning in a discrete duct/extractor fan to blow the hot air into the rest of the house (through a wall into an adjacent corridor?) might be worth thinking of?In terms of wood burners/gas fires, the M & E bloke thinks any extra heat source, will be a white elephant as the house will be too warm, again it's a point we want to cover next week. After 10 years of wood burners, cleaning them out, chopping and storing wood etc I have had enough, the latest high end gas fires are very authentic and kick out plenty of heat, though it's probably a moot point now! Thanks again for responses.
As has been said above, I am currently kicking myself over not running enough CAT6 cables when I had the time. Having to reroute one from a bedroom down into the lounge next week/near future due to the TV's WIFI being surprisingly temperamental.
I think its really important for a house to have a focal point (or two)
I hear what you say about the fires overpowering a modern well insulated house, baring this in mind whilst our house was originally drawn to have 4 fires, having done plenty of research where everyone told me conventional fires will be waaaay over the top & just not be usable so I got that down to two fires, however its effectively three as one a LPG fuelled room divider (room sealed as to not draw any air from inside the very airtight house. Whilst the house is still a few months away from being finished I've run it up & its fantastic to watch & I'm really pleased that on eco wave mode it looks good but puts out a relatively small amount of heat, hence I'm expecting to actually be able to use it!
Really wanted a log burner to enjoy the flickering flames & pleasant warmth & to provide a focal point in the barn room, following a bit of research I've gone for a low energy house suitable Tonwerks T-Eye. Again its room sealed drawing combustion air through a hole in the floor underneath. Its made of refractory stone, designed to produce a low output of 2.5 kw or so but sustain it for a long time following absorption of the generated heat into the stone body of the fire it then radiates out for many hours.
I hear what you say about the fires overpowering a modern well insulated house, baring this in mind whilst our house was originally drawn to have 4 fires, having done plenty of research where everyone told me conventional fires will be waaaay over the top & just not be usable so I got that down to two fires, however its effectively three as one a LPG fuelled room divider (room sealed as to not draw any air from inside the very airtight house. Whilst the house is still a few months away from being finished I've run it up & its fantastic to watch & I'm really pleased that on eco wave mode it looks good but puts out a relatively small amount of heat, hence I'm expecting to actually be able to use it!
Really wanted a log burner to enjoy the flickering flames & pleasant warmth & to provide a focal point in the barn room, following a bit of research I've gone for a low energy house suitable Tonwerks T-Eye. Again its room sealed drawing combustion air through a hole in the floor underneath. Its made of refractory stone, designed to produce a low output of 2.5 kw or so but sustain it for a long time following absorption of the generated heat into the stone body of the fire it then radiates out for many hours.
dsl2 said:
Blue ping me an email with a phone number as there's way too much to type but I can help you with a lot of your questions having spent the last year building a large Oak framed virtually passive house high spec house covering all the things you mention, bonus I'm midlands based too.
That's really kind of you, I will drop you a pm. Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff