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Ask HN: I'm renovating a house, what clever stuff should I build in?

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Re: Ask HN: I'm renovating a house, what clever stuff should I build in?

#61

Post by RockyMcNuts »

zdw wrote: post #49

Ethernet everywhere, and more than you think you need, even if you don't terminate every connection. Put in Cat-6, as it's easier to pull, and future proof. Everywhere you think you might need one cable, put 2, need 2, put 4. In fact, 4 strands/room might not be overkill. Where everything comes back to, put a patch panel - you can buy panels with 24 square slots and a bracket to hook it into the wall. I'd put this in…

I would put architectural moldings that hide easily accessible duct where can run Ethernet for now.

On house time scale, not sure Ethernet is future-proof, might want to run fiber or who knows what in 20 years. Twisted pair is only mass market for last 20 years.

Or you might even want to run speaker wire or who knows what.

Re: Ask HN: I'm renovating a house, what clever stuff should I build in?

#62

Post by RockyMcNuts »

chopsueyar wrote: post #59
nobody_nowhere wrote: post #46

A Toto Washlet.

Upvoted. For the uninitiated... http://www.totousa.com/Washlet/WashletC110.aspx

After using one of these I don't even know how other toilet manufacturers stay in business. It's the gift to your private parts that just keeps on giving.

Re: Ask HN: I'm renovating a house, what clever stuff should I build in?

#64

Post by RockyMcNuts »

melling wrote: post #51
chopsueyar wrote: post #41

Spray foam insulation in attic and basement (cellulose based). Mini-split AC system (multi-zoned Mitsubishi or LG). CAT-6 wired, RJ-45 connections (two in each room). Electrical, instant-on hot water heater (no tank). Graywater system to save on toilet flushes. Double-gang outlet boxes (so you can have 4 outlets, instead of 2). Air-to-Air heat exchanger (they are called many things - it replenishes stale, indoor air…

Do instant-on hot water heaters work well? What are the best brands. I'm in an apartment with a small tank that I would like to replace.

A buddy did a top-of-the-line instant-on gas water heater, I'm sure it saves money but it does take a minute or more for water temperature to stabilize and get to the 2nd floor and actually be able to take a shower. YMMV.

Re: Ask HN: I'm renovating a house, what clever stuff should I build in?

#65

Post by malandrew »

adrianN wrote: post #15

Put in some proper cable ducts so you don't have to tear up the wall once some new standard is introduced. Put up some solar thermal panels; they last forever and really do work. Look into geothermal, maybe it's worthwhile where you live. But the biggest money saver will be better insulation. You can save up to 70% of your heating/cooling costs by proper insulation.

Make sure the wiring conduits are large because a small conduit can screw up the rating of the cable if you really have to force it through.

You should use talcum powder on the cables to easily pull them through the conduits and reduce stress on them.

For example, in my house the conduits are tiny and routed at extreme 90 degree angles in places. There's no chance that I'll ever be able to route any decent cable without degrading its performance. The last time I routed cable it was extremely difficult to do.

Re: Ask HN: I'm renovating a house, what clever stuff should I build in?

#66

Post by crccheck »

I would do a wet kitchen and wet bathroom. Having commercial style drain directly accessible in the floor makes life so much easier. Just think about it... how great would it be to hose down the entire room. It's actually very common to have a wet bathroom in asia.

Some other things I like: • zoned small duct/high velocity AC • PEX for non-potable water supply • overkill on electrical wiring • wainscoting • gray water collection • heat recovery shower drains (depends on the house) • tankless water heaters / point of use water heaters • potfiller faucet (wall mount faucet above the stove) • a sink large enough to hold a baking sheet pan

Re: Ask HN: I'm renovating a house, what clever stuff should I build in?

#67

Post by barefoot »

zoba wrote: post #56

If I were renovating, I'd wire speakers into all parts of the house. This way, the same music can be playing all over the house and can be controlled easily. In fact, I can't wait until I have a place of my own and the money to make this happen.

I just stayed at a 4 bedroom rental cabin that had this and it was surprisingly useful. All of the audio went back to a receiver in the living room and each room had it's own volume knob. We used it just about every day we were there.

Re: Ask HN: I'm renovating a house, what clever stuff should I build in?

#68

Post by bmelton »

roel_v wrote: post #28
JCB_K wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't say induction cooking is a no-brainer, not everybody likes it. I rather cook on a gas stove.

Come on, that's either because you didn't really adapt to induction, or because you had a crap stove. Induction is equally good or better than gas in every aspect but one: - Lower energy use - Induction responds equally fast as gas (i.e, instantaneously) - Standing over an induction stove doesn't get nearly as hot as over a gas stove - Induction is much much much easier to clean. - No need to find matches/lighter (un…

I wouldn't say that's the only disadvantage -- with induction, I'm only cooking if the pan is in contact with the induction element. If I'm tossing a pan, I'm not cooking. I lose the ability to pull a pot slightly above the cooking surface to cool it down to a simmer while still maintaining heat.

There's an art to cooking with gas, and being technologically superior doesn't necessarily make it better.

Re: Ask HN: I'm renovating a house, what clever stuff should I build in?

#69

Post by puls »

A couple others have mentioned this, but I looked in to multi-room audio a few months ago and it seems to me that AirPort Express is not only the best solution (at least if your music is in iTunes and you carry an iPhone or iPad) but also the cheapest: it's $99 per room plus audio equipment.

Having a WiFi base station in every room is just the icing on the cake.

Re: Ask HN: I'm renovating a house, what clever stuff should I build in?

#70

Post by Vivtek »

comforteagle wrote: post #36

Having read some of the comments already I vote heartily for radiant heating floors, green tech which does not cause more maintenance proceedures/confusion for next buyer, proper amounts of electrical plugs (id put them in the floor in the main living areas or at least at the very base of the floor molds. Lots of houses have ethernet cabling... I think you're safe with that. Air exchanges aren't sexy, but awesome. ha…

I'm gonna second radiant heat in the floor. You'll never regret it.
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