When building or renovating a home, something that people have a tendency to over look telling there contractors about the appliances they plan to install in the house. When buying new appliances for your home there are certain things that you need to tell your contractor before he gets past the drywall stage of the project.
New washer and dryer's have some special needs that have to be addressed before installation. A growing trend is toward steam washer and dryers. This can require an extra water line run to the dryer and a metal exhaust pipe and hood instead of plastic. If there stackable the exhaust might need to be run up the wall to a certain height. Some dryer's have a down draft that has to be placed in the floor at a specific point so that the dryer can sit right over it. Some washer and dryer's have special shelving that has to be installed or want a laundry tub installed between them. If they are low slung machines you might want your contractor to build you a platform so that you don't have to bend over to assess the machines. Laundry counter tops need to be ended at a certain point so that they don't interfer with the installation or operation of the machines. Some people like to install washer/dryers on the second floor, so most contractor's will install a waterproof basin with a built in drain so that if the washing machine ever overflows, or the water connection fails the whole house wouldn't receive water damage.
In the kitchen, appliances have changed some much in the past couple of years contractor's are having trouble keeping up with the changing times. There now oven's that use steam to cook with, so they require a water line to be run to them. Ovens that are not just gas or electric are gas cook tops and electric ovens underneath. There are slide in ranges that require a normal stove plug, there are wall ovens that need the stoves to be hard wired by an electrican. There are kitchens with multiple ovens and multiple dishwashers. Kitchen's with 2 or 3 sinks are not special anymore they are becoming the norm. Some kitchens have the microwave mounted above the stove with a built in exhaust that needs to be piped out the wall, some have exhaust hoods that require large piping, specific dimensions and special electrical lines.
Fridges now have water dispensors and need water lines ran to them. Some kitchens have side by side stand up fridge/freezers. Alarm lines can be installed on these waterlines so that if they ever fail you are warned about it before it is to late.
Instant hotwater systems now can be installed underneath the counter next to the sink. These allow someone to have a cup of hotwater to make tea or coffee as easily as turning on a tap. This requires the contractor to install electrical under the sink, a water line under the sink and a water line leading to a tap that is next to the kitchen sink.
So when your planning your project and your contractor asks you if there's anything they need to know, think about the applainces that your planning to buy or have already bought. Because those applainces could cost you money near the end of the project if the contractor has to start opening holes in the walls or cieling to run extra water, electrical, gas, drain or exhaust lines.
Rob Abbott
Village builders Inc.
robabbott@villagebuilders.ca
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