Getting ready to have a house and garage built and thinking about cameras. First thought was about after completion but then I thought about having a camera or two for the construction phase. Would be nice to be able to see the progress and also if things go missing although that will be an issue for the contractor more than me. This is a residential area and there is a home across the street with an upper window that seems like an almost ideal location. I have met them and think they would be cooperative. But they might not want things hooked to their network. I suppose I could record to a local PC and skip the network connection. I have a friend three houses down in the opposite direction but getting a network connection that distance could be an issue. Not sure there is line of sight. Not wanting to get too complex or expensive but wondering about ways to do something like this...
How to monitor building construction site with cameras?
- Thread starter JimS
- Start date
wkearney99
Senior Member
First rule of any customer activity on a build... DO NOTHING that interferes with the scheduled work. Do not have anything that's in anyone's way.
If they'll provide a power connection you could always use something like a cell hotspot gizmo added to your cellular account. Mount the necessary stuff on a board, so it's all-in-one and stick that in the neighbor's window.
Do yourself and the neighbors a favor and visit the job site daily after any work has been done. Check and sweep the street where any construction trucks have parked. Nothing more annoying than new construction causing flat tires from drop fasteners (nails, screws, framing brackets,etc). That and check at the stop sign leaving the area, because a few nails inevitably roll off the back of a truck when it accelerates again. I say this because our neighborhood has had a fair amount of construction tear-downs and nobody likes flat tires. A little time with the broom goes a long way toward building goodwill with the new neighbors.
Also, take as many pictures on site as you can. Everything. This way you'll have a record later when you need to have something else done. Where's the plumbing? Pix. Sewer lines, underground power and cable? More pix. French drain tile around the foundation, cisterns? Again, pix. Wells, geo-thermal, through-holes for sump pumps, etc. EVERYTHING and from more than one angle. Keep it going for framing and everything else.
If they'll provide a power connection you could always use something like a cell hotspot gizmo added to your cellular account. Mount the necessary stuff on a board, so it's all-in-one and stick that in the neighbor's window.
Do yourself and the neighbors a favor and visit the job site daily after any work has been done. Check and sweep the street where any construction trucks have parked. Nothing more annoying than new construction causing flat tires from drop fasteners (nails, screws, framing brackets,etc). That and check at the stop sign leaving the area, because a few nails inevitably roll off the back of a truck when it accelerates again. I say this because our neighborhood has had a fair amount of construction tear-downs and nobody likes flat tires. A little time with the broom goes a long way toward building goodwill with the new neighbors.
Also, take as many pictures on site as you can. Everything. This way you'll have a record later when you need to have something else done. Where's the plumbing? Pix. Sewer lines, underground power and cable? More pix. French drain tile around the foundation, cisterns? Again, pix. Wells, geo-thermal, through-holes for sump pumps, etc. EVERYTHING and from more than one angle. Keep it going for framing and everything else.
I don't think power at the neighbor for the camera is an issue (think that's what you were referring to) but the data usage on a cell hot spot could be an issue. It will be a lot of data. And if I put a camera on someone else's network I need to make sure it won't be a security issue for them.
kurtmccaslin
Active Member
I suggest some game cameras. You can set them to catch a photo on motion, or on timer. I use Reconyx cameras. They are more expensive, but they are rock solid and they can capture more than 10,000 photos before you have to change battery and SD card. You can also lock them to a tree with a cable lock.
