Advice on Floorplan

[5stones]

See I too (as a parent of a pre.teens) LOVE the idea of the master down and kids up. (more privacy for us!) Also we are used to basements and I love those for sleepovers etc... it gives the kids space and I don't nag about the noise so much!
As a mom of 3 girls...the more bathroom the better! Right now my oldest has her own and the younger 2 have a shared bath. This is soooo nice because since my oldest has reached puberty etc...privacy is very important.

now safety... I don't like having my kids bedrooms on the ground floor,with easily acessable windows. when they were young I feared someone "comming in" NOW...I fear the teenagers sneaking out!!

Backstair cases.... yes I want one. I hate the fact that first thing you see when you walk into my house is the stairs!
Garages..another thing you can never have too many of! with 3 cars and 7 bikes and lawn equipt etc.... 2 car garage just doesn't seem enough! we currently only have 1 car and it's crammed with everything but a car!

cooling cost (more than heating cost in dallas!) INSULLATION!! if you are buliding pay for more and get the good stuff...double insulate your attic and have an extra attic fan installed. Tinted windows help a ton! Find out what native trees are fast growers ofr the area and plant IMMEDIATELY!! Shades trees help soo much and if it's a native grower you will be surprised at how much it will grow in just 2 years. Dual zone your house 2 units will cost more to install but you will more in the long run.

[socketz]

Originally Posted by 5stones

See I too (as a parent of a pre.teens) LOVE the idea of the master down and kids up. (more privacy for us!) Also we are used to basements and I love those for sleepovers etc... it gives the kids space and I don't nag about the noise so much!
As a mom of 3 girls...the more bathroom the better! Right now my oldest has her own and the younger 2 have a shared bath. This is soooo nice because since my oldest has reached puberty etc...privacy is very important.

now safety... I don't like having my kids bedrooms on the ground floor,with easily acessable windows. when they were young I feared someone "comming in" NOW...I fear the teenagers sneaking out!!

Backstair cases.... yes I want one. I hate the fact that first thing you see when you walk into my house is the stairs!
Garages..another thing you can never have too many of! with 3 cars and 7 bikes and lawn equipt etc.... 2 car garage just doesn't seem enough! we currently only have 1 car and it's crammed with everything but a car!

cooling cost (more than heating cost in dallas!) INSULLATION!! if you are buliding pay for more and get the good stuff...double insulate your attic and have an extra attic fan installed. Tinted windows help a ton! Find out what native trees are fast growers ofr the area and plant IMMEDIATELY!! Shades trees help soo much and if it's a native grower you will be surprised at how much it will grow in just 2 years. Dual zone your house 2 units will cost more to install but you will more in the long run.

I agree but didn't want to mention it about the kids rooms on the first floor. Definitely more vunerable 'feeling' there vs upstairs.

As for dual zone climate control, any new home worth salt will come with this standard.

[lulu520]

Hey everyone! Just wanted to chime in here and ask if a covered porch helps with the sun coming into the house with a slightly northeast facing house.

We are looking at various lots and there is one that is pretty big but it faces northeast (not quite 2 oclock w/ 12 being North, rear of the house facing 7:30ish). I'm thinking that the setting West sun will probably hit the back of the house but the plan we are considering has a covered porch in the back where the family room would be. Do you think that covered porch helps the sun coming in at all? I guess the gameroom upstairs would be vulnerable to the heat.

Just wanted to get some ideas about this one. Thanks

[lulu520]

Hey everyone! My message sorta got lost in the group here and didn't know if anyone had any ideas: Just wanted to ask if a covered porch helps with the sun coming into the house with a slightly northeast facing house.

We are looking at various lots and there is one that is pretty big but it faces northeast (not quite 2 oclock w/ 12 being North, rear of the house facing 7:30ish). I'm thinking that the setting West sun will probably hit the back of the house but the plan we are considering has a covered porch in the back where the family room would be. Do you think that covered porch helps the sun coming in at all? I guess the gameroom upstairs would be vulnerable to the heat.

Thanks!

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by lulu520

Hey everyone! My message sorta got lost in the group here and didn't know if anyone had any ideas: Just wanted to ask if a covered porch helps with the sun coming into the house with a slightly northeast facing house.

We are looking at various lots and there is one that is pretty big but it faces northeast (not quite 2 oclock w/ 12 being North, rear of the house facing 7:30ish). I'm thinking that the setting West sun will probably hit the back of the house but the plan we are considering has a covered porch in the back where the family room would be. Do you think that covered porch helps the sun coming in at all? I guess the gameroom upstairs would be vulnerable to the heat.

Thanks!

Lulu, yes the covered porch will help w/ the sun some. If you find that it does not quite give you the shade you want you can always get the roll "shades" that are made out of reeds/bamboo to put down on the west side of the patio cover when you need it. The rear of our old house faced almost 1 oclock and the patio was not covered. It was not too bad. I'd still get in and see if more heat/sun comes in though and then check on getting the windows tinted.

[lulu520]

Thanks a lot MOM! :-) What % of tint do you have on your windows or do you recommend?

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Lulu, yes the covered porch will help w/ the sun some. If you find that it does not quite give you the shade you want you can always get the roll "shades" that are made out of reeds/bamboo to put down on the west side of the patio cover when you need it. The rear of our old house faced almost 1 oclock and the patio was not covered. It was not too bad. I'd still get in and see if more heat/sun comes in though and then check on getting the windows tinted.