TXjeepTJ

iTrader: (8)

Building a house, and they just started doing the framing yesterday. I have to decide in the next few days what wiring I want to install, myself, before they spray foam and throw the drywall up.


Anyone know of anything that would be a good idea to run?

The list so far:

• LAN to all rooms + Garage
• Speaker wires to all rooms + Garage + car port + backyard
• ?????
• ???????

1bad03snake

iTrader: (16)

Extra outlets on the outside would be a good idea. If you ever plan on a security system with camera's run power to this locations before it's bricked up

1bdBULLITT

iTrader: (17)

I build homes around memorial and the beltway through chimney rock. To name a few I run for homeowners are:

1. Conduit for flat screens
2. 110's and TV connections on patios
3. Security and camera pre wires
4. Speakers in the ceilings
5. Touch screen thermostats
6. Dedicated outlets for freezers or wine/beverage centers inside and out.
7. Pre wire outlets in the soffit for Xmas lights.

TomM

iTrader: (56)

I wired my house with LAN connections and wound up using a wireless router. The technology has improved drastically over the years.....save your money and do wireless...

The other ideas the guys posted are all better options. You never can have too many receptacles....

I did put outlets in the soffit for Christmas/area lighting. There is a contactor in my mechanical room operated by a photocell on the outside.

FireHawk178

iTrader: (9)

240 in garage for compressor or welder. Wish I had.

ragtopz28

iTrader: (57)

^^This^^

1bad03snake

iTrader: (16)

I just wired in a 220/ 50 amp breaker in my garage it was a pain in the *** but I needed one for my lift and tig welder

trans_am7935

iTrader: (15)

This is what i would install, but i would use a dedicated fuse panel/box for the 240/220 and run a few outlets in the garage and one outside for welding/compressor use. This way it takes its own power and doesn't put load on the house breaker.

Stroked96Bowtie

iTrader: (22)

Ive got a friend that put his air compressor in his attic above the garage and ran the air fittings for it down the wall and into his garage. Can hardly hear it running standing in the garage. Its a pretty clean setup for a compressor.

Ive got a window unit built into the wall of my garage.

BudRacing

iTrader: (3)

How bout a whole house fan in a central hallway? My dad installed one in our house and it was always nice to crank up during the spring and fall to bring some fresh air through the house and basement (but I doubt Houston homes have basements). Maybe a thermostat controlled attic fan too.

BlackedOut LS1

iTrader: (4)

I'm jealous I want a house in Houston, its so inexpensive there. Run your LANS to any media areas if you use streaming services, that way you can plug right into a smart tv or other streaming device. You cant beat a LAN connection if you're streaming 1080 HD movies. Plus you'll have a much more stable connection. I ran whole house audio and various zones also. I only use the back porch, and the speakers in my bathroom. If I'm having people over the 5.1 in the den fills the whole house with music. And like the builder said, run conduits for your in-wall HDMI cables, if the wire fails its a breeze to replace.

imma_stocker

iTrader: (19)

240V in the garage.
run cat cable everywhere and leave loss ends in the attic to connect when needed.
exterior outlets under eaves are really handy come xmas.
speaker wires to patio/garage/back yard/wherever.

ysb02

Ethernet is good for creating a network of routers if your house / land is big though. I need two to get coverage in my house.

MasterTomos

iTrader: (15)

Telephone lines into at least 1 closet up in a corner. That way a wifi modem will be out of the way, and out of sight, but still accessible

chrysler kid

iTrader: (14)

Make sure you mark where you want your light switches. Mine are almost opposite of what I'm used to. The switch to turn on the garage lights is in the house, the switch for the kitchen lights are in the main hallway to the kitchen, stupid.

T-Rod

iTrader: (1)

make sure an homerun all of the speaker/camera wires to a closet or somewhere out of sight for the master controller.
Flex conduits to 5' or so off the floor for flat screens
Extra 110 outlets for fridge/sprinkler/freezer in garage

TXjeepTJ

iTrader: (8)

Good idea on the conduit. I'll need to get some wire for security cameras also.

Got it! 240 40amp w/ service upgrade (separate box) in the garage. I also added more outlets to the garage.


Unfortunately, they will only let me wire low-voltage wires. I think it is too late in the game to get them to add outlets to the design, but I will definitely check. As of right now, there are no power outlets going outside... my mind was on the garage too much, which definitely has enough power and outlets lol

I also agree with the comment on LAN becoming an old technology, but someone is giving me almost 1000ft of LAN cable so, it's goin in!

TXjeepTJ

iTrader: (8)

We had one of these in Colorado... it was amazing. In Houston though it would probably only get used a few days out of the year lol

The attic is actually air conditioned/climate controlled, new technology!

bigfatls6

iTrader: (34)

I haven't read through all of the posts yet but here are a few
switched Under counter lights in the kitchen
Switched plugs in the sofits for Christmas lights
extra 110 outlets on garage walls
Conduit for flat screens
wiring for surround sound

Stroked96Bowtie

iTrader: (22)

Something I saw the other day that I thought was pretty trick to have in a house. It was baseboards with built in vaccum vents. Not ALL along the board but just in a few areas. Its for sweeping dirt into instead of using a dust pan, plus it would give you brownie points with the Mrs.