Title: Building Base Structures—What If You Had to Start Over?
I get where you’re coming from. When we built, I spent hours poring over every “future-proofing” suggestion out there—extra conduit runs, blocking for shelves, even a laundry chute rough-in that’s still just a weird patch in the wall. At the time, it felt like every one of those was a must-have. Looking back, maybe half of them actually mattered.
Skipped the basement bathroom rough-in too, mainly because I was trying to keep the budget under control. The builder made it sound like a no-brainer, but honestly, I just couldn’t justify the extra cost when we were already stretching. Now, years later, we barely use the basement for anything except storage. Would it be nice to have the option? Sure. But I’m not losing sleep over it.
I do think there’s a tendency to overthink these decisions. It’s easy to get caught up in “what ifs” and end up spending on stuff you’ll never use. On the other hand, I’ve got a friend who went all-in on every possible upgrade and now jokes that he’s got more features than he knows what to do with—like central vac outlets in rooms he never goes into.
If I had to start over, I’d probably focus more on things that are hard or expensive to change later—like insulation or structural stuff—and worry less about the bells and whistles. Some regrets are inevitable, but honestly, most of those “must-haves” fade into the background once you’re actually living in the place.
Funny how hindsight works... you always think you’ll care more than you actually do.
If I had to start over, I’d probably focus more on things that are hard or expensive to change later—like insulation or structural stuff—and worry less about the bells and whistles.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’d push back a bit on skipping “future-proofing” features. Sure, some upgrades end up unused, but things like conduit runs or rough-ins can be a lifesaver down the line. Retrofitting electrical or plumbing is a nightmare once the drywall’s up. I’ve seen too many clients regret not spending a little extra up front when they want to finish a basement or add tech later. Sometimes those “what ifs” actually do pay off, even if it takes a few years.
BUILDING BASE STRUCTURES—WHAT IF YOU HAD TO START OVER?
Totally agree on the conduit runs—I've had a couple projects where we had to fish wires through finished walls and it was just... not fun. But I do wonder sometimes if we overthink the “what ifs.” Like, I’ve seen people rough in for a future sauna or home theater that never actually happened. Curious, has anyone actually used all their rough-ins or do some just sit there forever?
I do wonder sometimes if we overthink the “what ifs.” Like, I’ve seen people rough in for a future sauna or home theater that never actually happened.
That’s a fair point. I’ve seen plenty of unused rough-ins myself—sometimes they just become dead space in the wall. But I’d argue there’s a balance to strike. Over-prepping can be wasteful, both in materials and embodied energy, especially if those “future plans” never materialize. Maybe it’s better to focus on flexible design rather than trying to anticipate every possible scenario. Sometimes less is more, even if it means a bit more work down the line.
I’ve definitely seen the “future sauna” scenario play out—my neighbor had a whole corner of his basement plumbed and wired for one, but ten years later it’s just storage for old bikes and paint cans. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that you’re future-proofing, but sometimes it just means extra cost and wasted resources.
I lean toward adaptable spaces instead of specific rough-ins. Like, instead of running plumbing for a hypothetical wet bar, maybe just leave clear access and a chase for pipes if you ever need them. That way you’re not committing materials or energy to something that might never happen, but you’re not closing off the option either.
It’s a bit like buying clothes for a life you think you’ll have versus the one you actually live. Sometimes it’s better to wait and see what you really need before making those investments.
