Expandability Options
There were a number of features we considered adding to our
new home, but because of need and/or money we opted not to do
them. In many cases, however, we "started" them, having
them ready to go in case we wanted to add them down the line.
They include:
Fireplace in the Living Room
The foundation of the home was built to
accommodate a fireplace in the center of the Living Room wall--a
natural place for it! This allows you to build the chimney
right on the foundation with no windows in the way on either
floor. Nowadays, you can opt to build a chimney not
just in brick, but in wood, and use the same siding as the rest
of the house. For this we have two extra boxes of vinyl
siding stored in the garage. The fireplace can be either
wood-burning or gas, your choice!
Bathroom in the Basement
The back area of the basement, which is used
primarily for
storage, could actually be finished space, including a
bathroom. In the floor of the basement is a covered
drain where you could install a toilet and/or sink.
Central Vacuum
The plastic tubing is in the walls! The
vacuum ports are installed on each level. There's even a
"dust pan" intake valve for the kitchen, a great convenience for those
crumbs and dirt. All you need to do is install the central
vacuum mechanical unit in the basement and connect all the tubing to it.
The hardest part, which is running the tubing in the walls, is
done!
Backyard Floodlight
There's an electrical connection that runs high
on the house in the rear, connected to a switch in the kitchen.
All you need to do is mount a floodlight and you can light up
the entire backyard for evenings of fun and entertainment.
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