{{ :lifehack:massachusetts_for-web.png?nolink&382x316 |logo}}. **Introduction** \\ .\\ * Caution: This article is not professional advice. These are Royce Barber's notes on house renovation and forward-looking home technologies.\\ * This article is: Multipurpose house materials and design ideas. An ultra simple list of modern materials in a house in the USA. Practical articulate advice. This incomplete article will be updated gradually.\\ * This article is not: Technical. Long winded.\\ * This article focuses on: currently existing materials/technologies.\\ * A house should be: A home. Comfortable, affordable, expandable, upgradeable, recycled materials, integration into surrounding climate/grounds (region/climate specific), industrial, elegant, efficient, resellable, acoustics, aesthetics, safety, ergonomics, expandability, well planned out.\\ * A house should not be: Over your budget. Dangerous for children. A money hole.\\ * Similar Articles on RoyceBarber.Com: Multi Purpose Tools. CNC Machine. Resources/Subscriptions.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Royce's Dream House - Info to Sort** \\ .\\ * Space: Cavern-like great room, reminiscent of the Coarsegold house I lived in. Large crawl space if possible.\\ * Low Cost Construction & Maintenance: Low construction complexity. Cube shape. Minimal windows. Extra insulation.\\ * Designer Look: Clean crisp designer styling. Bright, clean building, with medium color floor which won't show stains as much as white.\\ * Bedrooms: Inviting, cozy, sound dampening.\\ * Efficient: Underfloor heating. Cieling fans to pump warm air downward.\\ * Roof: Gazibo has water collecting tank, to self-water the garden. Garden uses synthetic grass and real hedges. Mix of real/synthetic plants.\\ * Security/Automation: All doors are steel with deadbolt. Mobile RC Camera Bot. Wifi.\\ * Electrical: Floor power plugs.\\ * Entertainment: Roof garden. Wifi. Wall TV. Hot tub.\\ * Materials: Metal roof. Steel frame. PegBoard garage walls. Possibly steel foundation rather than concrete. Minimal (if any) wood in frame.\\ * Industrial: Materials and appliances. Minimal carpeting. Minimal repair/maintence/care. Land has no pipes/sprinklers.\\ * Exterior: No lawn. Natural land topography with added giant rocks. Plenty of random trees. Walking paths.\\ * Dimensions: 14x14ft rooms. House is 4 rooms wide by 4 rooms long. 14ft x 4 rooms = House is 56 feet wide + wall thickness. So house is 64 by 64 feet. 8ft cielings with 2 stories is 8+8, + cieling thickness, so house is roughly 19ft tall. Square footage is lower floor and rooms + loft.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Basic House Parts** \\ .\\ * Exits: Windows. Doors. Fireplace.\\ * Frame: Steel beams. 2×4 planks.\\ * Wiring: Power. Internet. Phone. Satellite TV. Antenna TV. Cell phone extender antenna.\\ * Major Appliances: Washing machine & dryer. Dish washer. Sink. Sink disposal. Trash compactor. Oven with stove range. Microwave. Computer workstation.Fridge &Spare fridge. Freezer (vertical or horizontal).\\ * Minor Appliances: Blender. Toaster oven. Toaster. Chopper. Waffle grill. George Forman grill. Beater.\\ * Water Heating: Instant On via Electricity. Instant On via Propane. Water heating tank.\\ * Climate Control: Fire Place. Wood Stove. Propane stove.\\ * Natural Gas lines.\\ * Propane Tank: Extremely popular.\\ * Solar Power: Popular. Optional battery cells.\\ * Wind Power: Rare.\\ * Air Ventilation Shafts/Fans/Vents.\\ * House Vacuum System\\ * Rooms (See Rooms Heading).\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Popular Construction Tools** \\ .\\ * Table Saw. Chop Saw. Circular Saw. Tile Saw. Granite Saw. Reciprocating Saw. Nail Gun. Hammer. Crow bar. Chizzles. Power drill. Drill bits. Nails/screws. Pneumatic (air) tools. Battery tools.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Windows** \\ .\\ * Double pane. Good energy rating.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Heating / Cooling** \\ .\\ * Sub-floor heating via heat vents or hot wires.\\ * Swamp cooler.\\ * Fireplace.\\ * Pellet stove.\\ * Portable electric upright oil heater.\\ * Heat Pump.\\ * Cool Roof System: Reflects visable, infrared, and ultraviolet sunlight. Reducing heat transfer of the building. Usually a light color. Reduces need for air conditioning.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Appliances** \\ .\\ * Water Heater: Tankless Propane (uses fire to heat water), Tankless Electric (zaps the water).\\ * Induction Stove/Range: 90% efficiency, saves electricity, cool to the touch, cooks fast.\\ * H-VAC unit and tubing.\\ * Major House Appliances: Stove, Fridge, Redundant Fridge or Freezer for garage, Microwave, Washer, Dryer, Vertical Washer/Dryer Combo, Hybrid Washer/Dryer in One, Water heater, Generator, Air Compressor/Tank.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Automation / Security** \\ .\\ * Basic cameras and remote internet viewer, window/door sensors, motion sensors, motion lights.\\ * HighRes 3D/QTVR/YouTube Walk-Through of house.\\ * See "Guesstimated Near-Future Technologies" section of this article.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Roof** \\ .\\ * Stamped Tin\\ * Tile\\ * Metal Sheeting\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Kinds of House Frame** \\ .\\ * Steel\\ * Stick Frame\\ * Trex™ Composite Boards\\ * Outside balcony made of translucent Plexiglas floor/railing.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Kinds of Rooms Inside a House** \\ .\\ * Entry\\ * Loft or Outside Balcony\\ * Sun Porch\\ * Master Bed\\ * Kids Bed\\ * Guest Bed\\ * Kitchen, Mini Kitchenette, and Pantry\\ * Walk-in Closets\\ * Basement and Basement Storage\\ * Living/Great Room\\ * Baths\\ * Basement Apartment\\ * Garage or Shop\\ * Laundry\\ * Office\\ * Library\\ * Indoor Pool or Hot Tub Room\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Wall Covering, Exterior** \\ .\\ * Brick\\ .\\ * Stone\\ .\\ * Stucco\\ .\\ * Painted Boards\\ .\\ * Metal/Vinal Siding\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Wall Covering, Interior** \\ .\\ * Drywall\\ .\\ * Concrete\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Floor** \\ .\\ * Wood Planks\\ .\\ * Synthetic Wood Look\\ .\\ * Stone Tile\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Foundation of a House** \\ .\\ * Concrete pad.\\ .\\ * Steel frame, such as mobile houses or an RV.\\ .\\ * Raised concrete pillars, supporting your base boards.\\ .\\ * Raised steel pillars supporting your base boards.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Septic & Drainage** \\ .\\ *\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Water Well** \\ .\\ *\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Sprinkler, Drip Line, and 1/4th Inch Irrigation Line** \\ .\\ *\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Power: Solar Panels** \\ .\\ * Backup Power Cells for power outages. (This is rare).\\ * Recouping cost of solar panel array takes many years.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Power: Generator** \\ .\\ *\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Wiring** \\ .\\ * Electrical\\ * Internet: DSL. Cable.\\ * Phone/Fax\\ * TV: Satellite. Antenna. Cable.\\ * Security\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Plumbing / Pipes** \\ .\\ * Water\\ * Septic\\ * Fridge Water Line\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Insulation** \\ .\\ * Blown into attic with blowing machine.\\ * Roll of insulation.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Electricity vs Propane vs Natural Gas vs Gas Generator** \\ .\\ *\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Lighting** \\ .\\ * Optical Fiber natural lighting.\\ * LED Bulbs\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Landscaping** \\ .\\ * Rubber mulch (bark).\\ * Synthetic lawn.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Drainage** \\ .\\ * Gutters.\\ * Sidewalk and land sloping away from house.\\ * Ground water getting into basement.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Handicapped Accessibility** \\ .\\ * Wheel chair ramps. Self opening doors. Stair grips.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Climate Consideration** \\ .\\ * Seasonal climate differences.\\ * Tempature, humidity, elevation, vegetation.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Garage Clutter** \\ .\\ * Organizational: Peg board. Shelving. Cubbies. Velcro. Magnets.\\ * Tool boxes:\\ * Tools: Shop vac. Air compressor. Gas generator.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Choosing Land Location** \\ .\\ * Near a school, stores you like, activities.\\ * Crime, traffic, noise, air plane noise, seasonal changes.\\ * Commute time.\\ * Family needs.\\ * Influence of locals on your family.\\ * What aren't they telling you.\\ * Resale value.\\ * Local economy and job market.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **House Building Requirements** \\ .\\ * County Permits.\\ * Leveling the ground for the foundation.\\ * Driveway blading and paving.\\ * Land zoning. Residential, Commercial.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Recommended Books** \\ .\\ * Lowes and Home Depo have an excellent selection of construction/code/ideas books.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Home Upgrades & Renovation** \\ .\\ * Will you get your money back?\\ * Are the improvements generic and helping resale value?\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Quick Real Estate Lingo** \\ .\\ * Foreclosed\\ * Multiple Listings\\ * Fannie Mae\\ * Loan\\ * Financing\\ * Auction\\ * Closing\\ * Morgage\\ * Equity\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Finances, Home Ownership Maintenance** \\ .\\ * Monthly Bills: Water, Power, Propane or NaturalGas, Trash, Home Owners Association Fee, Television, Cable Internet, Food.\\ * Remodeling.\\ * New Roof.\\ * Driveway ReSurfacing.\\ * Well Pump.\\ * Pool ReSurfacing.\\ * Paint the House.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Ergonomics (Your Health)** \\ .\\ * Sound-proof sleeping rooms: Dark, sound dampening walls around a bed and or hamock. Nature sounds. Cool breeze.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **House Style/Theme** \\ .\\ * Era: Victorian,\\ * Interior Designer:\\ * Kinds of dwellings: Apartment, Native American TP, Over-a-business living quarters, Mansion, Castle, Bomb Shelter, RV, Mobile Home Trailer, Manufactured (somewhat pre-built) Home,\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Guesstimated Near-Future Technologies** \\ .\\ * Textured Solar Cloth Panels glued to tin "Clay Tile" looking roofing.\\ * AI Experiment: Home automation of lights/computers/temp/security/etc controlled by voice-chat-bot running on Ubuntu Linux OS and or an Android Google Cell phone.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Worst Case Scenarios** \\ .\\ * Crime: Poor home security.\\ * Family Relations: Divorce. Plans change. People change.\\ * Natural Disasters: Flood. Hurricane. Land slide. Termites. Mold. Wind causing trees to fall. Rotting trees. Untreated deck rot.\\ * Financial Disasters: Home market value changes. Home foreclosed. Lost a job. Hospital bills. No insurance, or insurance rates change.\\ * House problems: Structure not to code. Settling cracks.\\ * County demands.\\ * Financial: Foreclosure.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Misc Notes** \\ .\\ * Industrial TV Projector. Satellite/Cable/Cellular Internet.\\ * Computer software for home design: 3D home designed. Blueprint software. Budget software. Internet blog of photos/videos.\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Internet Links** \\ .\\ * Wikipedia list of construction articles: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Construction|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Construction]]\\ * Wikipedia list of "Types of Appliances": [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchen_appliance#Types_of_appliances|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchen_appliance#Types_of_appliances]]\\ * Wikipedia list of "Home Automation": [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_automation|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_automation]]\\ * Wikipedia list of "Domotics": [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domotics|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domotics]]\\ * Wikipedia list of "Domestic Technology": [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_technology|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_technology]]\\ * Wikipedia about "House": [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House]]\\ * Wikipedia about "Roof": [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roof|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roof]]\\ * Wikipedia about "Carpet": [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpet|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpet]]\\ * Wikipedia about "Drywall": [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drywall|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drywall]]\\ * Wikipedia about "Water Heater": [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_heater|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_heater]]\\ * Wikipedia about "The Home Depot" hardware store: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_depo|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_depo]]\\ * Wikipedia about "Lowes" hardware store: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowes|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowes]]\\ * Wikipedia about "Sears" store: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sears|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sears]]\\ * Wikipedia about "Drill": [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drill|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drill]]\\ * Wikipedia about "Harbor Freight Tools" hardware store: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbor_Freight_Tools|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbor_Freight_Tools]]\\ * Wikipedia list of "Pneumatic Tools" (air tools): [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumatic_tool|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumatic_tool]]\\ * Google Directory:\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ .\\ **Sources Cited** \\ .\\ * To be determined. My work experience is mostly self taught.\\ .\\ **End of Page**