10 Things to Consider When Buying Custom Home Fans

In the search for the best outdoor ceiling fan, there are several primary considerations, including: 

• How much moisture the fan will be exposed to 
• How sturdy the fan and mounting hardware are 
• Fan performance 
• Lighting needs 

In order to feel air movement from an outdoor ceiling fan, you’ll need a model with a large motor to ensure optimal performance. 

If you plan to use your outdoor space in the evenings, consider choosing an outdoor ceiling fan with a light to brighten the area. 

Ceiling fans rated for strong winds have a special blade and mounting hardware design that prevents the fan from moving too much or being damaged by high wind speeds. 

Ceiling fans rated for salt air are designed to resist rust or corrosion due to high-saline conditions. These fans are ideally suited for homes in coastal regions. 

If you want a ceiling fan for an outdoor patio, porch or gazebo, you’ll need one that’s designed specifically for outdoor use. Outdoor ceiling fans have a coating and construction — sometimes including a sealed motor — that keep them from corroding, rusting or being damaged by moisture.

Fans for outdoor use, which are sometimes called indoor/outdoor ceiling fans, come in three main rating types: damp-rated, wet-rated and dry-rated. 

• Damp-rated outdoor ceiling fans are designed for use in covered outdoor areas or indoor bathrooms where the fan may be exposed to high humidity or light moisture. An exterior ceiling fan that’s damp-rated should not be used in a gazebo or in any other uncovered location where it’ll be directly exposed to rain or the elements.
• A wet-rated outdoor ceiling fan, or waterproof outdoor ceiling fan, is suitable for high-moisture areas and for direct exposure to rain. Wet-rated fans are safe for pergolas and gazebos and may be the best option for covered porches in coastal regions where storm winds can drive rain onto the area. 
• Dry-rated ceiling fans or indoor ceiling fans are designed exclusively for indoor use.

I agree with a lot of what Orlando has said. We're just finishing our build and I wish I would have asked how busy our builder was back before we started. He's done a nice job overall, but he was way too busy. He was also in the process of building a new home for himself. I felt like his attention to us was definitely lacking.

A few things we did:
- Under cabinet mounted outlets in the kitchen; nothing worse than having a beautiful kitchen with ugly outlets every few feet.
- Closet where all the speaker wire, Ethernet cords, coax comes together; that being said, I'm not an AV literate guy so I wish I would have consulted someone more knowledgeable first
- Built in desk nook for our son in his room, so we never need to buy some bulky desk or anything for him now
- Built in bookshelves around the door entering my office/study; looks really sharp and super functional
- Cabinets under the kitchen island for storage
- Floor outlet in living room
- Small canned lights above master bed area for reading
- Almost all lights in main rooms are on a dimmer switch; makes a HUGE difference
- Stub out for future low voltage and pool electrical
- Counter space, potato and onion bins and cabinet in pantry
- Outdoor shower behind garage
- Custom powered broom cabinet in laundry with high toe kick so a roomba can fit under and have its base station hidden

We whiffed on the laundry room. The plan we went with made this room challenging to begin with but it's a mess.

I also wish we would have paid attention to better attic access. It's super tricky and above posters were spot on with stair access and door.