Last week we completed the foundation construction.  Now the real fun begins – designing your interior. And it starts with roughing in the electrical, plumbing and Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) unit.  This process includes the placement and connection of pipes, wires or tubing so that all that remains is the connection of the fixtures. Attention to detail here will really pay off.


A Construction Buyer’s Agent® will be quite helpful for this stage, sharing their knowledge to help you avoid many common mistakes. Below we have compiled just a few tips to prepare you for this part of the build.

Plumbing Rough-in Tips

Ever walk into a beautifully designed bathroom and wonder why the toilet is off centre? Well, chances are there was a floor joist right where the toilet was supposed to go. You can easily prevent this from happening in your home.  Look to see if there is a cluster of nails where your toilet should go. If there are, it usually means there’s a floor joist. To fix this problem, ask the contractor to remove the joist (to make space for your toilet) and install a joist on either side. An easy fix, the structure is not compromised and you get the bathroom you`ve always dreamed of.

Another great plumbing tip involves the sink. A rough in for a pedestal sink vs. a vanity is different. You want to make sure your plumber is aware of exactly which type you have chosen so that you don`t end up with a cluster of exposed pipes behind your sink. If you can`t get in touch with your plumber a great tip is to print off what appliance you have chosen and hammer this print out to the wall where it will be placed. This way, on rough-in day your plumber will be able to easily see what sinks are going where and they will plumb it in accordingly.

Electrical Rough-in Tips

It is not uncommon to see new homes where the lighting does not align with cabinetry or furniture placement. These types of errors are easily preventable if you plan ahead. Before the electrical for your new home gets roughed in, try to think about where your furniture will be positioned. For example electrician's generally place a ceiling fixture in the centre of the room.  Homeowners seldom place their dining tables in the center of the eating area or a formal dining room, thus it’s all too common to see poorly placed lighting fixtures in these areas. Likewise, if you have planned a two-tiered kitchen bar into your cabinetry, you will want the lighting centered over the bar. Schedule a walk through with your electrician so that you can inform them of any of your preferences.

It is common for home buyers to be inconvenienced by a limited electrical rough in simply because they were unaware of available add ons. An electrician arrives at a job site to rough in the basics; he is not there to upsell new and innovative electrical ideas. As a consumer, you want to make sure you are well informed with what can be done in terms of lighting and outlets so that you can ask for these things. A great example of this point is cabinet lighting. Nowadays, many people request under cabinet lighting but are unaware that above-cabinet lighting is an inexpensive way to add further ambiance. Simply, request that an outlet be installed above your cabinetry. This outlet is operated by a switch on your backsplash. Then, you can easily plug in some white Christmas lights above the cabinet (or Christmas décor should it be in season), turn on your switch, and voila – easy added ambiance. To keep up to date with what’s possible in the world of lighting we recommend visiting other new homes in the area and try to take note of what others have done. As well there are some great websites for inspiration. Canadian Lighting World or The Home Depot’s Lighting section are two excellent resources.

HRV Unit Rough-in Tips

HRV Units are relative newcomers to new home construction. In today’s world of air tight, super-insulated homes, HRV Units allow fresh air to flow into the house, and stale indoor air to flow out.

By default, HRV technicians install the vents in the ceiling in the basement and on the main floor of a 2-story home. On the top floor they are installed on interior walls. As long as you follow the cardinal rule for vent positioning, that their placement must never break the home’s vapor barrier, vents may be placed where you choose as long as they allow for air transfer. Pre-rough in stage, think about where you would like the HRV technician to place the vents. If you want something different from the standard placement, schedule a walk through with the technician to tell them where you want the vents installed and to answer any questions you may have.


It is vital that home owners plan ahead for the rough-in stage of construction.  Furniture placement or appliance shopping may seem unnecessary when you are standing in the shell of your house, but a well thought out plan at this stage will save you from everyday annoyances in the future. Before a single moment of energy is spent on the details, take the time to consider the ideal finished space.

There are many resources to help you plan ahead. iTunes offers a great app called Home Design 3D which allows the user to place furniture on the home`s 2D plan and then view a 3D interpretation of the home. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) also has a great variety of checklists to assist home buyer`s along every step of the way. We particularly like the team of professionals’ checklist which will help you interview professionals such as electricians or plumbers even before they enter your home. This way, you can determine if the tradesman in question is the right fit for your build.

If you are planning on building your home, why not get in touch? Feel free to contact us if you have any questions involving buying or selling a home in the St. John’s region. We are always available.

Who's paying for this new house and how can you save? Check out next week's blog when we talk money, allowances and rebates!