Expert: Richard Taylor, AIA - 3/13/2005

Question
Hello.  I am thinking about having a house built.  I received a list of options that can be put into the house.  However, I do not quite understand what some of them are, or if they are worth paying extra in order to have them put in.  I do not know if all of these fit into your area of expertise, but here is my list of options that I could use your input about:
-tyvek house warp(what is it and what is it's use)
-conduit from basement to attic(same question)
-upgrade tonnage for future full finish basement(what is tonnage?)
-single plug dedicated outlet in basement(what is this?)
-R-38 Blown in insulation in attic(what is this?)
-tray ceiling(what is a tray ceiling)
-stone front exterior(is there an advantage to having a stone front instead of siding or brick)
I apologize for giving a long list of questions, but I am thankful for any help you may be able to give.  

Answer
Hi Dee - thanks for your questions!

Tyvek is an "infiltration barrier" that goes on the outside of the wood framing - it helps keep moisture out of the house.  It's that white paper you see stapled on a house before the siding or brick goes on and it's worth the money!

Conduit is a "pipe" for future electrical wires - this would allow you to finish the attic later without having to feed wires through the walls.

Tonnage is the size of the air conditioner (A/C is rated in terms of how long is would take to melt one ton of ice; hence the term).  More tonnage would allow you to finish the basement later without having to upgrade the A/C - BUT more tonnage than you need is inefficient and will cost you money until you use it.  Don't do this unless you're SURE you're going the finish the basement in the next few years.  Even then, if the finished basement is large, you should consider a separate system since the basement is the most humid part of the house.

The single plug dedicated outlet simply means that it's the only outlet on a particular breaker (fuse).  This would be helpful if you're planning an office in the basement and want a circuit for a computer.  That's the only explanation I can think of!

The "R" number of insulation is the resistance to heat flow.  The higher the number, the better the insulation.  Most codes call for R-30 minimum so R-38 is an upgrade.  The heating/cooling contractor should be able to run numbers for you to tell you how much this will save you in energy bills vs. the cost of installation.

Think of a serving tray - inverted - and placed on the ceiling.  It simply means recessing an area of the ceiling for decorative effect, probably in the dining room.

Your choice of exterior finish changes the look of the house.  There are many options, some appropriate for the style of the home, some not.  Generally, stone is the most expensive followed by brick and then siding.  Siding is the most maintainence-intensive; it must be painted or stained every few years (unless it's artificial siding).  Brick and stone are virtually maintainence-free.

Hope this helps!

Richard Taylor, AIA
Richard Taylor Architects, LLC
www.rtastudio.com