Home features you wish you would have...

[Gerald]

Something I have always wanted......is a small air conditioned work room connected to the house. Somewhere you can get to without going outside, to make a quick fix of something.

A houses 2 doors down from me has this. It is a 10' x20' room with a door to connect it to the master bedroom, another door going into the garage and a double door going outside.

[BananaTom]

Spray foam insulation on the underside of the roof decking. I heard it really reduces the heat in your attic.

[fishinpox]

I'm getting ready to build my new home, here is a few musts for my home
- foam insulation
-foil backed roof decking
- control 4 home automation with video security
- 48-60" range w double ovens
- full size fridge and full size freezer in kitchen
- 16 seer variable speed Hvac that is zoned system
- built in grill/sink/crawfish boiling in outdoor kitchen
- 2x6 walls
- blum self closing drawer guides and hinges on cabinets
- laundry shoot for kids bedrooms
- big bonus room for dogs to play

I have my plans finished . This house will be in the parade of homes next year and be my live in model home. Hope to break ground in the next 30 days
-

[fishinpox]

Forgot ... Gonna have a urinal in my master bath !!

[fishinpox]

Tankless water heater
Cat 5 to all cable outlets
# 1 select framing lumber( not much more expensive but really worth it)
Stego wrap viscqeen under slab instead of regular visqueen ..way thicker tape seams
Silicon bottom plate to slab Instead of roll foam
Post tension slab
Sherwin Williams "duration line paint" worth the extra $$$
Operable shutters on every window
5/8" sheetrock on ceilings

[southern151]

A deaf, mute woman in it! Oh, and hot!!

[Bluechip]

Originally Posted by southern151

A deaf, mute woman in it! Oh, and hot!!

Winner!!!

[rosska]

Originally Posted by fishinpox

Tankless water heater
Cat 5 to all cable outlets
# 1 select framing lumber( not much more expensive but really worth it)
Stego wrap viscqeen under slab instead of regular visqueen ..way thicker tape seams
Silicon bottom plate to slab Instead of roll foam
Post tension slab
Sherwin Williams "duration line paint" worth the extra $$$
Operable shutters on every window
5/8" sheetrock on ceilings

Thanks Pox. I was hoping you would chime in.

[Likeuhboss]

Originally Posted by Lake Chuck Duck

Also a direct gas connection on back patio to hook up gas grill is handy

One of the favorite things about my patio... I have a natural gas double burner out there that I use 90% of the time over my kitchen stove.

[huggybro]

I would go with radiant barrier on the underside of the rafters along with a ridge vent. Also a round floor safe in the master bedroom closet for small valuables. Cover it with carpet or a few boxes and forget about it.

[BananaTom]

Originally Posted by huggybro

I would go with radiant barrier on the underside of the rafters along with a ridge vent. Also a round floor safe in the master bedroom closet for small valuables. Cover it with carpet or a few boxes and forget about it.

Put it some place other than the master closet, that is where they all are.

[BananaTom]

One thing I forgot to address, is the Heat & Cooling system. Of course the type and name brand is varied and you will investigate that aspect for your needs of course.

But many over look the ductwork application to render the system quite. Many units are installed in the verticle position in a closet, with the proper size ductwork in the attic. You will hear them run.

But a custom builder, that knows what he is doing, will place the air handler in the horizontal position in the attic. There will be a return air chase from the floor to the attic, then once in the attic, the return air plenium will have Two each 90 degree turns before it is attached to the air handler. The size of the return is calcaulted at at one size larger than the system which is in place. For example, if you have a 4 ton system, size the return air for a 5 ton.

The supply plenium is also over sized, and so is the ductwork. So if the room size calls for an 8 inch supply duct which is 200 cfms, install 9 inch duct. Do this in all rooms. Excpet the bathrooms, leave them at 6 inch, or what ever the SF calls for.

By all this over sizing of ductwork, and the attic installation with the 2 each 90 degree turns in the return plenium, you will not hear the system run.

This will take up allot of attic space. But it sures is nice to hear the system cycle.

[fishinpox]

Cast iron plumbing waste lines from 2nd-1st story so u don't hear it everytime someone flushes upstairs . PVC will sound like a water fall in your wall

[PaulMyers]

Originally Posted by fishinpox

Cast iron plumbing waste lines from 2nd-1st story so u don't hear it everytime someone flushes upstairs . PVC will sound like a water fall in your wall

Absolutely Correct!

That's the only cast iron in our house. Can't hear it at all.