Future proofing service ducts

BarneyMc

Is it commonplace to run say inch and a half ducting around the house to allow for any potential wires that may be needed in the future. For example, run these ducts from a centre point like utility room to all other main rooms via the ceiling void? Seems like it would cost very little but might just come in very useful some time in the future.

Strolling Bones

I wouldn't have said commonplace but I often did so below the floorslab ( 100mm ducts) . It is much easier to use expanding foam to to seal ducts you don't need vs using a kango to chase for one you forgot about.

PROJECT K

I am running a 4" duct from the utility/comms room within the ceiling void to the kitchen then under the floor to an island - also underfloor to the main living room (under a built in tv unit) so i can run additional cables in the future - dont really see any benefit in having this all over the house but you never know!

BarneyMc

PROJECT K wrote: »

I am running a 4" duct from the utility/comms room within the ceiling void to the kitchen then under the floor to an island - also underfloor to the main living room (under a built in tv unit) so i can run additional cables in the future - dont really see any benefit in having this all over the house but you never know!

How do you get from the ceiling void down to the floor with a 4" duct? Also, when you say underfloor do you mean under the screed or under the insulation - i.e. in what layer does the duct run?

PROJECT K

the 4" duct in the kitchen terminates over a full height stud wall for built in oven/fridge etc so it wont be seen - just allows me to fish cables through then they can go anywhere along the kitchen walls in and around the units. I then have a 4" duct at the base of these units running to the island (i.e. two 90deg bends either end). I have 200mm insulation on floor so this duct sits on top of the initital 100mm layer - all inside the insulation zone. Same with the living room duct - it runs from the tv unit to a built in storage wall which backs on to the utlity room where everything is centrally located. Probably will never need it but as Strolling Bones says you are better of foaming these in than trying to kango them out later (and still try and maintain airtightness etc!)

Dudda

Not just service ducts in the house. Another thing to consider is a duct from outside to the utility/comma room inside. This could be useful for future fibre connections, etc.