Pre-Wiring.. What should I Wire For in my Home?
We get asked this a lot.
When a Client is in the building design stage of their Home. They often ask us what should be pre-wiring in their house? Our Answer is...........Everything you might need in the future.
Pre-wiring is cheaper up front.
With todays connected home, most builders are putting in the bare minimum for wiring. With only 44% of the population using a physical land line and 100% wanting Internet. Make sure you're pre-wiring for the correct services you will want in your home.
We Broke down the Basic wiring for any new contruction.
When it comes to the necessary pre-wiring in a home, You'll want to make sure the following are included in your wiring building design proposal:
Necessary Wiring
1.Demarcation point and wiring
The Demarcation point or Demarc is the location where your exterior services come into your home. i.e Cable or Satellite TV, High speed internet, or Fiber Optics. Depending on services available in your area you will want at minimum 1 cat6, 1 coax line, and 1 Fiber optic line from this point on the outside of the house to the inside data closet or structure can location.
2. Network Wiring
This is a very important section!!! Not all wireless internet devices are created equal. If you are building a house you should plan on at least 1 network (Cat 6) drop in each room. If you want to have a hardwired computer or Television this will save you in the long run when it comes to future expansion as well as save on WiFi slow down with too many wireless devices connected. IF you have a larger Home you may need the expansion of Wireless access points or WAPs to expand your wireless coverage so having hard lines in the house will increase your WiFi coverage. Also a network port can be used as a phone jack as well. just not the other way around.
3. TV and Control Wiring
Every House has a TV, just as important as Internet is in a home you want to include your TV Wiring.
Each TV location should have a minimum of 1 coax cable and 1 cat 6 cable. ( we recommend at least 2 cat 6) all of these wires should be pulled to a central location within the home either an AV closet or Structure can this wiring option allows for you to send Video to each TV location as well as network and control functions to each TV if you choose to add a Home Automation system. This allows the option to Hard wire in the network to your Smart TV and limit added stress to your WiFi network.
4. Security Wiring
We recommend pulling wires to all your doors in your new home for future Alarm panel installation. Most wireless sensors are bulky and take away from the aesthetic of the door. With a pre-wired alarm contact you can hide that sensor inside the door frame with minimal notice. Also it will make for the install of your Keypads easier and allow them to be placed in more accessible locations.
5. Audio wiring
This wiring is over looked. If you pull the wire for speakers throughout the home early on it allows for easy addition of Speakers and volume controls within the home. Pulling speaker wire in the form of Surround sound or whole home audio will be a great asset in the future if you want to add music to your bathroom, kitchen, or even the back patio. All wires should go back to the AV closet or Structure can.
Wiring is so important.
In a world where wireless is becoming more and more ambiguous, most Smart home Integrators will stress the importance of pre-wiring all the potential you can in the building design phase of construction. We always say that it's better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it. TechTen Integrations can help with the wiring plan of your home to allow and prepare for those future expansions.