A question for builders, plumbers, electricians, home builders etc...?

Question

we are currently designing our home and would really appreciate any ideas/suggestions/ALTERNATIVES when it comes to home designing. eg - keeping plumbing to one side of the house to cut plumbing costs, and using 'square setting' instead of architraves, not having skirting boards, painting the ourselves. Things that we would not have usually thought of. Even any websites would be appreciated.

Answer 1

From a Plumbing standpoint. Don't skimp on installing shut-off valves. Most contractors "save money" by not having them on tubs and showers. Then when you need to work on them, you have to shut off the whole house. Install access panels for tubs and showers for the future so you don't need to cut a hole in a wall for any repairs or changes. Buy the best fixtures you can afford. If you go with colored fixtures (tub, lav and toilet) make sure it is a color you want to live with forever.

Answer 2

Is this your personal long term residence? If it is then plan for the long term use of you electricity, install 2 different receptacle circuits per room, and share the rooms, do the lights in the ceiling with 2 circuits, and alternate the rooms. Install coax for cable in every wall more than 6 feet wide. Smoke/ CO2 detectors in every room and hallway, wired as a set so one trips they all trip. Consider using a 3 conductor cable for all outlets and alternate the circuits, this should save about 1/3 of the wire pulling labor, but the material is more expensive. This also will allow some versatility in your wiring configuration.  

  Plan on using a heat pump rather than a furnace and AC system.  Not much of this will save you money up front, but it is well worth the initial expense.

Answer 3

Have heard of all that you mention with the exception of not having skirting boards.  If you don't plan to cover the place where the floors meet the walls you will have to do a lot of extra work to make that join look perfect.  Leaving off skirting boards (baseboards) would be a false economy IMO.  

How about reusing materials?  I don't know what country you're in, and the "skirting board" reference makes me think UK.  If so, there are reclamation yards where you might find old cupboards, etc.  Salvage yards will have perfectly usable sinks, tubs and other nice things.