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lmulvey1

Building a house

Laura Mulvey
11 years ago
We are building a house and I am looking for decorating ideas.

Comments (4)

  • creeser
    11 years ago
    You have come to the right place! houzz is full of great photos. Go to the home page on the left, pick a room .. Living Room, Kitchen, etc... and on the Search bar, make sure the drop down menu is on photos. If you have a style, above the rooms is style search you can use as well. Anything you like, you can add to your Idea book.
  • PRO
    Macral Design Corp
    11 years ago
    I would like suggest you some products for your new house project.
    Take a look to my houzz profile. Best regards.
    http://www.houzz.com/pro/francofurniture/macral-design-corp
  • PRO
    Custom Home Planning Center
    11 years ago
    just some things to consider:
    A. Site planning
    1. Passive solar - know and use southeast to south west for most windows in climates that have a heating season
    2. Clear all organics from the building zone
    3. prepare site access for delivery trucks (use available crushed concrete from the ready mix yard as most will sell it for little or nothing to clean up their yard ask about water damaged bags of mortar & cement)

    B. Footing
    1. Footing step down should lap to double depth by no less than 8"
    2. Adding fiber to the concrete is cheap insurance against failure.
    3. If adding steel to footings use chairs - rebar must be isolated from ground contact or it will rust out and weaken the footing not strengthen it. (metal grade stakes should not have direct contact with rebar)
    4. Anticipate ordering slightly more yardage than you need, but be prepared to use the left overs (cutting sona tube concrete forming tubes in 4 or 5 inch deep slices let you make stepping stones for example)

    C. Foundation
    1.Add PVC sleeves for utility passages
    2.consider seismic spacers between top of foundation and sill plate (note: holes through plate should be larger than normal to reduce transfer of movement.
    3.after applying weatherproofing where necessary, apply a hydrostatic spacer fabric to foundation and field drains
    4.use a continuous Metal insect shield between between foundation and sill plate caulk penetrations and/or apply boric acid paste.

    D. Framing
    1. drill drainage holes in floor deck as necessary to avoid standing water.
    2. have field shop crown and mark all wall members and headers. (walls= all arrows pointing the same direction when assembled, Headers = crown pointed up)
    3. be aware there are articulated top and bottom plates for forming curved walls
    4. use California corners to avoid voids of un instated space or pre insulate corners and T's before sheeting.
    5. check that point loads have studs and blocking all the way to foundation or properly sized beams.
    6. remember if windows are less than 22 1/2 RO they do not require headers, just scrap material for nailers.$$
    7.consider using custom pre cut SIPs ( structural insulate panels) for circle or other custom shaped passages
    8. Cantilevered trusses allow for full at the wall/ceiling insulation and a ready made soffits
    9. .Use SIPs for exterior walls.
    10. consider 2 x 6 interior walls where a ref area can be dropped back to 2 x 4 and eliminate the cost of cabinet deep ref.
    11. keep select wall areas for use of stud cavities storage clear of wires and ducts.
    12.add blocking for curtains, towel bars, handicap rails or any anticipated heavy wall loads
    13. pre frame for pet doors, safes, ect.
    14. use 5/4 plastic deck lumber exterior under door sills
    15. up grade to screw shank 12cc framing and 16cc nails (high wind construction)
    16.use foam sill sealers under exterior wall plates
    17.use pre insulated box type headers or at least 1/2" foil faced foam board for spacer when construction headers.
    18. use steel studs for kitchen walls or any wall with major cabinet work.
    19. use full 8' not pre-cuts for wall members the extra 4 1/2 inches makes the rooms working better for ceiling fans and upgrades of door heights and wider trim. Fill space at bottom with 1/2 plywood for base trim. (true for 9' and 10' material as well) field shop should verify length when marking crowns.
    20. double check wall plumb. (self leveling laser or string plumb)

    Rough Ins

    Plumbing
    1. run crawl or under slab to out the roof pvc radon vent
    2. run exit collars for utilities in the foundation
    3. run pvc roof vent pipe with wire pull to future active solar panel locations.
    4. consider double manifold installation to shorten supply runs when using cross linked polymer lines
    5. run pvc and line pull to secondary circuit board for future generator
    6. If using a gas tank-less unit (best choice) consider an elec. tankless unit at the 2nd manifold location to boost temperatures for longer runs
    7.consider 30" counter tops on exterior sink walls to allow plumbing to run behind cabinets not in the wall. (colder climates)
    8.consider trap clean outs on sink drains even if not required.
    9.add outside bibs no less that 30' appart
    10. consider a gray water and/or rain water capture and store for landscape and gardening use
    11. consider running drip irragation to trees and landscape as as opposed to sprinklers.
    12.rough in for future exterior uses. (water features, hot tub, mist coolers, outdoor shower, pet bathing area or future pool)
    13. add garage drains at the garage door for washing out the garage and to prevent water coming into the garage for outside.
    14.run recirculation plumbing for water feature.
    15.roll in shower framed - double up joist tapered to meet drainage and span requirements
    roll in shower slab - hold fill down to allow shower floor to taper to linear drain on low end
    16. large tub filler - chrome nipple on 3/4" hot and cold lines coming out of the ceiling and dropping into tub (save$$$ over expensive roman tub spouts)
    17.run hot and cold lines to toilet / bidet mixer (remember you may need elec. outlet behind toilet)
    18. wet bar and or tub filler line rough in
    19. on 2nd floor baths run cast iron 2nd to 1st floor drains for sound reduction
    20. remember refrigerator ice cub water supply
    21. Install shower valves with built in diverted for switching from rain to hand shower (few available)
    22. locate full house water shut off in easy to reach location (individual shut off exist per fixture, but don't forget an interior shut off for the water run to garden water bib.
    23. Insulate hot water lines to reduce heat loss
    24. Make sure copper lines do not have direct contact with slab or concrete work
    25 if using copper lines throughout make sure to attach them to a grounding rod for lightning protection
    26. add a drain line 3" plus to safe or storm room
    27. make sure field drains gravity flow to downstream outliet. or are pumt to a pit with a sump pump.
    29. add a reverse flow stop vlave in the main drain lines
    30. roof vents should be out of site from the street.
    31. consider a water fountain

    All the suggestions posted on this thread have been so valuable, though I'm sure many of you (like myself) find your head spinning with all the ideas, so I just sat down and categorized them all!

    Closet & Organization
    - Plugs in several closets
    - Make sure your closet has enough space for both double hung rods, and singles to accomadate long clothes
    - Full size broom cupboard in pantry or laundry room to hide all the cleaning items away from sight.
    - More closet/linen space than you think you'll need
    - Cubbies in mudroom with an outlet in each one
    - Motion sensor on pantry and closet lights

    Bath
    - Plug in master toilet closet for night light
    - Outlets inside vanity cabinets (upper and lower) in bathroom for dryer etc.
    - Heated towels racks
    - Don't caulk the bottom of your toilet to the tile to hide potential leaks
    - Make use of the pony wall in a bathroom by turning it into storage.
    - Vac pans for hair
    - Appliance garage on counter

    Outdoor
    - Run conduit under the driveway for future wiring or plumbing needs
    - Prewire speakers both indoor and outdoor
    - Ensure you have hose outlets and power on all 4 sides of your house, and on top of any raised areas
    - Hot/cold outdoor water is good for washing pets
    - Motion sensor pre-wire for selected exterior lights
    - Keypad entry on garage door (Keypad entry on front door is great as well)
    - Gas line to grill

    Kitchen
    - Plugs in kitchen pantry for charging, or for items that may end up living there
    - Recess the fridge
    - With wide islands put cabinets on the both sides. While they are not easy to get to, they are good for storing seldomly used items.
    - Built in paper towel holder
    - Custom storage organization in kitchen drawers
    - Warming drawer in dining room
    - Pantry entrance near both kitchen and garage
    - Custom shelves and a place to plug in appliances in pantry
    - Plugs above cabinets for Christmas lighting
    - Set up for both gas and electric appliances
    - Pantry door on swivel
    - Pantry light on motion sensor
    - Copper tubing for your ice maker from the freezer and until it's out of the kitchen wall
    - Drawer microwave
    - Knife drawer
    - Pull-out garbage/recycling/laundry (for dirty dish towels/napkins/bibs!)
    - Paper towel holder in drawer slot
    - Drawers for all lower cabinets (more efficient use of space)
    - Two soap pumps at sink (one for handsoap, one for dish soap)
    - Easy-access place to store frequently used appliances
    - place to hang hand towels & aprons

    Electrical & Plumbing
    - Prewire security system & cameras
    - Run wire and prepare roof for future solar
    - Run a 2" PVC pipe up from the basement to the attic for future wiring needs, some suggested double conduits.
    - Seperate 20z circut with outlets at waist height in garage to plug in tools
    - Seperate 20z ciructe for TV and a/v equipment
    - Identify areas for low voltage can/rack
    - Pre-wring for music and speakers, inside and outside
    - iPad controllers in the walls to control whole house music systems
    - Pre-wire for generator to essential areas
    - Carbon monozide unit on the wall upstairs
    - Make sure plumbing in bathrooms are done correctly. One commenter's toilet was placed too close to the tub pipes so I couldn't get the deeper tub because they didn't allow room.
    - Cast iron pipes for the plumbing drops from the second floor cuts down on noise
    - Take pictures of all the walls before Sheetrock went up so you knew where all the wiring was in case you needed to add or change anything.
    - Include a 220V to garage (tools, future electric car etc)
    - Measure the location of anything under the slab, and various utilities out in the yard.
    - Run an electrical
  • PRO
    Dytecture
    11 years ago
    Exciting times ahead !

    First of all, the architecture of the house would guide you towards decorating the interior, whether it is traditional or contemporary.

    Secondly, I would suggest breaking down ideas room by room so you are not overwhelmed with pictures and ideas.

    Thirdly, pick one or two top rooms that you like and try to narrow down to the colors that work for you.