A Little Forethought Goes a Long Way

If you have your new log house plans in your handcottage house plans a little planning ahead can save
and you are ready to take on a massive project ofyou time and money in the long run.
building your own home, are you going to be thinkingSome other ideas to save time is to take photos of
about freezing pipes next winter or leaves cloggingthe plumbing before the dry wall goes up. Then if
your drain pipes; probably not? If you are building in athere is a problem later you can refer to the photo
new neighborhood, the trees won't be big enough toto know exactly where the pipe is and not have to
drop leaves that high for another couple years attear out the entire wall to find it. Marking the valves
best. However, freezing pipes and other maintenancearound the house is easier when everything is new.
issues can be avoided with a little forethought in yourKeep in mind the upkeep needed for the siding you
building process. Even preparing the drains may beput on your house. Wood versus aluminum and real
easier prior to being installed than having to climb onwood versus engineered wood. There are positives
ladders and such to get to them later. By putting aand negatives to all of them but you get to decide
mess over them while they are on the groundwhich ones mean the most to you. Some things are
before installation may save hours and injury later.obvious when you have your set of luxury house
For the pipes and other areas of possibleplans in hand. More than likely if you are in Phoenix,
maintenance issues, start right from the beginning ofyou are going to use tiles roofing because nearly
the project to prepare for the issues. By wrappingeverybody does. Is it the best? It doesn't matter
the pipes as you install them, it is so much easierbecause if everyone in your new neighborhood is
than to wait until they are pinned against the wall orusing it you may have to anyway.
stuck in a closet, making it nearly impossible to get toIf you are planning on putting in outdoor tile or wood
later. You should consider anything outside or in theon your patio or deck be sure to treat it well with a
garage. This goes for hot weather and cold weather.water sealant. The better it is treated the longer it
The heat of Phoenix will bake the air conditioningwill last and the better it will look. You will have to
pipes and make them less efficient. The cold weatherretreat it every so often but to start out right is
areas goes without saying that wrapping the pipesimportant. It is also easier to treat prior to bringing in
may prevent freezing and other problems in theyour grill, table and chairs.
winters. Even if it doesn't call for it on your small