Friction-Maxxing Our Home Build: Copper Pipes, Ethernet, and No Carpet

Friction-maxxing is having a moment right now, and if you haven’t come across the term yet, you will soon. 😉 It started circulating in my world as a response to digital overwhelm: the idea that building small points of resistance into your daily life, like making your own coffee instead of hitting a button, or reading a physical book instead of scrolling, makes you more present in your own home and life in general.

We’ve been designing our dream home build around this exact idea without having a name for it, so when the trend surfaced, it felt less like a discovery and more like confirmation. We’re building on 8 acres near a lake, and from the first planning conversation we had, the goal was a house that works for us on the most fundamental level possible: clean water, real materials, fewer systems demanding our attention, and no infrastructure inside our walls that we’ll quietly regret in ten years.

Here’s every choice we made, the reasoning behind each one, and the specifics that actually matter if you’re thinking about doing any of this yourself.

What Is Friction-Maxxing, and Why Does It Apply to a Home Build?

Friction-maxxing, a term coined by journalist Kathryn Jezer-Morton, is the practice of deliberately choosing the less convenient option because the resistance itself is the benefit. In home design, that translates to analog clocks instead of phone alarms, physical cookbooks instead of tablet recipes, and rooms designed for conversation rather than content consumption.

When you’re building from the ground up, friction-maxxing goes a level deeper; you’re making decisions about what gets built into the structure of the house itself — pipe material, cable runs, floor surfaces, water source, etc.

Does Any of This Actually Help Our Overall Health?

I do not want our home to feel like I’m living in a control center. I want it to be a welcoming, restorative, calming environment that encourages connection, conversation, creativity, activities…. and isn’t just controlled by technology and filled with screens. As a device-driven society, we’ve trained ourselves to eliminate boredom so efficiently that we’ve also eliminated a lot of the thinking and imagination and creativity that used to happen.

I’m not trying to become some pioneer woman who churns butter at sunrise and judges people with iPads. I still use my phone. I still love convenience. I still Google things 47 times a day, but I do think we’ve made it way too easy to never be bored.

The second there’s a quiet minute, we reach for something. The second there’s a pause in the car, the kitchen, the bedroom, or the living room, there’s a screen ready to fill it before our brains even get a chance to wander.

I kind of want my brain to wander again.

I want Lake to grow up in a house where conversation happens because there isn’t always a show talking over us. I want him to see us reaching for books at night, not just phones. I want him to know what it feels like to wait, to look around, to make up a game, to stare out a window, to be a little bored and then figure out what to do with that boredom.

We won’t have a TV in our bedroom, and that one decision alone has changed the whole feeling of going to sleep. I read until I’m actually tired instead of letting another episode decide when my day is over.

I use an analog alarm clock on my nightstand because I realized I didn’t love my phone being the first thing I touched every morning. I don’t need emails, notifications, group texts, Instagram, and the entire emotional temperature of the internet two inches from my face before I’ve even had water.

All the Ways We Are Friction-Maxxing

1. A Master Internet Kill Switch for the Whole House

We’re wiring in a master switch that cuts internet access to the entire house in one move. This is less about being anti-technology and more about having real control over when technology is active in our space. Right now most homes are passively connected all the time, which means opting out requires effort and opting in is the default.

2. Direct Ethernet Wherever There’s a Screen or a Computer

I did not expect ethernet to become one of the more philosophical decisions in our house build, but here we are. Every television and computer is getting a hardwired connection, which sounds boring until you remember that I run a photography business from home and spend a decent portion of my life moving very large files around the internet. Client galleries, backups, uploads, downloads, blog posts, emails, AI tools, image delivery… all of it depends on the internet working when I have a small window of time to work.

If Lake goes down for a nap and I have 47 minutes to send a gallery, I do not want to spend 12 of those minutes arguing with wifi. So yes, the practical reason is stability.

But the more personal reason is that I like the idea of connection requiring a decision. Wifi is too easy. It’s just there, floating through the house, making every screen feel quietly available all the time. And yes, part of this is also about EMF exposure. I know that topic makes some people immediately want to roll their eyes, and that’s fine. I’m not trying to convince anyone to wrap their router in foil or move to the woods with a butter churn.

Ethernet is my work-around because you plug in because you’re choosing to connect, and you unplug because you’re done. I’m not anti-technology, I mean, obviously, I run my business online, I use Ai to automate tasks in my business, I write, edit, upload, research, mentor, and communicate through screens every single day. But I do not want our home to feel like living on the internet is the “default setting”. I want the default to be Lake in the yard, the dogs running around, birds outside, dirty little toddler hands, books on the nightstand, dinner without phones, and Caleb and me being 100% in the room we’re in.

3. Wood Floors, No Carpet Anywhere

We’re not doing carpet anywhere in the house, and we’re doing wood throughout the great room. The design reason is obvious and the material quality speaks for itself over time. But the reason we’re committed to it on a health level comes back to microplastics.

Synthetic carpet fibers, particularly those made from nylon, polyester, and polypropylene, break down through normal use and release microplastic particles into the air and onto surfaces in your home. A 2022 study found that indoor air can contain significantly higher concentrations of microplastic fibers than outdoor air, and carpet is one of the primary sources.

4. Copper Piping Throughout the House

This is the choice that gets the most questions, and it’s worth explaining in full.

Most new home construction uses PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) or PVC for plumbing. Both are cheaper than copper and faster to install. Both are plastic. PEX in particular has raised ongoing questions about leaching, especially in hot water lines where heat accelerates the process. A 2020 study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology found that PEX pipes can release dozens of chemicals into drinking water, including some with endocrine-disrupting properties.

Copper has been used in plumbing for thousands of years. It doesn’t leach plastic compounds because it’s not plastic. It has natural antimicrobial properties. It costs more upfront and requires skilled installation.

We’re taking plastic reduction seriously throughout the build, and the plumbing inside our walls felt like a place where the decision was easy once we understood what the alternatives actually are.

5. A Full Well Water System With Layered Filtration

Our water source is a private well, which means we’re not on municipal supply and we’re fully responsible for the quality of what comes through our pipes. That’s more accountability, but it also means we control the entire system.

Here’s how we’re filtering it, layer by layer:

• Iron filter: Well water in our area runs high in iron, which affects taste, stains fixtures, and over time damages appliances. The iron filter goes in first to pull that out before the water touches anything else in the house.
• Water softener: Hard water is high in calcium and magnesium. It builds up in pipes, reduces the effectiveness of soap, and shortens the life of water-using appliances. The softener addresses that at the whole-home level.
• Reverse osmosis at point of use: RO systems force water through a membrane that removes a broad spectrum of contaminants including heavy metals, nitrates, and most microplastics. We’re installing these at the locations where we’re drinking and cooking. RO does remove beneficial minerals along with contaminants, which is worth knowing, but for drinking water the tradeoff is straightforward when the alternative is unfiltered well water.
• Whole-home filtration: We’re still evaluating the right whole-home system as a final layer, but the goal is to catch anything that makes it through the earlier stages before it reaches showers, laundry, and other end points.

The upfront cost of this system is real, but the ongoing cost of not doing it, in appliance replacement, pipe maintenance, and whatever long-term exposure to unfiltered well water means.

6. Reducing EMF Exposure Throughout the House

EMF stands for electromagnetic field, and it’s the type of radiation emitted by anything that runs on electricity or transmits a wireless signal: wifi routers, cell phones, smart meters, baby monitors, microwave ovens, and the wiring inside your walls.

The conversation around EMF and health is an evolving one, and the research ranges from preliminary to contested depending on the source and the frequency range in question. I am not making medical claims here; what we’re doing is applying the same logic we applied to microplastics.

Some of what we’re already doing addresses EMF directly, even if that wasn’t the primary reason we made those choices. Hardwired ethernet eliminates the need for wifi on connected devices, which means less radiofrequency radiation circulating through the house continuously. The master kill switch cuts the router and any wireless signal it’s producing during the hours we’re not using it, which for most people is overnight, the longest uninterrupted block of time you spend in your home. Those two decisions alone reduce ambient RF exposure significantly without requiring any additional effort once the infrastructure is in place.

Beyond those, we’re making a few build-specific choices with EMF in mind:

• Bedroom wiring placement. During framing, we’re working with our electrician to route electrical wiring away from the walls closest to where we sleep. The electromagnetic field from wiring drops off quickly with distance, but when your head is eight inches from a wall with active current running through it for eight hours a night, the proximity matters more than it would in a living room. This costs nothing to plan for during the build and is essentially impossible to fix after the walls are closed.
• No smart meter. We’re requesting an analog utility meter rather than a smart meter. Smart meters transmit usage data wirelessly at regular intervals, which means there’s a radiofrequency signal pulsing from the side of your house on a schedule you don’t control. An analog meter reads the same consumption data and transmits nothing. Some utilities push back on this request or charge a small fee to maintain a manual read. We think it’s worth it.
• Minimizing wireless devices in sleeping areas. The bedrooms are getting hardwired ethernet drops and no wifi-dependent smart devices. No smart speakers, no wireless alarm systems, no connected lighting that requires a hub. If something needs to be in a bedroom, it’s either plugged in with a cord or it’s not in there. We’re also using analog alarm clocks instead of phones, which sounds like a small thing until you realize the phone alarm is the reason most people’s first ten minutes of the day happen on Instagram. The nightstand has a clock and a book on it and that’s about it. A bedroom with no television and just a lamp and a stack of books feels almost radical at this point, and also just… really calm.
• Distance from the electrical panel. We planned the primary bedroom location early in the design process specifically to put meaningful distance between it and the electrical panel. The panel produces a stronger electromagnetic field than standard wiring, and again, the fix is easy during design and close to impossible afterward.

7. No VOC Paints, No MDF, and Fresh Air Built Into the Structure

We’re specifying zero-VOC paints and finishes on every surface, not just the main walls. Cabinets, trim, and subfloor coatings are where most builders use whatever’s cheapest and fastest, and those materials off-gas for months or years afterward. We have it in writing with our contractor.

We’re also not using particle board or MDF anywhere in the cabinetry. Both are manufactured with formaldehyde-based adhesives and they release it slowly into your indoor air for a long time after installation. Solid wood and plywood-core cabinets don’t have that problem and they hold up better anyway, so this one wasn’t a hard call.

8. Lighting That Works With Our Bodies

One of the less glamorous choices we’ve made for the house is probably one I’ll appreciate every single day, and it starts with something most people never think about: your kitchen lights don’t know what time it is.

We’re putting in dimmers throughout and using Circadian Bulbs from Healthy Home in every room. Code LENHOF gets you 10% off.

Your eyes have specialized cells called melanopsin receptors that have nothing to do with vision. Their only job is to read light and signal your brain about what time it is, and they’re most sensitive to blue wavelengths around 480 nanometers. Morning blue light wakes you up, sharpens your thinking, and sets a timer so melatonin releases 12 to 16 hours later, right when you want to fall asleep. The problem isn’t blue light. It’s blue light at the wrong time.

Standard home lighting doesn’t account for any of that. Harvard researchers found that blue light suppressed melatonin for about twice as long as green light and shifted circadian rhythms by twice as much. That’s the difference between falling asleep at 10pm and staring at the ceiling until midnight with no real explanation for why.

Circadian bulbs let you shift from cool, alerting color temperatures during the day to warm tones in the evening. Bright when you’re making coffee and getting Lake out the door. Warm when the day is done and everyone needs to slow down.

I’m not trying to make the house complicated. I just don’t want bedtime to start under the same light I’m using to unload groceries.

9. The Kitchen: No Microwave & Only Cast Iron

Just like in our current home, every pan in this kitchen is going to be cast iron or stainless steel. Non-stick coatings break down with heat and regular use, and the particles go into the food, which is exactly the category of problem we’re solving everywhere else in this house. Cast iron and carbon steel require seasoning and a little attention, which honestly makes them the most friction-maxxing cookware you can own: they reward you for maintaining them and they last for generations if you do.

We’re not putting a prominent microwave in the kitchen. Most of what people use a microwave for can be done on the stovetop or in a small oven in roughly the same amount of time.

10. Bedrooms: Natural Fiber Everything

Just like in our current home, we’re doing natural fiber bedding throughout, wool, linen, and/or organic cotton only. Synthetic bedding (polyester fill and microfiber sheets) shed microplastic particles against your skin for eight hours a night.

Wool regulates temperature without synthetic fill and lasts significantly longer than polyester alternatives, so this is one of those choices that costs more upfront and saves money over time while also being the healthier option.

11. The Land: Clothesline, Compost, and a Woodburning Stove

Eight acres gives us room to do some of this properly, so we’re using it. We’re putting in a clothesline for sure! Dryers use significant electricity, generate heat the house has to then cool down, and accelerate fabric wear in a way you don’t notice until your clothes look old faster than they should. Line drying in good weather is one of those friction-maxxing choices that gives something back: the clothes last longer and being outside for ten minutes is not a hardship. 🙂

The fireplace is the one weprobably thought the hardest about. We’re putting in a wood-burning stove as the primary gathering anchor in the main living space and I am so excited about it! A wood-burning stove requires wood, maintenance, and attention, and it produces a quality of light and heat that nothing else comes close to & it is ridiculously good-looking! 🙂

Frequently Asked Questions

What is friction-maxxing in home design?

Friction-maxxing is the practice of designing your home around analog, manual, and deliberate choices rather than automating or digitizing everything for convenience. The idea is that small points of resistance, like a wired internet connection you choose to use, or a coffee ritual that takes a few minutes, make you more present in your own space.

Is copper piping better than PEX?

Copper piping does not leach plastic compounds, has natural antimicrobial properties, and has a longer established track record in residential plumbing. PEX is less expensive and easier to install, but research has raised concerns about chemical leaching, particularly in hot water applications. Copper costs more upfront and requires skilled installation.

What is the best water filtration system for well water?

The right system depends on what’s actually in your water, which you determine through a water test. A common layered approach for well water includes an iron filter, a water softener, reverse osmosis at drinking and cooking points, and optionally a whole-home sediment or carbon filter. Each stage addresses a different category of contaminants.

Does carpet release microplastics?

Yes. Synthetic carpet fibers made from nylon, polyester, and polypropylene shed microplastic particles through normal use. Studies have found elevated concentrations of microplastic fibers in indoor air in homes with synthetic carpeting compared to outdoor air. Hard flooring surfaces like wood do not have the same issue.

How do you reduce EMF exposure in a home build?

The highest-impact choices happen during construction: routing electrical wiring away from bedroom walls, requesting an analog utility meter instead of a smart meter, hardwiring devices that would otherwise use wifi, and placing the primary bedroom at a meaningful distance from the electrical panel. A master kill switch that cuts the router overnight also reduces radiofrequency exposure during the hours when you’re most stationary in the house.

Is wifi bad for your health?

The research on long-term, low-level radiofrequency exposure from wifi is still developing, and there’s no established consensus on harm at typical residential exposure levels. What is established is that exposure drops off quickly with distance and that hardwired alternatives produce no radiofrequency radiation at all. For people who want to reduce exposure as a precaution, especially in sleeping areas, switching from wifi to ethernet on stationary devices is a straightforward way to do it.

Is hardwired ethernet better than wifi for a home?

For devices that stay in one place, like televisions and desktop computers, a wired ethernet connection is faster, more stable, and more secure than wifi. It also makes connectivity a deliberate choice rather than something that happens passively in the background.

Why avoid MDF and particle board in cabinetry?

MDF and particle board are manufactured with formaldehyde-based adhesives that off-gas into indoor air for years after installation. Solid wood and plywood-core cabinets don’t have this issue, hold up better structurally, and are the cleaner long-term choice for indoor air quality.

What cookware doesn’t leach chemicals?

Cast iron, carbon steel, and stainless steel are the safest options. Non-stick coatings break down with heat and regular use and release particles into food. Cast iron and carbon steel require seasoning and maintenance but last for generations with proper care.

My Final Thoughts

We use the internet constantly. We have screens. We are not out here churning butter and pretending it’s 1987. But we are building a house where we actually looked at every system and material and made a call, instead of just going with whatever the contractor quoted by default.

The pipes are copper because we looked at what PEX actually is and decided we didn’t want it inside our walls for the next fifty years. The floors are wood because synthetic carpet sheds microplastics and we’re already thinking about that everywhere else, so why would we put it under our feet. The water goes through four stages of filtration because we’re on a well and we want to know exactly what’s in it. The internet has a kill switch because we wanted one. None of that is radical, it just required asking the questions a little earlier in the process than most people do.

Have questions about any of the systems or materials we’re using? Drop them in the comments and I’ll answer what I can from our own research and the conversations we’ve had with contractors through this build.