Both old and new homes should incorporate cat5 cable. This new house wiring standard is low voltage cable that provides options for networking appliances, telephone lines and computers all in one. Cat5 provides for future additions of these electronic devices-- and others we may not even have heard about yet!
If you are remodeling and have major roof and attic modification underway, now is a smart time to upgrade and add some other projects. Consider additional insulation, wiring, ventilation and wire conduits for starters. Adding one of the great central vacuum systems will also make your home more efficient and pleasant.
Ask your builder about special roof trusses that will gain storage space for your home. You can mix standard trusses with scissors, attic, or storage trusses, and avoid losing valuable space that is paid for but unusable. Call in a pro engineer before converting a traditional roof to a vaulted version.
Skylights bring light, stars and the outdoors in to other parts of your room. Constructing a skylight with a flared, rather than straight, shaft will gain much more light with a simple expansion. Consult a professional structural engineer before tearing into your trusses, however!
Your walls can fool you. Posing as an innocent non-load bearing wall, an interior wall may, in fact, be a prime load bearing wall. Check this photo.
These photos are typical of load bearing walls you will find in your home. Study these details to learn how loads are distributed and carried in a load bearing wall.
You can remove a low ceiling and move the structural ties to different locations for support. Consult a structural engineer before proceeding, and gain space for ceiling fans and a vaulted ceiling atmosphere.
Building a vaulted ceiling can be accomplished by the DIY'r, however you must be a very good DIY'r. Check first with a structural engineer. You don't want your roof to collapse. Try to think of building for the future with added electrical wiring.
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