New build house - Ideas needed for cabling, etc...

[Daipac]

Hi all,

My girlfriend and I have just reserved a new build house on a new estate. The house is currently a shell with no interior walls so I thought that this could be a good time to try and futureproof for potential installs in the future.

My question is, what cables would you recommend that I ask to be run through the house?

I was thinking about having every room networked as I would like to be able to distribute sound and video throughout the house at some point. What exactly would I need to do this? Just a router/switch in the loft with network cables running to each room?

Also, are there any other electronics that you would recommend that I try and get installed at ther build stage? I would love a projector but buying the house may mean that will have to wait.

What is a good sound system at present for distributing sound throughout the house? I have seen the Sonos multi room systems, how do these compare to other solutions on the market?

Thanks for any help with these queries. It is an exciting opportunity for us to be able to get in at the build stage so I am hoping I can take advantage of this to get as many toys as I can into the house.

Cheers,

Daipac

[albriscoe]

Hi mate

I`ve just done all this, you can check in my threads in the links below

I would def recommend you run at least 4 cat5`s to each tv point all from a central hub and at least 2 good quality coax`s also.

I`m at the moment passing full HD audio/video over cat5 and baluns which works perfectly.

If you are thinking of a projector I would certainly run a good quality HDMI cable such as a Mark Grant one to where you think the pj will be mounted and a 240 supply. Remember the screen supply as well if going to an electric one.

These can always be got at later if you ask the electricians to map where they are, I would test the HDMI cable first before installing as well.

As to multi room audio, cable for it at least as we did and decide later on what system to use, Sonos I believe is very good.

Above all just enjoy whats going to be a very exciting if somewhat stressful at times experience and please take 1000`s of photo`s so you can share them with us lot

cheers and good luck Al

[Daipac]

Hi Al, thanks you for your reply.

Believe me, I have been keeping a very close eye on your thread, you can't miss it really can you!!!!!

Thanks for the information. I will take a closer look at what you have done and see if I am can incorporate some of this into the house. Being able to distribute HD audio and video is something I definitely want to be able to plan for in the future so if I can do that all via cat5 cables then that would be fantastic!

The house is being built by a developer so I am not sure how much input we are actually going to get, not sure if you would know? We are meeting with the builder tomorrow so I am going to go there armed with a full list of questions as to what cables I can and can't get installed at this stage, fingers crossed he gives us the go ahead.

I have always wanted to build my own home and I guess this is the best alternative to actually doing it yourself, just hope it isn't too restrictive.

[ap69]

Originally Posted by albriscoe

Hi mate


I`m at the moment passing full HD audio/video over cat5 and baluns which works perfectly.

Hi Al
Just wondering, are you passing Sky HD via the baluns?
If so does the ethernet cable attached to the baluns go via a central switch/ethernet hub? Also, how do you control the source (e.g. Sky HD box) from each location?

Thanks for any help.

[albriscoe]

Hi John and ap69

I don`t have sky here just cable and freesat but its all the same principle.

my freesat box has HDMI out which goes into a balun then via cat5 into the kitchen cabinet baun then out via HDMI to the LCD in the conservatory, you can see what I`ve done in my last thread.

I control all the basement cinema room to conservatory equipment via a Keene IR distribution amp and reciever kit which simply uses a pair of wires either from a spare cat5 or mine is using them from a 3 pr telephone/alarm type cable.

If I wanted to send it upstairs say to our bedroom then all it needs is a HDMI switcher and another pair of baluns as all the cables are already there.

The conservatory to kitchen equipment is simple, I`ve used a marmitek IR kit so no wires involved from Keene £20 ish and it just works like a dream

As I said John run a lot of spares cable mate as you never know when your gonna need `em.

If theirs owt else lads just ask

cheers Al

[MitsiTurbo]

Daipac, have you checked that they/you are able to install cables at this stage? They wouldnt do any extra cabling or let me in to do extra cabling when mine was at the same stage as yours is at. They explained that they couldnt do it or allow me to do it until after legal completion (when the house is finished!) as if anything happened and I had to pull out then they would have been left with a house with useless cables everywhere! I would check first before you go any further...HTH

[Paul Burton44]

I agree that your builder won't let you put in ANY cable ....

If they are willing to intsall it they will be stinging you big time...Expect £100 a point ......!!!

They won't let you in the house at any point except for mearsuring up for carpet, curtains etc....

Good luck..

[deefadog]

I have to disagree, when my house was being built, i supplied top quality Coax for them to use instead of their cheap carp, also i asked if i could get access to install my own cables, and it was no problem, as long as you sign a sheet for liable problems and you get it professionally checked at your own expense.

I do agree that extra sockets were around £50 - £70 depending on what they were each.

[Daipac]

Originally Posted by MitsiTurbo

Daipac, have you checked that they/you are able to install cables at this stage? They wouldnt do any extra cabling or let me in to do extra cabling when mine was at the same stage as yours is at. They explained that they couldnt do it or allow me to do it until after legal completion (when the house is finished!) as if anything happened and I had to pull out then they would have been left with a house with useless cables everywhere! I would check first before you go any further...HTH

Hi Mitsi, thanks for your reply.

There is actually no wiring in the house at present, no lighting, nothing. I am meeting the builder today so I am going to ask the questions then. I did mention it before about putting in new TV points and he seemed to suggest it would be ok. I will check today and see what he says. I will be exchanging in 28 days anyway as we are doing a part exchange deal so once that is done I am hoping that it will be ok to have some input.

[connorjordan]

think about spotlights if ur looking for any cause I did mine after the builder had finished and it caused a lot of problems having to lify floors etc

[albriscoe]

I think in this despressive state regards building trades your developer should/will bend over backwards to help in away way he can to help secure a sign on the dotted line day

And if he doesn`t then he`s shooting himself in the foot.

John, just supply the materials and a plan to the sparky and be reasonable and I`m certain all will be well.

All the other builders tales of horror, just sack `em as there`s thousands more all though in your case I know its different.

cheers and good luck Al

PS. give a little thought to scene lighting mate as well, either I-Light,Lutron, Rako or GET

[hornydragon]

When come to terminating all these cables neatly in a central location you will need something like 8 Zone Home Networking Kit (UK) I personally would have a think about what services you may want to add in future if you can have the cables installed now. Some new builds have alarms etc specified but many do not having the right cabling and power for alarm/ cctv and telephone/data as well as TV is a worthwhile addition. 2 coax and 2 cat5 is ideal for TV points but dont forget you may want TV's wall mounted with local devices such as consoles/DVD/sky boxes etc located in the room which will mean having cables run to the screen location is a bit limiting. Just as if you do the reverse and have them run to corners you then need ables to the screens from the kit.

[andy900uk]

so how did you get on with the developer, a developer i work for now and again has always bent over backwards for the customer if a house has been sold before completion and as has been said, in the present climate how can you afford not to.
Andy

[Daipac]

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far. Really appreciate all the good advice.

Originally Posted by andy900uk

so how did you get on with the developer, a developer i work for now and again has always bent over backwards for the customer if a house has been sold before completion and as has been said, in the present climate how can you afford not to.
Andy

Andy,

Unfortunately, our meeting was canclled last week because of the snow. It has been rescheduled for tomorrow instead so I will let you know how I get on then.

Originally Posted by hornydragon

When come to terminating all these cables neatly in a central location you will need something like 8 Zone Home Networking Kit (UK) I personally would have a think about what services you may want to add in future if you can have the cables installed now. Some new builds have alarms etc specified but many do not having the right cabling and power for alarm/ cctv and telephone/data as well as TV is a worthwhile addition. 2 coax and 2 cat5 is ideal for TV points but dont forget you may want TV's wall mounted with local devices such as consoles/DVD/sky boxes etc located in the room which will mean having cables run to the screen location is a bit limiting. Just as if you do the reverse and have them run to corners you then need ables to the screens from the kit.

Thanks for that HD. Where would be the best place to look to get a diagram of what I would need to connect everything together thru the house?

Cheers,

Dai

[Daipac]

Originally Posted by Daipac

Thanks for that HD. Where would be the best place to look to get a diagram of what I would need to connect everything together thru the house?

Just to add to my post above, does anybody have a contact details for someone who I could speak to about this to get some expert advice to make sure the design of what I am asking for is correct.

Thanks again for all the help, just want to get this done right as I may not have another chance to buy a house at this stage.