So you’re building (or considering building) a new home in the Fox Cities area? Congratulations! Bringing your dream home to life is such an exciting experience. It can also be a stressful experience as you try and juggle all the decisions, costs, and communication that’s involved throughout the building process. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed — or don’t know where to start — when it comes to plumbing in your new home, have no fear. That’s what we’re here for. To get you started, here are a few things you should know in regards to plumbing when building your new house.
Quality is important.
Building a home is expensive. In fact, the average cost of building a custom home in Appleton is around $178 per square foot. On top of that, there are lots of decisions you’ll have to make along the way. It’s easy to feel rushed, get overwhelmed, and pick whatever is easiest and cheapest. However, that can cost you down the road. Quality is the main thing you should look for when considering various products, especially when it comes to plumbing.
The last thing you want is to install something cheap to save a few bucks, only to have to replace it sooner rather than later. You want materials and plumbing fixtures to last for a long time. Some of the materials used today are also fire-resistant, pest-resistant, and more, which increase value. Ask the experts, check out the reviews, see the products in person, and compare prices. You’ll be glad you did!
On top of the quality of products, consider the quality of the work as well. Experience, expertise, and values set plumbing companies apart. Which leads us right into our next point…
You have a choice about what plumbing company to work with.
Contractors will often recommend their preferred plumber. However, it’s your house. We always try to remind homebuyers and those that are building their dream home that they have a choice when it comes to the plumbing company they want to work with. Not all plumbing companies are created equal. You want someone you can trust that’s going to get the job done right. With that in mind, take some time to research businesses in the area, visit showrooms, and see what’s out there.
If you’re interested, we’d love to have you visit our showroom in Menasha and tell you more about working with Watters on your new construction project.
Work with experts on style & design.
One of the biggest benefits of building a home is that everything is customizable. From color to tile to plumbing fixtures, your home is truly a reflection of you. You get to show off your personal style, but it’s important to think long term as well. It’s easy to get sucked into trends, but what may be trendy now may not be popular 10 years down the road when you opt to sell. And your style may be very different from that of the average homebuyer.
While you shouldn’t design your home based on what other people like, you should weigh the pros and cons of any style and design choice and think about how it fits into your home overall, and how easy it would be to update if it loses its appeal. You should also go for a cohesive look. Especially if you’re new to home design and plumbing, working with a design team and plumbing experts — like the ones here at Watters — can help you come up with the look you want. They’ll also help you stick within your budget and give unique insights about trends and how the products will look once installed.
Look for eco-friendly products.
Who doesn’t love minimizing their environmental impact and saving money at the same time? Looking at environmentally-friendly products and fixtures for your bathroom is a great way to save on utilities, increase your home’s value, and keep the Fox Cities area beautiful for future generations. Many people who are building a home for the first time don’t even know all the eco-friendly options available to them.
From dual-flush toilets to water-saving faucets, the possibilities are endless. At Watters, we also recommend tankless water heaters from Navien that take up significantly less space than traditional water heaters and use less water and gas too! Be sure to ask your plumbing company what eco-friendly plumbing options might work for your new bathroom.
Think functionality & future expansion.
It’s important to think ahead when plumbing your new home and figure out what’s going to work best for you and your family. Consider space/size, the flow of the bathroom/home, your family’s daily routine, and future remodels or expansions. For example, if you have small children who enjoy bath time, a walk-in shower may not be the best option at this point. If you’re dealing with a small bathroom, plumbing experts can also recommend space-saving options that help you maximize square footage. Remember, you want your home and bathroom to work for your lifestyle.
Definitely think long term as well. Even if you don’t plan to finish your basement, consider having the house plumbed for a downstairs bathroom anyway. It can serve as a selling point and makes installation easy should you (or a future owner) opt to expand down the road.
Got more questions about plumbing and building your dream home in the Fox Cities? We’re here to help.
Request an estimate or give us a call.
