Once the roof is on and the exterior walls are up the inside work can begin on the custom home.
Plumbing and electrical wiring are the most obvious jobs at this stage. However, it is also necessary to install the heating and cooling system, wiring for phone systems, security and intercom, cable television, internet and central vacuum.
At this stage it is important to make sure that you have thought through the placement of such services in the individual rooms in your custom home for current and future use.
It is much easier to have outlets and connections in more than on place in a room, anticipating the placement of furniture as needs change. Once the walls go up any changes or additions require cutting through finished surfaces and hidden wiring may not be possible.
It is very difficult to make changes once the plumbing is in so get it right the first time. Right from the planning stage do whatever is possible to make sure that the situation of rooms requiring plumbing are located above one another or on shared walls. This will make the installation of lines much more efficient and easy.
Copper pipes have been the material of choice for years but newer materials have many advantages. Ease and speed of installation makes CPVC (plastic) pipe more cost effective. It can however leave a taste in the water for the first year.
Polybutylene is a new semi flexible material that can be installed with minimum joints, which are the most expensive part in water systems. It is also virtually freeze proof, is quiet and reduces the effect of water hammer. It is also the least expensive method of installation.
The sewer line in your custom home carries waste water to the city system. PVC pipe is noisy so plan to have these pipes installed so they are not near bedrooms. Discuss with the plumber where this sewer pipe will run in the basement. You do not want it in the middle of a space that will one day be used for a rec room.
Most plumbers will quote a per fixture price. If you have arranged to have your bathrooms and kitchen close together to save on materials ask for a quote based on actual materials used and labour.