Are you currently building or thinking of building soon?
Here are some tips you might find useful:
How To
Choose A Builder
Click
here to go to our page on How to Choose A Builder
Install
a Chase for Wiring Upgrades
If
you are unsure of future wiring needs, install a two inch PVC
pipe chase that runs from the crawlspace to the attic. All you
have to do is locate two walls that stack on top of one another,
preferably in a central location. Run the PVC chase through
the wall from the crawlspace to the attic during framing, leaving
a few inches exposed at both ends. Wiring can then be threaded
through the chase from either direction for access to the home's
ceilings and floors.
Use Low-E
Glass
Low-E (low emissivity) glass increases the window's insulating
value and filters out ultraviolet light. This will not only
make your home more energy efficient, but will help keep floor
coverings, furniture, etc. from fading (especially on south
and west facing walls).
Block
for Cabinets
Even though there is no code requirement for this, installing
specific blocking for your cabinets during the framing stage
will ensure that no matter what you put in the cabinets, they
will stay on the wall.
Set Aside
Topsoil
Prior to excavating for your home's foundation, scrape the topsoil
(usually the top six inches to one foot) from the site and place
it strategically on the lot for later landscaping use. You can
also pile the soil on the high side of the lot creating a berm
to divert rainwater away from the foundation during construction.
This will result in a dryer, cleaner worksite during the early
stages.
Soundproof
Interior Walls
Insulating interior walls is an inexpensive method of reducing
noise between different rooms of the house. This is an especially
good idea around bathroom or laundry room walls. In especially
sensitive rooms (entertainment, for example), have the builder
offset the studs using larger top and bottom plates. This allows
insulation to be woven in between the studs and eliminates noise
transfer through the studs themselves.
Granite
Tile
If you are thinking of granite countertops, consider granite
tiles versus full slab tops to help reduce costs by as much
as 50%. Many times these tiles are a stock item which can not
only reduce costs, but cut lead times significantly.
For
more information, see the article by Emil Wanatka in
The Journal of Light Construction (JLC) Online, May 2002 (Click
here to see article)
