Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Mar 15, 2017 5:07 pm Hi all, I'm after a bit of advice. My wife and I are living overseas and trying to sort everything from here. We tried with colours but to no avail, so she is on her way to Australia as I type this for the colour appointment. However, we would like to do electrical ourselves. Problem is, we are both hopeless with this kind of thing. I'm not 100% sure what they want from us, but we want to keep things pretty standard. Here is the house plan. I have read it's a good idea to double up on power sockets in some rooms. Here is the plan. There's also an Opticomm fibre entry plan but I have no idea how to read it. Any tips on what you would do? Thanks so much. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Electrical Appointment - What Would You Do? 2Mar 15, 2017 5:29 pm We are building with Eden Brae Homes. The first question I guess I need to ask is..... Is this property being used as an investment or is it intended on being an owner occupied home? Kind Regards, Bruce "Building an Eden Brae Waldorf 50 in North Kellyville" Blog: http://waldorf50.blogspot.com.au Electrical Appointment - What Would You Do? 3Mar 15, 2017 5:31 pm Talkey My wife and I are living overseas and trying to sort everything from here. We tried with colours but to no avail, so she is on her way to Australia as I type this for the colour appointment. However, we would like to do electrical ourselves. Problem is, we are both hopeless with this kind of thing. I applaud your desire to be involved in the planning for your build, but not sure why you would want to do something that you consider yourself to be hopeless at and risk it not being right. I assume you are building a project home and they are asking you to make choices. If that is the case and you just want the house to be standard (whatever that means), then let the building company make the decisions; however, what you will end up with is a single light in the centre of the room or on a ceiling fan, and one or two 2-gang power points in each room. Alternatively you could hire a professional to act on your behalf. Re: Electrical Appointment - What Would You Do? 4Mar 15, 2017 6:27 pm Firstly, as said before, is this for investment or owner occupied ? If investment then lots of what I will say below will be a moot point. Secondly, you need to think of your budget, any changes to the standard plan above will cost, to the time of around $75 per double power point and $115 per downlight. Thirdly, you need to consider furniture placement, and where you will need to have power, TV, net and phone points. Another consideration is task lighting - think pendants over your the kitchen island, downlights under the kitchen overhead cupboards or downlights over the basins in the bathrooms. We had our electrical appointment a few weeks ago, and while we went $12k over the "standard" budget, we had a provisional amount of $10k set aside for electrical upgrades. We have downlights throughout all living areas, 2 double power points in each bedroom (4 in the master), 3-4 doubles in each living area, and 5 TV points throughout. Do you need external power (think xmas light displays or easy use of power tools in the backyard)? You may also want to think about double switching some rooms (ie switches for the hallway lights at each end of the hallway) You also have the option to upgrade your alarm (we added 2 PIR sensors and 6 door sensors). Electrical problems aside, have you thought about getting rid of the void beside your linen and making the linen larger or extending the hanging in your WIR opposite the door to continue all the way to the left wall (those areas look like a waste of space to me - you can never have enough storage) and maybe have the stacker door changed direction to stack to the left (I think that would improve flow from inside to outside) What are the circles and squares with the crosses in them, are they for aircon ducting? Re: Electrical Appointment - What Would You Do? 5Mar 15, 2017 7:30 pm There is quite a lot of advice at this link: anewhouse electrical The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Electrical Appointment - What Would You Do? 6Mar 15, 2017 7:52 pm for a single level home I wouldn't stress too much. Most of that can be altered later even if it's for more $$. If there are part you know you want to change do that now. Otherwise I wouldn't stress about it. Good luck! Re: Electrical Appointment - What Would You Do? 8Mar 15, 2017 8:44 pm arcadelt joannapaulp Firstly, as said before, is this for investment or owner? Am I not seeing some part of this thread - where did you say this? The first reply by wongbruce Re: Electrical Appointment - What Would You Do? 9Mar 16, 2017 10:37 am I'd be adding more powerpoints, lighting aside. One double powerpoint in the kitchen is not enough. Add a double to the other end of the rear bench and a double to the side of the island bench at a minimum. I'd also be adding another double to each bedroom as a minimum (for main I'd put it directly opposite the bed, next to the door), and a quad anywhere a TV or computer is intended to go. A double either side of the vanity in the ensuite is also a good idea. The current rental we are in has one double, on hubby's side which he has to plug his shaver into which sits on the bench, leaving me one for my hairdryer/straightener/curler - which makes access awkward when we are both getting ready. It's probably not a bad idea to have an outside powerpoint to the alfresco too. If you want wall lights to the front of the house consider having junction boxes put into the brickwork while it's being built. Second Time 'Round Re: Electrical Appointment - What Would You Do? 10Mar 16, 2017 11:33 am And if you're thinking about ceiling fans in the bedrooms later get them to at least run the control cable and install more timbers in place to take the weight Re: Electrical Appointment - What Would You Do? 11Mar 16, 2017 12:41 pm Hi everyone, Thanks very much for tips so far. Very useful. To answer the question, it is for an investment property for now, but we do hope to live there one day (eventually). At first, it'll just be rented out or possibly Airbnb (ideally I'd like to do this, but not sure if the numbers will add up). Re: Electrical Appointment - What Would You Do? 12Mar 16, 2017 1:06 pm Talkey Hi everyone, Thanks very much for tips so far. Very useful. To answer the question, it is for an investment property for now, but we do hope to live there one day (eventually). At first, it'll just be rented out or possibly Airbnb (ideally I'd like to do this, but not sure if the numbers will add up). As has been said before, don't worry too much about the electricals if it is single story. All extras cam be added post completion using external facing wall cavity's or pillar voids. HOWEVER looking at your plan I'd do the following: For painless working in the kitchen, add extra GPO's on surfaces where there is splashbacks or tiles - I went for additional outlets at either side of the stove and sink as well as one on the island bench - think about the placement of the island bench outlet as it may be very visible if done wrong. Add an outlet to the walk in pantry, you never know when you have a need to something to be there like a charger for a small vacuum or an ipad... Bedrooms only need 1 power GPO outlet (master would usually get 2). Lights are another story, not sure who you are building with but be aware that some slug you for a battern holder fitting and then the LED or Halogen downlight, so a fixture that can be procured cheaply will cost double or more if done in the build. Fibre NBN or Opticomm is simple, you get a location for the NTU (internal connection device) typically in the garage with conduit from the exterior wall. From that point it's CAT5 or 6 cabling to however many wall outlets you choose. Most builders electrical inclusions don't typically include a TV antenna, only cable from the wall outlet into the ceiling, same with satellite cabling. Once thing I notice on your plan if it matters all all for you but see if you can extend the width of the ensuite cabinetry so there is no wasted space between the benchtop and adjacent wall. I missed this in my design and even though it only adds 100mm or so that space can be put to good use as a set of pigeon holes in the cabinetry for small things. Re: Electrical Appointment - What Would You Do? 13Mar 16, 2017 1:44 pm Thanks. You have all been very helpful. We have actually already allowed a provision for $3,000 to do down lighting in the main area. That'll only get us 17 and I'm not sure how much that'll cover. The plan was to have them in hallway / living / kitchen / family. Do you reckon that will be enough? Or perhaps we weren't going to have them in the hallway - will check with my wife tonight. Anyway, here's what I'm thinking. Appreciate any thoughts. Changes: Hallway / living room / family room / dining:
Kitchen
Study
Rumpus / kids' retreat
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