Build Smarter: Understanding ‘Now or Never Inclusions’

by Carlisle Homes

Don’t miss out on these important inclusions. Here’s what you’ll need to specify at the early stages of your build.

You want your new home to deliver everything you’ve ever dreamed of, whether it’s superior energy efficiency, soaring ceiling heights or that gorgeous flooring you’ve been eyeing up on Instagram. When building a new home, it’s important to understand that there are certain elements you need to specify during the initial design stage as they can’t be added in at a later date (or it’s extremely costly and impractical to do so). Neglect to include them early on and you risk living with that bad decision for years to come.

When deciding which inclusions are your must-haves, consider what will enhance your everyday lifestyle, how your family wants to live now and in the future, whether you’re looking to significantly reduce your energy bills, and what will improve the resale value of your home.

Here are the main ‘now or never inclusions’ that need to be specified in the initial design stage of your new home. And don’t forget, you can learn more about the options available and ask any questions at your Spectra Colour Selection appointment with our expert design consultants.

Cooling systems

A built-in air-conditioning system allows you to maintain a cool and comfortable temperature year-round. At Carlisle Homes, you can choose from refrigerated and evaporative cooling, for all or selected rooms in your home.

As the ducting and location of your air-conditioning unit will need to be built into the structure of your home, you’ll need to decide whether you want air conditioning and which rooms you want cooled during the early planning stages. Learn more about the best ways to cool your home.

Heating

Ducted heating, which comes as standard with all our homes, keeps everyone in your home warm during the chilly winter months. But if you want to upgrade from our standard three-star energy-rated system to a more efficient four-, five- or six-star rated one, you’ll need to let us know during the initial design phase.

Now is also the time to let us know if you want to include additional duct points in your home to heat more rooms (this option is only available on certain home designs).

Insulation

Insulation is one of the most important investments you can make in your home, reducing your home’s running costs and your reliance on artificial heating and cooling. Every Carlisle home is insulated to an exceptional standard using ceiling and wall batts and breathable wall wrap to external walls to reach a six-star energy rating. You can choose to upgrade to higher levels of thermal protection to achieve an even higher energy rating – but as it will be installed inside your home’s walls and ceilings, you will need to let us know you want it during the planning stage.

Your design consultant can talk you through the insulation upgrades available during your  Spectra Colour Selection appointment.  

Acoustic insulation

Most of us are spending more time working from home, which means we need a super-quiet spot to concentrate and conduct Zoom meetings. You might also have an older child who needs peace and quiet to study for exams, or you may be concerned about the noise from traffic or neighbours disturbing your sleep in the master suite.

Specifying special acoustic insulation can create the whisper-quiet spaces you need. Control noise transfer from one room to the next by installing SoundScreen batts when you build, and enhance their performance with the addition of Gyprock Supercheck. As these need to be integrated into your internal walls, as well as in between midfloors in two-storey homes, you’ll need to specify their inclusion during the planning stages.

Home security and smart-home systems

You may wish to future-proof your home with a smart-home system that allows you to do everything from turn on your heating and cooling, and open and close the blinds, to play your favourite tunes by voice command or remotely on your smartphone or tablet. You may also want to boost the safety of your home with a home-security system. As the wiring for both of these would need to be integrated into the walls and ceiling of your new home, you’d need to specify them well before the build begins. 

There are many options in smart-home and security systems available, which your design consultant can tell you more about during your Spectra Colour Selection appointment. Learn more about home security must-haves for your home here.

Ceiling heights

A soaring ceiling adds real impact to your home, plus it’s a great way to boost natural light and a sense of spaciousness. You can upgrade to a higher-than-average ceiling height with your new Carlisle home. But as ceiling heights can’t be altered once they’re built, be sure to specify them during the planning stage.

Gas and water outlets

Utilities such as your water and gas outlets are installed in your home’s slab, so think carefully about how you’ll be using your home in the early stages. Consider things such as where you will position your washer and dryer; whether you will be using portable gas heaters and, if yes, in which rooms; and, if you cook with gas, where you’ll want to position your gas oven. Specify the number and position of gas and water outlets to suit the way you want to live during the early stages of your home’s design.

Flooring

Flooring is the biggest surface area within your home and affects both the look and functionality of your interior spaces. Whether you choose tiles, carpet, engineered timber or a combination of the three, flooring is a big investment and not something you’ll want to rip up and replace in a hurry.

Factors such as comfort, durability and ease of cleaning come into the decision, so have a chat with your design consultant about the various options that will suit your lifestyle and colour scheme during your Spectra Colour Selection appointment – and be sure to make a choice sooner rather than later so you can create the look and finish you want.

Read more in our essential guide to flooring here.

Windows and doors

Windows and doors are expensive to replace, so take the time to choose the right ones early on in the planning stage.

There’s a vast range of options to choose from, which your design consultant will outline during your Spectra Colour Selection appointment. You’ll need to specify glazing type (do you want single-glazed glass, energy-efficient double-glazed glass or privacy glass to certain spots such as bathrooms and your entry); frame type (aluminium or timber) and colour; and whether you want to include flyscreens or additional windows to capture light and views.