Welcome to Smart Home on the Range!
Follow us as we step through the design and construction process of our new smart home and other content.
The Latest Smart Home On The Range Blog
The Best Ways to Add Smart Switches to Older Homes
One thing to consider if you’re thinking about replacing your analog switches with smart switches is if your home is wired for them. What you need to look for is a neutral wire. If your home is older and your switches don’t have one, not to worry - you still have several ways to enjoy smart switch functionality without the expense of hiring an electrician. Check this out ...
Follow Our Home Build Week By Week
Week 12
Week 12
Week 12
I’ve been waiting a long time for Week 12. Not specifically Week 12, but instead the day I get to the do the walk through with my network and audio cabling installer. A lot of work has gone into this part of our smart home plan as it will enable everything that will make our home ‘smart.’
Week 11
Week 12
Week 12
Lots going on this week as the plumbers are wrapping up rough-in for water and gas and painters are prepping some exterior areas for paint. We also did an extensive walk through with our electrician and Debbie and I marked up studs for blocking!
Week 10
Week 12
Week 10
After posting on our electrical installation last week, we ended up calling an audible and started the plumbing. Our electrical contractor got called out of town and our electrical work went on hold. So, to help maintain our timeline, we shifted to plumbing.
Week 9
Week 9
Week 10
The next step is electrical wiring to support lighting, switches, outlets and systems like HVAC and water heater. Placement of electricity for specific needs, smart or not, has been a particular area of focus. This stage has consumed a lot of time due to all of the integration points.
Week 8
Week 9
Week 8
As we continue with framing, I’m going to share more details on the network we’ll be putting into our home build project to support the smart home technology we plan to deploy. And some tips and guidelines to follow in wiring your home for optimal results.
Week 7
Week 9
Week 8
I’m going to deviate from the home build track I’ve been on the past 6 weeks as we continue with framing. This week I’m going to do a deeper dive on the infrastructure behind the ‘head end’ of the network and the brains of our smart home.
Week 6
Week 6
Week 6
As the house literally starts to take shape, Debbie and I are able to start walking around the rooms, reminding us of the purposeful thought that has gone into so many details. Each week just gets better and gets us closer to the day we move in. Check this out ...
Week 5
Week 6
Week 6
It was another big step in our project to see all the form work, rebar and conduiting in place, the only thing left was to pour concrete. But there's more to it than that - a lot of technique goes into building a proper foundation. Check this out ...
Week 4
Week 6
Week 4
This has been a huge week with the preparation for pouring the foundation. The entire complexion of the lot has changed as the forms are in place, along with a lot of other foundation prep. So lots of content to share this week.
Week 3
Week 3
Week 4
The trenches for the footings were dug over the weekend and the rebar to support the concrete was dropped on the lot. Thanks to warm, sunny weather moving in, Tuesday morning crews were onsite to pour the footings and it looks like we may have a foundation soon.
Week 2
Week 3
Week 2
All of the dirt that was dropped on our lot last week has been neatly leveled where the foundation will be poured. The foundation is the most important part of any construction design. But footings are next and an essential part of the foundation.
Week 1
Week 3
Week 2
Here are Debbie and I standing at what will be our front door. Click below for details on Week 1 as we finally get started with our home build project.
Smart Home Product News
Need a Robot Vacuum That'll Pick Up After You?
With the launch of Roborock's Saros Z70, the first ever robot vacuum with a mechanical arm, your next home helper may be able to pick up stuff scattered about the room instead of simply cleaning around them. It features a first-of-its-kind five-axis robotic arm that emerges from the bot when it encounters items. It lifts any items weighing less than 10.5 ounces and deposits them in a single pile or designated basket, so it can continue to clean unobstructed.
Sunseeker Robot Mowers Cover Yards (Very) Large and Small
Sunseeker is bringing its excellent onboard intelligence to three new robot mower models, including a new top-of-the-line model that’s capable of handling spreads of up to 3 acres.
The brand announced the entry-level X3, the mid-range X5, and the X7 Pro with a 3 acre due to being equipped with two 10Ah batteries.
The rear-wheel-drive X3 carries a 4Ah battery. It can handle up to 0.2-acre yards.
xBloom Studio Coffee Machine
xBloom Studio Coffee Machine
The new xBloom Studio Coffee Machine combines the grinder, brewer, and scale into one sleek design. This device caters to all levels of coffee drinkers, providing fully automated, semi-guided, and fully manual brewing experiences. You can set your brew preferences on either the xBloom app or the device's compact LED matrix display. It's the ultimate home-brewer for coffee drinkers dedicated to consistency and precision.