Spec my self-build!
Discussion
i self build about 10 years ago in Suffolk, but currently live in the States
Re self build spec and costs, it will costs more than you want but dont scrimp on the things that cannot be changed after.
Things like bathrooms and kitchens can be updated later, roofs, under floor heating and room sizes (especially ceiling height) are not really economically viable for upgrades later
Dont do a basement, it WILL leak , i have seen evidence of that at the dozens of houses i have looked at in the last year when choosing a home here in New York.
Almost everyone i saw had leaked/ was leaking/ had damp. Most put in a french drain, all required summertime air purification systems to keep damp away
Finally, dont make a niche the perfect size for that cabinet you have or a TV as at sometime, you probably wont have it and it wont fit anything
Get as many windows in as you can for light and everything else as thermally insulated as you can
You will learn lots and hopefully, if you get a good/ fair builder, enjoy the experience and look back with pride at your house!
Re self build spec and costs, it will costs more than you want but dont scrimp on the things that cannot be changed after.
Things like bathrooms and kitchens can be updated later, roofs, under floor heating and room sizes (especially ceiling height) are not really economically viable for upgrades later
Dont do a basement, it WILL leak , i have seen evidence of that at the dozens of houses i have looked at in the last year when choosing a home here in New York.
Almost everyone i saw had leaked/ was leaking/ had damp. Most put in a french drain, all required summertime air purification systems to keep damp away
Finally, dont make a niche the perfect size for that cabinet you have or a TV as at sometime, you probably wont have it and it wont fit anything
Get as many windows in as you can for light and everything else as thermally insulated as you can
You will learn lots and hopefully, if you get a good/ fair builder, enjoy the experience and look back with pride at your house!
Water taps at the front and back of house.
Electric points on outside of house, with inside isolation switch to turn it off when you are away. You have to be able to wash the car etc.
Two dishwashers would save you more time than you'd think.
Underfloor heating (not electric) will allow you to place furniture where you want and not have radiators in awkward places.
Tanked wetfloors in your bathrooms.
Cabling to allow wifi and television aerials in your rooms.
A place for your hoover or the huge hose a central vacuuming system needs.
A convenient cupboard for your ironing board and iron, somewhere to stuff the laundry being ironed etc.
A least one very wide doored bedroom, for easier wheelchair/crutches access, its surprising how many people have older relatives to stay or a family member gets injured or has an operation.
Laundry chute.
A recycling chute to outside bins.
The Finns have a dish rack cupboard above the kitchen sink in nearly all their houses, which is super useful and stops you having unsightly dishes and saucepans on the side.
Also like the Finns take on a bidet hose run from behind the sink to allow the toilet porcelain to be showered clean or at a push your under carriage to be cleaned, they seem to be everywhere, even their trains.
Quite liked the secondary glazing where there is a huge air gap with enough room for blinds/shutters between double glazed panes, its very good at cutting out sound and very efficient.
A wide garage which allows you to open the doors after driving in.
Built in/ceiling mounted projector and retractable projector screen, it enhances movies immensely, but also allows you to have a normally decorated room (build the cables in before plaster boarding.
Higher ceilings gives more space.
Pantry for walk in food storage.
Walk in wardrobe.
Big F off shed for multiple cars.
Electric points on outside of house, with inside isolation switch to turn it off when you are away. You have to be able to wash the car etc.
Two dishwashers would save you more time than you'd think.
Underfloor heating (not electric) will allow you to place furniture where you want and not have radiators in awkward places.
Tanked wetfloors in your bathrooms.
Cabling to allow wifi and television aerials in your rooms.
A place for your hoover or the huge hose a central vacuuming system needs.
A convenient cupboard for your ironing board and iron, somewhere to stuff the laundry being ironed etc.
A least one very wide doored bedroom, for easier wheelchair/crutches access, its surprising how many people have older relatives to stay or a family member gets injured or has an operation.
Laundry chute.
A recycling chute to outside bins.
The Finns have a dish rack cupboard above the kitchen sink in nearly all their houses, which is super useful and stops you having unsightly dishes and saucepans on the side.
Also like the Finns take on a bidet hose run from behind the sink to allow the toilet porcelain to be showered clean or at a push your under carriage to be cleaned, they seem to be everywhere, even their trains.
Quite liked the secondary glazing where there is a huge air gap with enough room for blinds/shutters between double glazed panes, its very good at cutting out sound and very efficient.
A wide garage which allows you to open the doors after driving in.
Built in/ceiling mounted projector and retractable projector screen, it enhances movies immensely, but also allows you to have a normally decorated room (build the cables in before plaster boarding.
Higher ceilings gives more space.
Pantry for walk in food storage.
Walk in wardrobe.
Big F off shed for multiple cars.
thepeoplespal said:
Water taps at the front and back of house.
Electric points on outside of house, with inside isolation switch to turn it off when you are away. You have to be able to wash the car etc.
Two dishwashers would save you more time than you'd think.
Underfloor heating (not electric) will allow you to place furniture where you want and not have radiators in awkward places.
Tanked wetfloors in your bathrooms.
Cabling to allow wifi and television aerials in your rooms.
A place for your hoover or the huge hose a central vacuuming system needs.
A convenient cupboard for your ironing board and iron, somewhere to stuff the laundry being ironed etc.
A least one very wide doored bedroom, for easier wheelchair/crutches access, its surprising how many people have older relatives to stay or a family member gets injured or has an operation.
Laundry chute.
A recycling chute to outside bins.
The Finns have a dish rack cupboard above the kitchen sink in nearly all their houses, which is super useful and stops you having unsightly dishes and saucepans on the side.
Also like the Finns take on a bidet hose run from behind the sink to allow the toilet porcelain to be showered clean or at a push your under carriage to be cleaned, they seem to be everywhere, even their trains.
Quite liked the secondary glazing where there is a huge air gap with enough room for blinds/shutters between double glazed panes, its very good at cutting out sound and very efficient.
A wide garage which allows you to open the doors after driving in.
Built in/ceiling mounted projector and retractable projector screen, it enhances movies immensely, but also allows you to have a normally decorated room (build the cables in before plaster boarding.
Higher ceilings gives more space.
Pantry for walk in food storage.
Walk in wardrobe.
Big F off shed for multiple cars.
Fantastic list, thanks! Plenty of food for thought there.Electric points on outside of house, with inside isolation switch to turn it off when you are away. You have to be able to wash the car etc.
Two dishwashers would save you more time than you'd think.
Underfloor heating (not electric) will allow you to place furniture where you want and not have radiators in awkward places.
Tanked wetfloors in your bathrooms.
Cabling to allow wifi and television aerials in your rooms.
A place for your hoover or the huge hose a central vacuuming system needs.
A convenient cupboard for your ironing board and iron, somewhere to stuff the laundry being ironed etc.
A least one very wide doored bedroom, for easier wheelchair/crutches access, its surprising how many people have older relatives to stay or a family member gets injured or has an operation.
Laundry chute.
A recycling chute to outside bins.
The Finns have a dish rack cupboard above the kitchen sink in nearly all their houses, which is super useful and stops you having unsightly dishes and saucepans on the side.
Also like the Finns take on a bidet hose run from behind the sink to allow the toilet porcelain to be showered clean or at a push your under carriage to be cleaned, they seem to be everywhere, even their trains.
Quite liked the secondary glazing where there is a huge air gap with enough room for blinds/shutters between double glazed panes, its very good at cutting out sound and very efficient.
A wide garage which allows you to open the doors after driving in.
Built in/ceiling mounted projector and retractable projector screen, it enhances movies immensely, but also allows you to have a normally decorated room (build the cables in before plaster boarding.
Higher ceilings gives more space.
Pantry for walk in food storage.
Walk in wardrobe.
Big F off shed for multiple cars.
An interesting product I came across at the weekend - magnetic plaster: https://www.british-gypsum.com/products/thistlepro...
Could be a good option for the home office to keep the walls free from notice boards etc. Has anyone here used it?
Could be a good option for the home office to keep the walls free from notice boards etc. Has anyone here used it?
egomeister said:
An interesting product I came across at the weekend - magnetic plaster: https://www.british-gypsum.com/products/thistlepro...
Could be a good option for the home office to keep the walls free from notice boards etc. Has anyone here used it?
£90 a bag.... sCould be a good option for the home office to keep the walls free from notice boards etc. Has anyone here used it?
t the bed...thebraketester said:
egomeister said:
An interesting product I came across at the weekend - magnetic plaster: https://www.british-gypsum.com/products/thistlepro...
Could be a good option for the home office to keep the walls free from notice boards etc. Has anyone here used it?
£90 a bag.... sCould be a good option for the home office to keep the walls free from notice boards etc. Has anyone here used it?
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