Building a new home? The 7-point pre-wire checklist to finish before the plasterboard goes on.
Once the walls are lined, every extra cable means cutting plasterboard or running ugly trunking. A few hours of planning now gives you fast internet in every room, Wi-Fi that reaches the back of the section, and cameras ready to go.
- Building your own home
- Renovating
- Builders and project managers
- Plan from your floor plans, before framing is finished.
- Cable after framing, alongside the electrician.
- Everything in before insulation and linings.
- Test and fit outlets once the walls are painted.
7 things to cable while the walls are open
A home for the network. Pick one spot for the fibre box, router and patch panel: a hallway cupboard or garage wall with power and airflow. Every cable runs back here.
The fibre route from the street. Plan where the fibre comes into the house and how it reaches that spot, so the installer isn't drilling through a finished wall.
Data outlets in every room you'll use a screen. Lounge, bedrooms, office and the TV wall. Wired connections are faster and steadier than Wi-Fi for TVs, consoles and work computers.
Wi-Fi points in the ceiling. Wire for ceiling access points in the middle of the house and at the far end. They cover the home far better than a router in a cupboard.
The TV wall. Data and a conduit behind the TV, so cables to the soundbar or a console never hang down the wall.
Cameras, doorbell and gate. Cable to each corner you'd want watched, the front door and the gate. It's much cheaper than retrofitting under eaves later.
Alarm sensors and keypad. Wired sensors and a keypad by the main door are neater and more reliable than battery sensors you'll be replacing for years.
5 regrets we hear from new homeowners
"We thought Wi-Fi would be enough"
Insulation, foil-backed board and long floor plans block Wi-Fi more than people expect.
"The router ended up in the garage corner"
Without a planned network spot, the router goes wherever the fibre lands, often the worst place for coverage.
"No cable to the TV wall"
So the console runs on patchy Wi-Fi and the soundbar cable runs down the wall.
"We added cameras later"
Retrofitting cable into finished eaves and walls takes longer and shows more.
"Nobody labelled anything"
Ten unlabelled cables in a cupboard and no idea which room is which.
The fix for all of them
One plan, done from your floor plans, before the walls close. We work alongside your builder and electrician.
Not sure which cable to use?
Most homes are well served by Cat6. Our guide explains when Cat6A is worth it.
Pre-wire questions
Can you plan the cabling from our house plans?
Yes. Send us the floor plans and we'll mark every outlet, access point and camera, then give you a fixed quote in writing.
Will you work with our builder and electrician?
Yes. We fit our work in after framing and before the walls are lined, alongside the electrician, so nothing holds up the build.
When do the outlets get fitted?
Cables go in while the walls are open. We come back to fit the outlets, test every run and label the panel once the walls are finished.
Can you pre-wire for cameras and an alarm we'll install later?
Yes. We can run and label the cables now, so adding cameras or an alarm later is a quick job with nothing to cut.
Ready to plug in on move-in day?
Once your outlets are in, Cat6 patch leads connect the TV, console and computers. Pick them up from our shop, from $8.90.
Send us your plans before the walls close
We'll mark up every outlet, Wi-Fi point and camera and give you a fixed quote in writing within 24 hours.
We reply within 1 hour, 24/7.
Call before 12pm for a same-day response.