# Building a house -- what should I make sure I get at construction time? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 17, 2017, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034 "2017-02-17T11:33:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/81 "2017-02-20T23:06:32Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I retro fitted wall sconce lights on each side of our bed. Each light has its own wall switch below it. So each person can control the light on their side of the bed. I just happened to read an article last night that suggested the same thing, with three-way switches so you can turn them on and off from the door, too. I think that’s a great idea. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/82 "2017-02-20T23:08:55Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > You mentioned having grab bars and the like installed for your later years when your mobility may be more limited. Don’t forget to make the hallways and doorways extra wide to accommodate wheelchairs or scooters, and make sure you have no sharp angle turns or turns placed too close to each other. Yup, 3’ doorways and 4’ hallways are already on the list. And extra blocking in the walls where I will want grab bars and wall-mounted TVs. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/83 "2017-02-20T23:12:42Z")
Please don’t buy or build a house afflicted with White Kitchen Disease. I don’t think they’ve found a cure yet. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/84 "2017-02-20T23:14:03Z")
> [@UncleMoose](#): > > Depending on the time frame of building, keep your eyes on what Solar City/Tesla are doing with their solar roof. Not panels, but roofs that look like slate, glass shingles, or the half barrel terracotta style. The last statement was that these roofs would be equal to or cheaper than “comparable” new roofs, and would last 2 to 3 times as long. Pair it with a Tesla PowerWall2 home battery system. > > [http://www.solarcity.com/residential/solar-roof](http://www.solarcity.com/residential/solar-roof) > > I’ll be looking into going this way if I need to replace my roof before I sell it, hoping that the value added will offset some of the cost. I am following solar roofs with great interest. I plan to get the lower-end roof shingles, with a 30-year warranty rather than lifetime, in anticipation of replacing them with a solar roof sometime in the future. But as far north as I am, and as cloudy as it often is, I need them to be a bit more efficient than they are now. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/85 "2017-02-20T23:17:17Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > I researched this extensively some time ago and found a solution that cost less than half of the cost of even a modestly sized fixed standby generator: > I used a large portable generator converted to burn propane, and I installed a manual transfer switch. Yes, you do have to start the generator and flip the switches, and no it won’t supply an entire house - especially HVAC, stove, dryer, etc. - but all of my important stuff like my entertainment system, communications, lights, fans, well pump and whole-house tankless water heater (among others) are covered. That would save money, for sure. The drawback with it is that we do travel a lot, and are sometimes away from home for a couple weeks at a time. A power failure while we’re gone wouldn’t matter for heating or cooking, but it would ruin all the food in the freezer, unless we had an automatic switch. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/86 "2017-02-20T23:30:53Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Please don’t buy or build a house afflicted with White Kitchen Disease. I don’t think they’ve found a cure yet. I guess you mean white cabinets and walls? I am not in charge of the colors, but I think the boss is leaning toward light brown maple floors and cabinets, very light brown walls, and black granite counter tops. Light blue walls in the bathrooms. I really have no preference myself, as long it’s not the garish neon-type colors. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/87 "2017-02-20T23:47:28Z")
Speaking of floors, I renew my request for any experience anyone can relate with specific brands of LVP (e.g., Coretec Plus) or laminate flooring. I appreciate the people who have suggested porcelain planks, and I am considering them for the bathrooms, but they would bust our budget if we had them throughout the house (the material is more affordable than I expected, but they are very labor-intensive to install compared to the snap-in LPV or laminate). ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/88 "2017-02-21T00:26:39Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Speaking of floors, I renew my request for any experience anyone can relate with specific brands of LVP (e.g., Coretec Plus) or laminate flooring. I appreciate the people who have suggested porcelain planks, and I am considering them for the bathrooms, but they would bust our budget if we had them throughout the house (the material is more affordable than I expected, but they are very labor-intensive to install compared to the snap-in LPV or laminate). I’ve got Pergo XP laminate flooring in parts of my house, but I’ve heard a lot of good news about Luxury Vinyl Planks. It’s about the same cost or even a bit lower cost than the laminate, and it’s a LOT more tolerant to moisture than laminate. Some of it looks great. It’s supposed to be easier to install than laminate - even by a DIYer. I haven’t installed any yet, but I’ll do my next flooring project with vinyl plank. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/89 "2017-02-21T00:47:11Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > I’ve got Pergo XP laminate flooring in parts of my house, but I’ve heard a lot of good news about Luxury Vinyl Planks. It’s about the same cost or even a bit lower cost than the laminate, and it’s a LOT more tolerant to moisture than laminate. Some of it looks great. A lot of the LVP I’ve seen is completely waterproof, at least the individual planks. But if installed incorrectly, water can still get around or between them. Unless I hear something real bad about it, or my builder charges way too much for it, I’ll probably go with the Coretec Plus. Waterproof, looks good, and lifetime warranty. I hope they install it correctly. I like the Gold Coast Acacia color best, but the boss is leaning toward Norwegian Maple. She’s a big Beatles fan. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/90 "2017-02-21T02:28:21Z")
I’ve noticed many bells and whistles, but let me get to basic construction. There is one thing I would absolutely insist upon if I were in your shoes: actual lumber being used in construction, as opposed to any type of structural composite lumber. SCL is cheaper and it’s becoming very commonplace, but in the event of a fire your home will likely be a total loss. Firefighters in many cities no longer enter homes on fire if they’re new construction because the glue in the wood melts and the building collapses rather quickly. You may want to consider a sprinkler system. Aside from that, living in Washington means you’re basically building in a rainforest. Design your house accordingly. And yes, termites are a significant problem in Washington state. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/91 "2017-02-21T03:58:24Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > I’ve noticed many bells and whistles, but let me get to basic construction. > > There is one thing I would absolutely insist upon if I were in your shoes: actual lumber being used in construction, as opposed to any type of structural composite lumber. The builder has specified #2 or better Douglas Fir for studs and plate stock, 2x6 in exterior walls and 2x4 in interior walls. OSB (Durastrand) for sheathing and subfloor. The trusses will be engineered offsite, I’m not sure what goes into them. > [@](#): > > And yes, termites are a significant problem in Washington state. Well, crap. I sure wish I could get a steel-frame house like **Mangosteen** ’s. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/92 "2017-02-21T17:23:36Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Aye, there’s the rub. Every suggestion given has been a good one, although some will not be applicable to my house, since it will definitely be one story with no basement. But implementing all of them would bust my budget, so I’m frantically reading articles about stuff I hadn’t considered before, like central vacuums or solar tubes, and trying to separate ad hype from reality about how helpful they would be, and how much I would save by installing them now rather than later. > > It’s a great help that some sites make the installation manual, or even videos, available for download. I just watched one that showed how “easy” it would be to install a central vacuum system in a completed house, but it looked to me like it would be a nightmare if you only had a crawl space, instead of the full basement they had in the video (since I’m having a zero-step entry, my crawl space will mean crawling on your belly, rather than your hands and knees). On the other hand, some of the solar tubes really do seem easy to install in a completed house. > > I do plan to take lots and lots of pictures, and maybe video, of where all the plumbing and wiring is before the sheetrock goes up. That should help a lot for any later installations. We had a central vacuum in our house growing up but the main benefit came from it being a 2 story house and not having to lug a machine up and down stairs. It was both more powerful and quieter though which was a plus but for a moderate sized, single story house, I’m not sure if the benefit is entirely there. How much would it cost to install just the tubing for a central vacuum without the unit? that way, you always have the option in the future but it’s not in your budget upfront. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/93 "2017-02-21T17:28:35Z")
I had a friend twenty-something years ago move into a house with a central vacuum system. She had multiple allergies, so I thought it would have been good for her, but she said it wasn’t very efficient. She liked a regular, canister-style vacuum cleaner. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/94 "2017-02-21T17:46:42Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > I do plan to take lots and lots of pictures, of where all the plumbing and wiring is before the sheetrock goes up. Take _lots_ of pics. Every single day when the electricians and plumbers are working. Document where each and every wire, every pipe and every drain line runs. Keep a separate set of all the plans , and as you take each pic, draw the wire or the pipe exactly where it has been built (not where the plans show it should have been built 🙂 ) Taking the pics requires two people–have somebody hold a tape measure visible in each pic, so you can see the precise distances from the installed pipe to,say, the corner of the wall, and the distance above the floor. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/95 "2017-02-21T22:08:58Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > We had a central vacuum in our house growing up but the main benefit came from it being a 2 story house and not having to lug a machine up and down stairs. It was both more powerful and quieter though which was a plus but for a moderate sized, single story house, I’m not sure if the benefit is entirely there. > > How much would it cost to install just the tubing for a central vacuum without the unit? that way, you always have the option in the future but it’s not in your budget upfront. I hadn’t thought about a central vacuum before I started this thread, but they sounded good, so I started reading about them. The more I read, the better they sounded. I spent hours reading reviews, and watching installation videos. I determined that it would be much easier to install at build time rather than later, even though it would add over a thousand bucks to the already overloaded budget. I spent more hours trying to figure out the optimal placement of ports and powered dustpans. And then, late last night, I read one word, and everything stopped. Within ten seconds, I decided that I won’t be getting a central vacuum. Can you guess what that word was? The word was “Roomba.” Robotic vacuums are not foolproof yet, but I assume that they will get better, and they’re already cheaper than a high end central vac even without the installation costs, and they save more work (you have to empty them more often, but you don’t have to do the actual vacuuming), and there is no penalty for getting one after the house is already built. In fact, the longer you wait, the better and cheaper they will probably get. Samsung others have units that can be programmed, turned on or off, and even manually steered like a toy car with your smartphone. They don’t work as well on carpet as on solid floors, but we will have solid floors. So great, I can stop thinking about vacuums. But now I have to go back and reexamine all my other decisions, and see if I was in a mental rut about them, too. I’ve known about Roombas for a long time, if only from Youtube videos where cats ride them. I just didn’t think of them for my house, until a random article jogged my memory, and then it was instantly obvious that they would be a better solution for me. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/96 "2017-02-21T22:23:29Z")
Along the same lines, fast wireless internet connections have, I think, mostly replaced the need for data drops throughout the house. And in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, my mother worked for the phone company so she didn’t pay for having lines run in the house. As a result, they still have phone jacks in every room (including the main bathroom). Nowadays, you’d have one wired base phone and a series of wireless handsets throughout the house, if you even have a landline at all. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/97 "2017-02-21T22:34:55Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Take _lots_ of pics. > Every single day when the electricians and plumbers are working. Document where each and every wire, every pipe and every drain line runs. > Keep a separate set of all the plans , and as you take each pic, draw the wire or the pipe exactly where it has been built (not where the plans show it should have been built 🙂 ) > > Taking the pics requires two people–have somebody hold a tape measure visible in each pic, so you can see the precise distances from the installed pipe to,say, the corner of the wall, and the distance above the floor. Good ideas. Except I probably won’t have a helper, but I can just thumbtack a cloth tape measure to the studs. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/98 "2017-02-21T22:44:13Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Along the same lines, fast wireless internet connections have, I think, mostly replaced the need for data drops throughout the house. > > And in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, my mother worked for the phone company so she didn’t pay for having lines run in the house. As a result, they still have phone jacks in every room (including the main bathroom). Nowadays, you’d have one wired base phone and a series of wireless handsets throughout the house, if you even have a landline at all. Yeah, that’s the kind of phone I have now, and I see no reason to change. But everything I’ve read advises the ethernet and av wiring (Cat 5e or 6 and RG6), for several reasons – it will be faster and more reliable than wireless (wireless speed will surely improve, but wired speed will probably stay ahead of it); intelligent pre-planning of the location of the jacks means you won’t have wires running across a room, like I do now; and you won’t be broadcasting your credit card numbers to the neighbors. What I’m not sure about is fiber optic. Don’t really need it now, and it’s very expensive. I think I’ll just put in conduit for it now, and wait until there’s a definite need for it before I buy the cable. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/99 "2017-02-21T22:56:00Z")
You can already do gigabit Ethernet over a Cat6 copper line, so I really doubt you will need a faster connection to each room. As for the Roomba, they’re OK, but I think a traditional vacuum cleaner is better, especially for carpeted surfaces. (You said you’ll have hard floors, but surely you’re going to have some area rugs?) ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034/100 "2017-02-21T23:10:55Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > You can already do gigabit Ethernet over a Cat6 copper line, so I really doubt you will need a faster connection to each room. Not now, no. In 20 years, when we have holodecks, who knows? > [@](#): > > As for the Roomba, they’re OK, but I think a traditional vacuum cleaner is better, especially for carpeted surfaces. (You said you’ll have hard floors, but surely you’re going to have some area rugs?) Sure, but I already have conventional vacuum cleaners. It’s not worth getting a central vac for a few area rugs. And hopefully, Roombas will get better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034.md?page=6)