Smart home wiring for new construction: the pre-wire checklist

When to pre-wire

Low-voltage wiring happens in two visits:

1. Rough-in: after framing, electrical, and plumbing, and before insulation and drywall. We run every cable, mount brackets for speakers and access points, and label everything.
2. Trim-out: after paint. We install speakers, access points, cameras, keypads, TVs, and the equipment rack, then program and test the system.

Bring your low-voltage installer in during the planning stage, ideally with your floor plan, so the wiring lines up with furniture, TV walls, and ceiling details.

The pre-wire checklist

Network & Wi-Fi

• Cat6 to every Wi-Fi access point location, usually ceilings in central hallways and large rooms, plus one or two outdoors under the eaves.
• Cat6 to every TV location (two runs is better than one), home offices, and anywhere a desktop computer or game console will live.
• A conduit from the street or utility entry to the equipment location, so your internet provider's line goes straight to the rack.

Equipment rack location

• A closet, garage wall, or under-stairs space where every cable comes home.
• Dedicated power (ideally its own circuit) and ventilation, since equipment produces heat.
• Enough room to work on it later. A cramped, hot closet is the most common mistake we fix.

Audio

• Speaker wire to in-ceiling or in-wall speaker locations in each room you want music: kitchen, living, dining, primary suite, bathrooms, and the patio.
• Outdoor speaker runs for the patio, pool, and backyard, including landscape speakers if you want them.
• All runs go back to the rack, where the amplifiers (for example, Sonos Amps) will live.

TVs & home theater

• At each TV: Cat6, a recessed power and low-voltage box behind the TV, and a conduit (2" is a good size) from the TV down to the media cabinet or back to the rack, so you can add or replace cables later.
• For a media room or theater: surround and ceiling speaker locations, subwoofer location, and projector or TV location.

Security & access

• Cat6 to every camera location: front entry, driveway, side gates, backyard, and garage. Exterior soffits and eaves are ideal.
• Cat6 to the front door for a video doorbell, and to the gate for an intercom or gate station.

Lighting & shades

• Plan lighting control with your electrician early; keypad locations replace banks of switches.
• For motorized shades, put power or low-voltage wire at the top of each window. It's nearly impossible to add cleanly later.

Control

• Cat6 to any in-wall touchscreen locations, such as the kitchen, primary bedroom, and entry.
• Wire for thermostats and any sensors your system will use.

Common pre-wire mistakes

• Wi-Fi as an afterthought. Without wired access points, big new homes still end up with dead zones.
• No conduit to the TV. TV connections change every few years; conduit lets you keep up without cutting drywall.
• Skipping the outdoors. Patio speakers, outdoor Wi-Fi, and cameras are much easier before stucco.
• Unlabeled cables. Every run should be labeled at both ends.

Working with a low-voltage installer

The best results come from involving your low-voltage installer early, ideally during design, so the wiring lines up with furniture plans, TV walls, and ceiling details. Ask for a wiring plan you can review, cables labeled at both ends, and a walkthrough before the drywall goes up. A good installer will coordinate directly with your builder and electrician. Learn more about our smart home and networking services.

Frequently asked questions

When should low-voltage wiring be done in new construction?

At rough-in: after framing, electrical, and plumbing, and before insulation and drywall. Devices are installed later at trim-out, after paint.

What should I pre-wire if I'm not sure what I want yet?

At minimum: Cat6 to every TV, office, Wi-Fi access point, and camera location, speaker wire to main living areas and the patio, and conduit from TV walls to the equipment location. Wiring is inexpensive compared with opening walls later.

Is Cat6 still worth running if everything is wireless?

Yes. Wi-Fi access points, cameras, TVs, and streaming devices all perform best on a wired connection, and wired access points are what make wireless reliable throughout the home.