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What are your favorite home upgrades?
Posted on 7/1/21 at 3:22 pm
Posted on 7/1/21 at 3:22 pm
My house got wrecked during the winter storm in Dallas back in February. We had ~15 pipe bursts and my first floor and crawlspace completely flooded. My downstairs is gutted to the studs and the contractors are getting ready to pull up the subfloor.
While everything is open, what are some of your favorite home upgrades? Below is my running list but curious to hear some other ideas:
- Add more outlets and place them correctly
- Speakers in the ceiling
- Water faucet over the stove
- Keypad deadbolts
- Door switches for closet lights
While everything is open, what are some of your favorite home upgrades? Below is my running list but curious to hear some other ideas:
- Add more outlets and place them correctly
- Speakers in the ceiling
- Water faucet over the stove
- Keypad deadbolts
- Door switches for closet lights
15
Posted on 7/1/21 at 3:26 pm to Azazello
Put slide out drawers in every kitchen cabinet. Money well spent. No more bending and stooping to get to a pot on the 2nd back shelf.
Posted on 7/1/21 at 3:29 pm to Azazello
Multizone home audio system. Multiple TVs that can operate independently of each other as well as mirror. Central location for everything in a media closet.
Smarthome system.
Smarthome system.
This post was edited on 7/1/21 at 3:32 pm
Posted on 7/1/21 at 4:24 pm to Azazello
- cat 6e/7 (whatever is cheaper) to every room. EVERY. ROOM.
- solid core interior doors
- have the contractor buy better quality outlets and not the shitty plastic 10 for a $1 crap. i bought better quality outlets and replaced 100% of the ones in my house
- pasta filler you mentioned
- paddle switches
- taller baseboard trim (underrated update that makes your house look higher end)
- board & batton the entry hall or bedroom because if you don't your wife will want this a month after they finish your house and its a super cheap update while they're still putting in drywall.
- inside water cut-off (if you don't already have one) + leak detector
- mud room/area for kids to kick off muddy shoes if you don't have one already
- are you in la? consider a whole-house dehumidifier if your HVAC doesn't already have one.
i wouldn't have them install any smart switches, etc. better to do that yourself later when you figure out what you want to automate. sometimes the right solution is a smart bulb vs dedicated smart switch.
- solid core interior doors
- have the contractor buy better quality outlets and not the shitty plastic 10 for a $1 crap. i bought better quality outlets and replaced 100% of the ones in my house
- pasta filler you mentioned
- paddle switches
- taller baseboard trim (underrated update that makes your house look higher end)
- board & batton the entry hall or bedroom because if you don't your wife will want this a month after they finish your house and its a super cheap update while they're still putting in drywall.
- inside water cut-off (if you don't already have one) + leak detector
- mud room/area for kids to kick off muddy shoes if you don't have one already
- are you in la? consider a whole-house dehumidifier if your HVAC doesn't already have one.
i wouldn't have them install any smart switches, etc. better to do that yourself later when you figure out what you want to automate. sometimes the right solution is a smart bulb vs dedicated smart switch.
This post was edited on 7/1/21 at 4:29 pm
Posted on 7/1/21 at 4:28 pm to CAD703X
Great stuff so far. I was just reading a thread on the tech board about creating a media closet and running cat6 - I have a lot of research to do.
Posted on 7/1/21 at 4:30 pm to Azazello
Hot water hose bib outside
Posted on 7/1/21 at 4:30 pm to Azazello
quote:
just reading a thread on the tech board about creating a media closet and running cat6 - I have a lot of research to do.
no matter how fancy & high end the latest router mesh doodad is, nothing and i mean NOTHING takes the place of a hard-wired TV or game console, PC, etc.
wifi is fine for your phone & devices that don't have the option but you can't beat the rock-solid reliability of ethernet for streaming movies which keep getting bigger and using lots of apps that eat data on your computer.
eta your media closet can be as simple as a $100 48 port switch, modem, router & coax outlet (if you're using cable for broadband).
also most wifi security cams are kinda shite. consider running PoE to locations you might want to put cameras in like your outside soffits.
This post was edited on 7/1/21 at 4:34 pm
Posted on 7/1/21 at 4:37 pm to CAD703X
oh and if you plan to add a jacuzzi down the road, maybe go ahead & run a 220 and install a breaker box near the location while its really easy for the electrician to pull wire.
eta and do you have gas? maybe consider running a line to the stove and anywhere else you might want a gas appliance in the future. gas lanterns? dryer? water heater?
again, much cheaper & easier to do now while your floor is open.
swapping the stove out later is then as simple as unplugging the old one and screwing the gas line from the new one into the cap on the floor.
eta2 we love to cook and i can't imagine not having a gas range.
ETA3 i'm very good at spending other people's money 
eta and do you have gas? maybe consider running a line to the stove and anywhere else you might want a gas appliance in the future. gas lanterns? dryer? water heater?
again, much cheaper & easier to do now while your floor is open.
swapping the stove out later is then as simple as unplugging the old one and screwing the gas line from the new one into the cap on the floor.
eta2 we love to cook and i can't imagine not having a gas range.
ETA3 i'm very good at spending other people's money
This post was edited on 7/1/21 at 4:43 pm
Posted on 7/1/21 at 4:44 pm to Azazello
If you have the walls opened up…. Put ROXWOL between the studs. Fireproof insulation that sound proofs rooms. Great for bathrooms & bedrooms. Makes the house sound solid.
Posted on 7/1/21 at 4:48 pm to CAD703X
quote:
- pasta filler you mentioned
Nothing like that nasty-arse water that's been sitting primed at the faucet for weeks between pasta fills.
Posted on 7/1/21 at 4:53 pm to Man4others
quote:
If you have the walls opened up…. Put ROXWOL between the studs. Fireproof insulation that sound proofs rooms. Great for bathrooms & bedrooms. Makes the house sound solid.
Don't forget to sprinkle that stuff that keeps the bugs away too.
Posted on 7/1/21 at 5:11 pm to Meauxjeaux
quote:
Nothing like that nasty-arse water that's been sitting primed at the faucet for weeks between pasta fills.
its weeks between cooking something that needs water on your stove? you know it doesn't have to be used for pasta only right?
Posted on 7/1/21 at 5:13 pm to Azazello
Right height (handicap) height toilet.
Posted on 7/1/21 at 5:15 pm to WPBTiger
quote:
Right height (handicap) height toilet.
i like the ones costco has with the 2 buttons on the lid. they're only like $150 and one of my favorite upgrades. i did every toilet in the house.
Posted on 7/1/21 at 5:16 pm to Azazello
Didn't read all the comments to know if these were said already, but dimmer switches on all your light switches. If you have wall hung TVs, run calbe, cat5 and electric to the spot on wall where they will be hung. Soft close cabinet doors. Definitely pull out drawers in the kitchen. A separately keyed dead bolt on your master closet door perhaps. It can been useful for locking things away from nosey kids, clean ladies, house guests, etc.
Posted on 7/1/21 at 5:28 pm to jfw3535
quote:
Definitely pull out drawers in the kitchen
good catch..and a pull out spice drawer
Posted on 7/1/21 at 5:53 pm to Azazello
For security, someone else already mentioned but prewire Ethernet cable from outside camera locations to a homerun location when your NVR will be located.
Install a 24V (no less) transformer for your doorbell for a wired doorbell cam.
Surround sound wiring for media room or multiple rooms set up for multiple TV rooms.
Remote control window shades, ceiling fans and lighting.
Whole house fan.
Ethernet cabling to support
Mesh Wi-Fi or Access Point system.
If you have a basement and will use a portable dehumidifier, go ahead and run vinyl tubing from a drain location (inside or outside) to the dehumidifier location where you can install a Little Giant condensate pump.
For doomsday, home intruder protection or tornados, build a hidden interior concrete/steel safe room with ventilation, water, & solar systems and escape tunnel.
Install a 24V (no less) transformer for your doorbell for a wired doorbell cam.
Surround sound wiring for media room or multiple rooms set up for multiple TV rooms.
Remote control window shades, ceiling fans and lighting.
Whole house fan.
Ethernet cabling to support
Mesh Wi-Fi or Access Point system.
If you have a basement and will use a portable dehumidifier, go ahead and run vinyl tubing from a drain location (inside or outside) to the dehumidifier location where you can install a Little Giant condensate pump.
For doomsday, home intruder protection or tornados, build a hidden interior concrete/steel safe room with ventilation, water, & solar systems and escape tunnel.
This post was edited on 7/1/21 at 6:03 pm
Posted on 7/1/21 at 6:59 pm to 98eagle
Built ins and bricked fireplace. Honorable mention is getting rid of the microwave above the stove and having a hood vent built.
vs.
vs.
vs.
vs.
This post was edited on 7/2/21 at 9:26 am
Posted on 7/2/21 at 9:11 am to Azazello
This one is small but I love the motion activated switch for the lights in the laundry room. Most time our hands are full, so it's nice just walking in there without setting a basket full of clothes down
Posted on 7/2/21 at 9:31 am to Azazello
Wife and I are building now, here are some upgrades that cost extra:
Quartzite….doubled our countertop budget
Hot water hose by underbeam boat cover
Gas hookup for dryer
GFI in toilet room for bidet seat
Flush mounted speakers in living/kitchen/patio
Security system with hardwired cameras
Built ins on both sides of fireplace
Makeup vanity for wife so her shite doesn’t clutter double vanity with sinks
Can lights on rear patio in addition to porch light
Solid core doors for bathrooms, master BR, laundry
Gen plug and switch for portable generator (see below)
Outlet and shelf in pantry for coffee pot/toaster oven
Outlet in eaves on Boths sides of porch with switch in foyer for Christmas lights.
42” vented fireplace box. I didn’t want ventless fireplace. Read lots of bad stuff about them.
Tile surrounds by tubs in guest baths.
Things that were included in contract
Cat 5/coax run to all 7 TV locations
Gas range/furnaces/bbq hookup/fireplace
Built in microwave over wall oven
Custom cabinets and built in in mud room
Things I wanted to do but ran out of cash:
Whole home generator
NG fire pit
Tankless water heaters
Quartzite….doubled our countertop budget
Hot water hose by underbeam boat cover
Gas hookup for dryer
GFI in toilet room for bidet seat
Flush mounted speakers in living/kitchen/patio
Security system with hardwired cameras
Built ins on both sides of fireplace
Makeup vanity for wife so her shite doesn’t clutter double vanity with sinks
Can lights on rear patio in addition to porch light
Solid core doors for bathrooms, master BR, laundry
Gen plug and switch for portable generator (see below)
Outlet and shelf in pantry for coffee pot/toaster oven
Outlet in eaves on Boths sides of porch with switch in foyer for Christmas lights.
42” vented fireplace box. I didn’t want ventless fireplace. Read lots of bad stuff about them.
Tile surrounds by tubs in guest baths.
Things that were included in contract
Cat 5/coax run to all 7 TV locations
Gas range/furnaces/bbq hookup/fireplace
Built in microwave over wall oven
Custom cabinets and built in in mud room
Things I wanted to do but ran out of cash:
Whole home generator
NG fire pit
Tankless water heaters
This post was edited on 7/2/21 at 9:38 am
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