Did most of you choose any upgrades in the 2010 collection?

[readytobuy]

Hi,

for those who bought the 2010 collection-i would like to know if you got any upgrades? and if you did what did you choose? we did the full granite backsplash instead of the tile (not sure if its popular but i did it due to easy cleaning)...also did master bathroom tub and shower. we considered the floors but that was a major rip off so we decided to go standard on the floors.

 

[Irvine2Irvine]

Hi,

for those who bought the 2010 collection-i would like to know if you got any upgrades? and if you did what did you choose? we did the full granite backsplash instead of the tile (not sure if its popular but i did it due to easy cleaning)...also did master bathroom tub and shower. we considered the floors but that was a major rip off so we decided to go standard on the floors.

We did a lot of inside the wall upgrades.  Ceiling fan prewire, surround sound prewire, central vacuum, recessed lights, additional electric outlets and data outlets.  We also upgraded things that may cause damage if upgraded later.  They are bathroom vanity tops, tub and shower surrounds. 

I was going to do a full granite backsplash, but decided not to after they gave me the price.  Since the backsplash was already full behind the cooktop and 6" everywhere else, we were talking about additonal 10 sq ft.  They wanted $1400!!!  That is $140 per sq ft!!!  I can rip out only the 6" sections and put in a full backsplash next to existing full backsplash.  I know I will have to match the granite, but my granite Santa Celilia is fairly uniform so I think I can do it.  Worst case, I can rip out the entire standard backsplash and put in a full backsplash for less than $1000.

 

[PPBABA]

If you don't mind me asking, which plan did you guys buy? And what is the standard flooring like there?

How much more are they charging for the flooring? We are deciding whether to do flooring upgrade to our Carmel house.

 

[Irvine2Irvine]

If you don't mind me asking, which plan did you guys buy? And what is the standard flooring like there?

How much more are they charging for the flooring? We are deciding whether to do flooring upgrade to our Carmel house.

I bought the Sonoma Plan 3.

For flooring, they give cheap carpet in a lot of areas and the entry is tile.  One different item they have is Vinyl Wood Plank in kitchen, downstairs bathroom, laundry, and upstairs toilet area.  It is like Pergo except it's made out of thick vinyl instead of HDF (high density fiberboard).  It looks like laminate that mimics wood floor but it's waterproof.  I might actually expand the vinyl wood plank to the entire downstairs and all of upstairs bathrooms since my kids are still young and real wood floor will be too much stress to maintain.  They are charging $6.30 sq ft which is a little high but since I don't have to pay for the areas already installed with vinyl wood plank, the entire downstairs really come out to a little less than $4 sq ft.  I believe that's equivalent to installed price of cheaper laminate flooring outside.

As for upgrading the carpet, the price was not too bad.  Upgraded medium grade carpet with 7lb 1/2" padding costs $3.30- $4.00 sq ft through the builder. 

So basically, I can do the whole house for a little less than $4 sq ft.  Of course, hardwood flooring and travertine will double and triple the price.  Maybe when my kids get a little older...

 

[irvinehomeowner]

Do they have that vinyl plank in the Sonoma models? I thought they did but wasn't sure if it was laminate or not.

The other advantages to vinyl wood over laminate other than moisture protection is sound and softness. Laminate is so noisy (newer laminate has a cushion layer to reduce that).

 

[readytobuy]

we bought at coronado plan 1. the standard is really not that great in terms of flooring. Tile entry, carpet in living room, and tile in kitchen. The cheap laminate costs $6400 to upgrade a small 700 sq area and 11000 for real wood..depending on which kind of laminate/wood you pick. so as you see not a great deal, so we wanted to do our own floors. we asked for vinyl so it will be easier for us and of course they said no. If you are looking to do flooring i highly suggest you leave it as standard and ask for carpet in most places so you can do it yourself later.

 

[PPBABA]

I went back and looked at pictures from the Sonoma model homes. Plan 1 and 3 seem to have wood like flooring. My guess would be Vinyl plan in plan 1 and hardwood in plan 3...

There are wood like floors in Carmel Plan 2 as well... below are the pictures for each in the above order... can anyone tell which ones are Vinyl plank, and which ones are hardwood? I'm have very knowledge about flooring

If you don't mind me asking, which plan did you guys buy? And what is the standard flooring like there?

How much more are they charging for the flooring? We are deciding whether to do flooring upgrade to our Carmel house.

I bought the Sonoma Plan 3.

For flooring, they give cheap carpet in a lot of areas and the entry is tile.  One different item they have is Vinyl Wood Plank in kitchen, downstairs bathroom, laundry, and upstairs toilet area.  It is like Pergo except it's made out of thick vinyl instead of HDF (high density fiberboard).  It looks like laminate that mimics wood floor but it's waterproof.  I might actually expand the vinyl wood plank to the entire downstairs and all of upstairs bathrooms since my kids are still young and real wood floor will be too much stress to maintain.  They are charging $6.30 sq ft which is a little high but since I don't have to pay for the areas already installed with vinyl wood plank, the entire downstairs really come out to a little less than $4 sq ft.  I believe that's equivalent to installed price of cheaper laminate flooring outside.

As for upgrading the carpet, the price was not too bad.  Upgraded medium grade carpet with 7lb 1/2" padding costs $3.30- $4.00 sq ft through the builder. 

So basically, I can do the whole house for a little less than $4 sq ft.  Of course, hardwood flooring and travertine will double and triple the price.  Maybe when my kids get a little older...

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[Irvine2Irvine]

Do they have that vinyl plank in the Sonoma models? I thought they did but wasn't sure if it was laminate or not.

The other advantages to vinyl wood over laminate other than moisture protection is sound and softness. Laminate is so noisy (newer laminate has a cushion layer to reduce that).

Unfortunately, they do not have it in Sonoma models.  I asked and they only have hardwood flooring in models.  My guess is that Carmel does not have it either.  The salespeople at Sonoma told me to take a peek into the finished houses that were about to close escorw.  They looked good from outside the window.  I also went into one of the almost finished houses back in April and took some pictures.  At the time I didn't pay too much attention and thought it was hardwood floor, but upon examining the picture, it was vinyl plank.  I think the look is very comparable to laminate since they use very similar process for the top layer.

 

[nytransplant]

What's the difference between vinyl wood plank and laminate?

 

[Irvine2Irvine]

What's the difference between vinyl wood plank and laminate?

Both have a picture of wood and a protective coating on top.  It's what's underneath that differentiates them.

Vinyl wood plank is made of thick vinyl (4.5mm for the Sonoma specific brand) but it's still somewhat flexible.  Since it's vinyl, it's waterproof.  Therefore, you don't need waterproofing underlayment either.  Also it's quiter and somewhat softer as IHO mentioned.

Laminate is made of HDF (high density fiberboard).  It's usually 7-8mm thick so it's much thicker and firm so it hides the imperfections of the floor better than vinyl.  The downside is HDF will get damaged from water.  Also, you need a waterproofing underlayment and usually sound deadning underlayment if laying on concrete under the Laminate.

The vinyl plank I am looking at is a floating floor system like laminate so it will hide some imperfection but not as good as the Laminate.

 

[PPBABA]

So can anyone confirm all the wooden floors in the Sonoma/Carmel model homes are all indeed hardwood?

I went back and looked at pictures from the Sonoma model homes. Plan 1 and 3 seem to have wood like flooring. My guess would be Vinyl plan in plan 1 and hardwood in plan 3...

There are wood like floors in Carmel Plan 2 as well... below are the pictures for each in the above order... can anyone tell which ones are Vinyl plank, and which ones are hardwood? I'm have very knowledge about flooring

If you don't mind me asking, which plan did you guys buy? And what is the standard flooring like there?

How much more are they charging for the flooring? We are deciding whether to do flooring upgrade to our Carmel house.

I bought the Sonoma Plan 3.

For flooring, they give cheap carpet in a lot of areas and the entry is tile.  One different item they have is Vinyl Wood Plank in kitchen, downstairs bathroom, laundry, and upstairs toilet area.  It is like Pergo except it's made out of thick vinyl instead of HDF (high density fiberboard).  It looks like laminate that mimics wood floor but it's waterproof.  I might actually expand the vinyl wood plank to the entire downstairs and all of upstairs bathrooms since my kids are still young and real wood floor will be too much stress to maintain.  They are charging $6.30 sq ft which is a little high but since I don't have to pay for the areas already installed with vinyl wood plank, the entire downstairs really come out to a little less than $4 sq ft.  I believe that's equivalent to installed price of cheaper laminate flooring outside.

As for upgrading the carpet, the price was not too bad.  Upgraded medium grade carpet with 7lb 1/2" padding costs $3.30- $4.00 sq ft through the builder. 

So basically, I can do the whole house for a little less than $4 sq ft.  Of course, hardwood flooring and travertine will double and triple the price.  Maybe when my kids get a little older...

 

[OCMommy]

Congrats to all who purchased in the 2010 Home Collection.  I really liked Sonoma Plan #3, but I think I still want a formal living room.  I doubt any more houses in my price range will ever be built in Irvine with a formal living room!

 

[nytransplant]

What's the advantage of a pre-wire for surround sound vs just getting the speakers installed.  It seams that if only the pre-wire is installed its harder to "hide" the speakers?  Or am I missing something?  One thought is that there speakers are not high end?

 

[Irvine2Irvine]

What's the advantage of a pre-wire for surround sound vs just getting the speakers installed.  It seams that if only the pre-wire is installed its harder to "hide" the speakers?  Or am I missing something?  One thought is that there speakers are not high end?

The pre-wire option gives you just the wires where the speakers would end up at.  The complete package installs the 5 speakers also, but charges $1200+ for 5 speakers.  The speakers are Proficient C660, which I am not familiar with.  If I just take the pre-wire option, then I can install whatever ceiling speakers I want.  Anywhere from $40 each to $1000 each.  Or I can buy the sam Proficient C660 from ebay for about $130 each instead of $250 each that builder charges.  Installing ceiling speaker is REALLY easy.  Don't let the builder tell you otherwise.

 

[nytransplant]

So for those of you that added outlets/data ports.  Were you able to ugraded a phone outlet to a universal outlet or did you just after add another outlet for the cable/data/tv?

 

[nytransplant]

Second attempt at my question below.

So for those of you that added outlets/data ports.  Were you able to ugraded a phone outlet to a universal outlet or did you just after add another outlet for the cable/data/tv?

 

[PPBABA]

In Carmel we can replace phone jacks with universal plates.

Second attempt at my question below.

So for those of you that added outlets/data ports.  Were you able to ugraded a phone outlet to a universal outlet or did you just after add another outlet for the cable/data/tv?

 

[fe9000]

Second attempt at my question below.

So for those of you that added outlets/data ports.  Were you able to ugraded a phone outlet to a universal outlet or did you just after add another outlet for the cable/data/tv?

Sorry couldn't help here.  We didn't have the option to change any of the outlets.  Later phases should have that option.

 

[nytoca]

Sorry if this is a naive questions (first time home buyer here!), but how does one know which electrical/cable/phone outlets come standard in a house?  Or does anything come standard? 
The upgrade list gives plenty of choices to add switches, phone jacks and cable outlets, but I hope (?) that's if you want additional ones.  Thanks for any words of wisdom!

 

[Irvine2Irvine]

Sorry if this is a naive questions (first time home buyer here!), but how does one know which electrical/cable/phone outlets come standard in a house?  Or does anything come standard? 
The upgrade list gives plenty of choices to add switches, phone jacks and cable outlets, but I hope (?) that's if you want additional ones.  Thanks for any words of wisdom!

For Sonoma, the design center gave us a detailed diagram of all the lighting, switches, electrical outlet, phone/data/cable outlets.  They also let us add (at additional cost) data outlet and electric outlets.
I think that should be a norm for a new construction, provided that you purchase the house before the options cut-off dates.