When planning a custom home, it's easy to focus on floor plans, finishes, and outdoor living spaces while overlooking an important detail: outdoor water access.

The location and functionality of exterior water connections can have a significant impact on everything from landscaping and gardening to vehicle washing and outdoor entertaining.

Cory Symes, Project Manager at Alair Homes®, shares the common oversights he sees, why early planning matters, and how well-placed water connections can make everyday outdoor tasks easier.

What are some of the most common mistakes or oversights homeowners make when planning outdoor water access for a new custom home?

The biggest mistake I see is that homeowners often don't plan for outdoor water access at all. Most of the focus goes into the interior of the home, and outdoor hose connections become an afterthought. Then after they move in, they realize they need a very long hose to reach certain areas of the property.

What should homeowners consider when deciding how many outdoor water connections they need and where to locate them?

It really comes down to how they plan to use their property. If they don't have an irrigation system, they'll likely want more water connection points so they aren't dragging a hose long distances to water grass, gardens, or planting beds.

They should also think about things like washing vehicles, cleaning patios or decks, rinsing off sports equipment, or any other regular outdoor activities. The more thought that goes into those uses during the planning stage, the easier it is to figure out the right number and placement of water connections.

I always encourage homeowners to think beyond what they'll need on day one. Landscaping often evolves over time, gardens get added, and many homeowners end up expanding their outdoor living spaces after they've settled into the home.

Why is it important to plan exterior water connections early in the construction process, and what challenges can arise if changes are needed later?

These decisions should really be made during the plumbing rough-in stage if not earlier. That's the best time to think through locations and how the homeowner plans to use each connection.

If water connections are added later, after exterior finishes have been completed, it can require significant rework. Not only can that add cost, but it can also affect the appearance of the home's exterior. When planned early, we can integrate them more thoughtfully and even incorporate details like custom stone trim when working with masonry exteriors to create a cleaner, more finished look.

What should homeowners consider when choosing outdoor water connections?

They should also think about the color of the water connections and how they'll look with the home's exterior finishes. And, of course, how easy they are to use. With Aquor, you can quickly connect a hose to the wall connection rather than having to screw it on like a traditional faucet. It's just as easy to disconnect, which is especially handy in northern climates when you're taking hoses off for the winter to prevent freezing. 

Can you share an example from an Alair project where thoughtful planning of outdoor water access made a meaningful difference for the homeowner?

With all our projects, we sit down with the homeowners and discuss how they’ll be using the outdoor water access and where they want them placed. Today, these connections are much more aesthetically pleasing, which allows the homeowner to have more of them located in many different parts of their home. 

What has been your experience with Aquor products, and what advantages do they offer compared to traditional outdoor faucets?

What I like most about Aquor products is how clean and modern they look compared to traditional outdoor faucets. On a custom home, every exterior detail matters, and Aquor products do a really great job of blending into the overall design.

The quick-connect system is also a big advantage. It's extremely easy for homeowners to connect a hose when they need it and disconnect it when they don't.

I also really like the hot and cold options. They're especially useful around outdoor kitchens, vehicle washing and pet washing areas, and other outdoor living spaces where homeowners want a little more functionality from their water connections.