Think About the Future of Your Home
Taking a cable first approach to design and installation is the best route to achieving a connected, tech-friendly home for life. Put in place the crucial components and you will be living smart today and in the future.
If we look back ten years we didn't have smartphones, superfast broadband, music streaming services or internet connected devices like thermostats, cameras and appliances. It's no surprise that homes built back then were not made ready for the tech filled future that lay ahead. Coming back to present day, the devices mentioned above are part of our everyday lives so surely every self builder or renovator would be crazy not to make their home welcome tech with open arms.
The harsh reality is that todays homes are being built for technology in exactly the same way they were 10 years ago. Telephone points, TV outlets, a cable in the loft for an aerial and not even a cable installed for a satellite dish. As a home technology installer it gives me no pleasure telling a new home owner that they can't have this or that without us making holes in their freshly painted walls or have to leave cables visible around the room.
What are the barriers preventing home builders from building smarter homes? Price is the most common opposition and complicated to operate isn't far behind. When I tell self builders and renovators that the wiring needed to be future ready costs as little as £500 for a three bedroom home the price barrier disappears. Then when you demonstrate control of a multi-room music system or smart thermostat using a well designed app on their smartphone their complications turns into complete understanding.
You need to find the right home technology company to guide you through your project. Design is crucial, discuss your needs so that everything is in black and white before a cable is run. The cabling can be carried out by the electrical contractor on the project and they can often carry out the termination and testing of the smart wiring.
Smart Wiring - What to Ask For
There are several common types of cable used for smart home wiring. Get used to the terminology and insist on them being discussed at the early stages of your project with your architect.
Cat6 or Cat7 - the most adaptable cable you'll install in your home. Take good care of these cables when installing them, no excessive bends and keep them away from mains voltage wiring. Cat cable is commonly used for internet/wi-fi, CCTV, Smart and HD TV, telephone and access control systems.
KNX bus cable - the brand neutral choice when wiring for a home automation system. The KNX cable daisy chains from one device to the next creating a robust and secure technology bus for lighting, heating, blinds and sensor control.
Speaker cable - crucial for rooms that have ceiling, wall or standmount speakers. Think about where your amplifier will be located.
Coaxial - still needed for local TV connections, set top box locations and the aerial and satellite dish on the outside of the building.
You will have to make space for this cabling but a skilled installer will terminate all the cabling into a discrete, neat and labelled enclosure for initial and future connections needed. The wiring enclosure could be located in a hall or understair cupboard or close to your electrical fuse board.
You owe the property you are building a fighting chance in the future. Make the enquiries now to find a qualified and recommended local home technology installer and start your smart home journey.
Customised provide free home technology surveys, contact us to book yours.