****EVH's house building thread****

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Technically, yes, you can plug any HD source in to a socket (you'd have to use 2 CAT6 points) and have it appear anywhere in the house, you'd just have to change the patch leads.

Obviously, I want a HD matrix, so I can press a button and have the source routed anywhere but it's certainly possible doing it "manually". You'd need CAT5/6 -> HDMI baluns on either end of the run.

Wait, what?

What's a HD matrix and how much are they? What's a balun? like a RJ45 to HMDI convertor?

Would love to know more about this sort of thing if you have time please? When ever I look into this sort of stuff I can only find the sorts of companies that don't display prices because they don't want you to know first off that 'home automation' = 5 figure bill and run for the hills.

Awesome thread btw, though I'd like to raise the suggestion that the next person to think they're funny and original for remarking on a 24 hour build is banned/shot?
 
Underfloor heating downstairs, radiators under the windows upstairs.

Fail, no offence, but that is the most stupid place to put radiators, ever. Only us Brits think putting a radiator under a window is effective. :p

You want Termaskirt, I'm about to strip a load through my flat and for the cost, is actually cheaper than radiators and a hell of a lot more effective (it actually radiates heat as opposed to using convection like radiators

Re: HD Matrix, do you have one in mind?
 
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Fail, no offence, but that is the most stupid place to put radiators, ever. Only us Brits think putting a radiator under a window is effective. :p

You want Termaskirt, I'm about to strip a load through my flat and for the cost, is actually cheaper than radiators and a hell of a lot more effective (it actually radiates heat as opposed to using convection like radiators

Re: HD Matrix, do you have one in mind?

It's not just about the maximising the convection efficiency, the asthetics and limiting space lost to raidators is also a concern. If you go the radiator route then the last thing you want is all your usable wall space filled up with radiators. I was also under the impression heating the cold air around the windows promoted efficient convection, maybe I'm wrong?

I'd be interested to see a installtion cost comparison between a conventional radiator system and skirting heating. I suspect that over around 20 years the total costs are very similar, give or take 10%?

EDIT: Don't skirting heating systems used electricity to provide the heat? If so much of the savings gained from efficiency will be lost to the higher cost of electricity over gas. Maybe there are wet systems though.

EDIT. Look slike thermaskirt is a wet system, you learn something everyday. Would still be insterested in the full cycle cost comparison
 
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Wait, what?

What's a HD matrix and how much are they? What's a balun? like a RJ45 to HMDI convertor?

By "HD Matrix" he means a Matrix Switch which takes HDMI inputs. A Matrix switch is what it says on the tin. It allows you to switch any combination of inputs to any combination of outputs. Dead useful for controlling the projectors/plasmas at a proper venue.

By "Balun" he means HDMI over CAT6 extenders, you need one at each end.
 
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Fantastic thread. Would love to build my own house and get it wired up for tech. :)

Will follow this thread, along with the others, with a lot of interest unfortunately tainted with a hint of jealousy. :D
 
Fail, no offence, but that is the most stupid place to put radiators, ever. Only us Brits think putting a radiator under a window is effective. :p

Sorry but your failed in your own argument... 'us brits' put radiators under windows for a perfectly legitimate and proven reason: because of our climate. They are there to combat the cold air which leaks through EVERY window (radiation across the cavity, conduction in the frame etc.) of even the most high spec'd domestic double glazed unit. As well as the reasons that Peter pointed out.

You also have the aspect of cold bridging on external walls but that's pretty irrelevant these days.

Yes, there maybe far greater performing and economical ways of heating the modern home, but take nothing away from the trusty old radiator.

Great build BTW, glad to see there is still at least some time and thought being put into our countries building industry...lets hope it catches on :D
 
Next.. the meaty bit, how to get the cables through to the space under the stairs. Answer? A big drill.

As there are so many cables, I decided early on that one 4" hole wouldn't be big enough, so I drilled 2. Unfortunately, I don't have a working hole saw, so I drilled lots of 18mm holes and chiselled it out. I used old drainage pipe as the ducting and got the plasterer to fill in around my handy-work :o

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You'll notice that the ducting was put in at an angle to give the CAT6 less of a radius to bend around. Again, the cables were wrapped to ensure no nasty paint or adhesive got on them during the build. The green WF100 coax was put through as a test.

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The trusty cardboard box returns! I've sketched a line where I want the cables boxed in, in the downstairs toilet. There simply was no way around having some visual blemish, and I think it's a pretty good compromise.

I can't measure for a 19" rack until the stairs are in, so the cabling will be the last to be finished. I'm thinking 42 U, 600 x 600.
 
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Upstairs is now almost dry (August 2010). I chose this as an opportunity to clear out the rooms with a good sweep.

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First coat of Wickes matt emulsion (50% water) applied by the decorator. Actually surprised how well it covers the plaster. Still need about 3 coats before it's finished. We're going all white throughout the house, and using furniture to accent the rooms with colour. To be honest we may paint 1 wall a colour or paper a single wall in select rooms in the future (baby's room with pink wall etc) but it's all money.

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I keep forgetting to explain the pictures.. they make sense to me! Here goes..

Master bedroom (showing position of wallmount TV)
Master bedroom (showing where the bed is going - sockets either side of the bed)
Master bathroom (showing pipes for towel rad)
Spare bedroom (showing position of TV)
Office (looking in to hallway)
Spare bedroom (showing rad)
Office (showing rad)
Landing
Master bathroom (obscured glazing)
Ensuite (showing sink pipes)

That's all the pictures I have until the underfloor heating is installed this week :(:cool:
 
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It looks really good mate - however I do have a question.

Is the house just breeze blocks with plaster over the top? Surely that will be terrible for keeping the heat in?
 
That is a lot of cabling! :D

Long term settling down place is it?

Well, the house is big enough and I don't have plans to sell.

It looks really good mate - however I do have a question.

Is the house just breeze blocks with plaster over the top? Surely that will be terrible for keeping the heat in?

Breeze block outer skin, cavity (gap), then a breeze block inner skin.

e.g. block -- gap -- block - plasterboard - plaster - paint

It's pretty standard practice in the UK building industry. You can fill the cavity with insulation but then you risk damp transfer if done wrong.
 
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