first time home reno

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pctek

807 posts

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#2261513 20-Jun-2019 15:04

Anit:

I bought a 3 bed roomed ex-state house built in 1948

I was just wondering what else I could do to future proof it

I just turned 50 and intend to live here for the duration.

I have my vege garden out front and fruit trees and dogs

Future proof? There is no such thing.

You and the rest of us have no idea what might happen or become the thing in the fur=ture, and at 50, who cares?
All you need to worry about is at max, probably another 30 yrs.

Do it up to how YOU like and what you want and live happily ever after with your dogs, your real materials house and your gardens.

Thats what I would do.

phrozenpenguin

840 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2261538 20-Jun-2019 15:56

rogercruse:

phrozenpenguin:...What LED system is this?

The following link should provide a better description than I can

https://www.atatouch.co.nz/lighting-systems

Thanks - they look pretty cool.

Handle9

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#2261548 20-Jun-2019 16:22

billgates: Multiple ethernet cable runs to each TV location, ethernet cable run to each bedroom, ethernet cable run in ceiling to mount WiFi AP to work over PoE, video intercom doorbell ethernet cable run to front entry door, lots of power points in each room and each side of the wall if you can. In ceiling speakers for whole house audio. Centralise all cabling to a patch panel cabinet in the garage or another room. Run low voltage cabling in conduits if you can. Run conduit for UFB from ETP to ONT location to where your centralised patch panel location is.

If money gets tight don't skimp on the cabling while the gib is off. The cabling is actually really cheap, the connectors and terminations are where it gets expensive. If you don't know if you need a cable run it anyway but leave it labelled and unterminated in a blank flush box. Then when/if you need it you can terminate and liven up a LAN or audio cable. Just make sure you label everything and do a cable schedule - it'll save you doing it later.

Also take photos of the walls before the gib goes on - then you know where you have studs, nogs, cables and pipes.

Handle9

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#2261550 20-Jun-2019 16:25

rogercruse:

low voltage LED lighting
Installation is simpler with a single cable to daisy chain them together. No huge holes need to be cut into the ceiling.
Each light can be switched on / off / dimmed by a central processor that links to your mobile phone giving you control where ever you are

I would be very careful about proprietary systems. If this type of daisy chained system is only available from one vendor you could have a big problem in 10 years when you need to replace fittings.

If it's a standardized system available from multiple vendors then I wouldn't have this concern but it sucks to have to replace a whole house/zone worth of lights when one fitting is unavailable

cshwone

1070 posts

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#2261639 20-Jun-2019 19:52

phrozenpenguin:
elbrownos:

cshwone: On a more basic note I would get the plumbing checked over and install a Rinnai gas water system. Ideal for single person living rather than a hot water tank.

I disagree. The high daily charge for gas means gas only becomes the cheaper option for high users.

I think you only get a daily charge when you have reticulated gas, which I understand to be rare in NZ? In Christchurch you run a gas hot water from (2) cylinders and pay a tiny rental fee for those cylinders, no daily charge. I don't know the fees in posters location.

Yes.That is what I was referring to..... LPG

Anit

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2264150 25-Jun-2019 15:22

Thanks for the replies.
elbrownos, I intend to install daisy chain LED lighting and have only considered ducting the heat from the lounge open fire to my bedroom maybe to the spare room too using either something I can build or something bought online or bunnings. I'll stick with hot water cylinder for but I'm going to use gas in the kitchen.
phrozenpenguin I was just going to extract the heat to the roof cavity, are you saying that it should
outside and how could I do that? The Electric car is a ways away at least until the house is bought or I really really have to replace my current car. I will make sure that I can charge an ecar wither I use a stand alone socket or just run an extension cord to it. Or buy a caravan socket and go your way.
Handle9 Thanks for the tip, I never though about taking a picture before I cover everything up and I cable and lable the hell of it.
cshwone I'll be going on the wise advice that I get here on what I should or shouldn't buy regarding lights plugs everything under the ceiling.

jonathan18

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#2264213 25-Jun-2019 15:46

Anit:

The Electric car is a ways away at least until the house is bought or I really really have to replace my current car. I will make sure that I can charge an ecar wither I use a stand alone socket or just run an extension cord to it. Or buy a caravan socket and go your way.

You're asking for ideas as to what you can/should do to future-proof your house - so just to clarify: 'buying' a caravan socket sometime in the future isn't just a matter of popping down to Bunnings and plugging it in.

Any non-standard power point delivering more than the standard 8A (whether it's a caravan socket or a more grunty option I know nothing about) will require a different fuse (not sure about the cable), so my suggestion is (given the walls are off, and it won't add much to the price at this point) is to put in an appropriate socket and fuse in the appropriate place (garage? carport? driveway?).

Just to note: extension cords are not recommended for charging electric cars, so as a minimum I recommend you ensure plugs are available in the logical places for charging, even if say a standard outdoor socket on the wall of the house next to the driveway.

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Anit

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2264229 25-Jun-2019 15:52

hanks for the replies.
elbrownos, I intend to install daisy chain LED lighting and have only considered ducting the heat from the lounge open fire to my bedroom maybe to the spare room too using either something I can build or something bought online or bunnings. I'll stick with hot water cylinder for but I'm going to use gas in the kitchen.
phrozenpenguin I was just going to extract the heat to the roof cavity, are you saying that it should
outside and how could I do that? The Electric car is a ways away at least until the house is bought or I really really have to replace my current car. I will make sure that I can charge an ecar wither I use a stand alone socket or just run an extension cord to it. Or buy a caravan socket and go your way.
Handle9 Thanks for the tip, I never though about taking a picture before I cover everything up and I cable and lable the hell of it.
cshwone I'll be going on the wise advice that I get here on what I should or shouldn't buy regarding lights plugs everything under the ceiling.

Anit

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2264937 26-Jun-2019 12:00

Thanks for that jonathan18.

In was making a joke out of that "caravan socket" remark. I guess I should take things seriously and respect the person who went to the trouble of reading my post and responding to it. So I apologies for that and thank you for your post.

Anit

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