My house renovation project

James

James

James

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Joined
17 Oct 2002
Posts
2,116
Location
Bedford
Hi all,

I've seen a few of the home improvement blogs on here and thought I will post mine!
I have a two bedroom end of terrace house (2 up 2 down) that I'm knocking about and hoping to move into in 8-10 weeks time! (hope! lol.)

I'd like to wire the sockets and lights to a home automation system ideally if anyone knows or can recommend a way?

Anyway..

The plan is as follows:


  • Replace existing Kitchen and Bathroom.
  • Replace flooring throughout.
  • Remove Kitchen/Lounge Diner Wall
  • Replace Garden fencing.
  • Remove trees (south facing garden, blocks the sunlight).
  • Replace patio.
  • Renew electrics to new 17th edition.
  • Replace original gravity fed conventional boiler with new Vaillant combination boiler.
  • Replace ground floor ceiling.
  • Install LED downlights to ground floor.
  • Add electrical sockets - preferable remote controlled.
  • CAT6 wiring throughout.
  • Install lighting to front and rear of house.
  • Install electric to detached garage in block.
  • Replaster Lounge wall.
 
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The first job I started was to remove all the bathroom tiles and the suite.
I
 
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After getting the nod from the asbestos people re: the ceiling we started to pull it down!
They say even if you do have a house built in the mid 80's the asbestos content is so minimal in the artex. But, better to be safe than sorry!
 
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Don't know anything about your automation question, but cool demolition so far :cool:

Are you doing most / all of the work yourself? Have you ever done anything like this before?

I'll be looking for a house relatively soon, but would be far to scared of the costs involved to do something like this!
 
I've done all of it with my younger brother (he's a laborer by trade).
I'm an estate agent by trade, I have lots of friends who can do different things for me for not a lot of cash mates rates etc.

I've not done anything like this before!
I'm googling/youtubing it/asking for advice from friends but obviously when it comes to the plumbing/electrical stuff that's being done properly!

Has anyone had experience with LightwaveRF products?
 
For a nice simple (when it's all working) remote control system for lighting I use X10, where by you have a lamp module on each lamp, and an infra read receiver which turns infran red commands into signals which are sent down the electrical circuit to control the lights, thus giving you remote controlled dimmable lighting! :)

Only downside is that is does limit your options when it comes to bulbs as not all kinds are dimmable via the x10 modules. Oh and sometimes some other devices can cause electrical noise on the circuit which can cause issues with lamps not working etc which need a bit of trouble shooting which basically involves a bit of plugging and unplugging!

X10 can also be used with appliance modules for switching on/off pretty much anything that plugs into the mains.

For automatic curtain opening/closing check out SilentGliss who make a range of remote controlled curtain rails which I believe can also have sensors for dawn/dusk opening/closing.

For remote controllable thermostats etc check out Heatmiser who make a range of very pretty looking thermostats.
 
You might need a separate thread to discuss home automation, this one is full of rubble :p


Instead of hanging lights off a ring circuit, you could wire each one back to a cental ish location and run them off a bunch of relays, either hanging off a simple controller or a PC. Same goes for mains sockets.

Depends on your electronics/software experience.

If zero then I guess you are looking at lots of plug in modules.

Alternative is searching for home automation software (big in the USA) and from there using a suitable control unit.
Software really dictates the route you go down, not hardware.
 
Not sure if it is deemed a competitor or not, but check out and even chat with the person who runs letsautomate.com, he's a really helpful chap and they have loads of options for home automation from the simple to the ridiculous! :)
 
DiCe! said:
I spy with my little eye a perfect server cupboard!
Click to expand...
Thanks guys!

The idea with the cupboard under the stairs is that it's almost exactly 37" at the opening!

The idea there is to make the 'media cupboard' where all the CAT6 etc goes but have a 37 inch tv mounted on the breezeblock wall in front on a swing arm inside the cupboard which will cover the opening but also provide access if needs be!

The understair recess is going to be boarded over and plastered also as useful understairs storage.

Once the weekend is gone I will have a bare house with no rubble etc that I can start rebuilding!
Exciting times!
 
Great start and good luck with your 10 week time scale. Ive gave up with setting an end date as ive extended mine so many times. Keep adding more jobs to the to do list and encountering problems i hadnt thought about. All good fun but the mrs doesnt see it that way whilst having to stay with my parents for 10month, She's never happy :rolleyes:
 
Thanks Shug.

I'm hoping it will come together over the school holidays I've got certain trades booked for weekends etc!

Nothing really worth taking a picture of at the moment by way of an update.
Latest jobs completed were:

- Remove rest of carpets and rubble.
- Kitchen plan.

This weekend should see some progress, the garden's going to be cleared and leveled out.
Electric plan being done for LED downlights, CAT6, Sockets, External Power, and HDMI cabling.
Following week will be installation of new gate and fencing! (FINALLY!!!)

Just hoping I haven't forgotten anything in the way of electrics!
 
Have a look at Domoticz. I use a dedicated raspberry pi with Domoticz. Supports tons of rf platforms and is being updated weekly (seamless updating too)
 
Thanks guys.

Measured for my IKEA Besta Burs wall shelf that is going to house my xbox etc

Then started on the chases for the electrics, HDMI and ethernet
 
spm_uk said:
Have a look at Domoticz. I use a dedicated raspberry pi with Domoticz. Supports tons of rf platforms and is being updated weekly (seamless updating too)
Click to expand...

I'd love to see more about your setup and how it all works, that looks like a very interesting bit of software!

Any chance of a quick thread about it?
 
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