What is a smart home prewire?
A smart home prewire is the low-voltage cabling run after framing and before drywall, so every system has a path back to one equipment rack. It covers network, TVs, speakers, cameras, security, keypads and shades. Our standard is three Cat 6 runs at every TV, no coax except at the incoming service, and conduit wherever future use is unknown.
If you're building or fully remodeling a home in Westlake, Bee Cave, or Rollingwood, low-voltage prewiring costs far less than adding wire after the walls close, and it sets the limits of every system you add later. Smarter Homes has prewired Austin-area homes since 2006. During the framing and before drywall, our team runs structured wiring for whole-home audio, video distribution, security systems, surveillance cameras, network and WiFi, smart lighting, motorized shades, and home automation control, so every room is ready for whatever technology you want now or years from now. We work alongside custom builders on projects in West Lake Hills, Bee Cave, Spanish Oaks and Rollingwood, and we coordinate every run with your architect, builder, and electrician so nothing is missed. Retrofitting technology into a finished home is expensive and disruptive; prewiring it correctly from the start is not.
What does a low voltage contractor do in a new Austin home?
A low voltage contractor plans and installs every cable that isn't line-voltage power: network, TV, speaker, camera, keypad and shade wiring, plus conduit for future fiber. Smarter Homes prewires custom homes in West Lake Hills, Westlake, Barton Creek and Tarrytown during framing, then terminates, tests and labels every run at one central equipment rack.
On a typical custom home we walk the framing with the builder and electrician, mark every TV, speaker, camera, keypad, shade and access point location, then pull and label the wire. After drywall we terminate and test each run and hand over a wire map showing where every cable lands.
| What we prewire | Typical run | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi access points | Cat6 to each ceiling location | Hardwired access points instead of mesh hops |
| TVs and media walls | Three Cat 6, with conduit for later changes (no coax) | Video from a central rack, no boxes behind the TV |
| Speakers | Speaker wire to each in-ceiling, in-wall or outdoor location | Whole-home and patio audio without visible wire |
| Cameras and doorbells | Cat6 with PoE to each camera location | Reliable recording that never uses Wi-Fi |
| Lutron keypads and shades | Control wiring to keypads and each window head | Clean wallplates and shades that install after paint |
| Gates, guest houses, docks | Fiber in conduit | Lightning-safe links between structures |
When should prewire happen, and what does it cost?
Prewire happens after framing and rough electrical, before insulation and drywall. Once walls close, every missed run becomes a wireless compromise or a patch-and-paint job. Cost depends on how many runs your plans call for, so we price from the drawings. Homeowners can start with the smart home budget tool for a planning range.
Cost depends on the number of wire drops and the distance to the rack, so we price from your plans. Builders can see how we work on our builders page, and homeowners can start with the smart home budget tool.
Smart Home Automation Pre-Wiring Checklist
What Should We Prewire For In Our New Home?
Plan for every system you might want, even if you install it later: network and access points, three Cat 6 at each TV, speakers, cameras, security contacts and touchscreens, keypads, shades and doorbells. Add conduit wherever future use is unknown, including one from the service entry for future fiber. Wire costs little while walls are open.
Even if you plan to add home automation years from now, wiring for it today keeps every option open and avoids opening finished walls later.
How should a new home be wired for Wi-Fi?
Run Cat 6 from the rack to every ceiling access point location, inside and out, including gates and detached buildings. Mesh kits fall short in large homes because each wireless hop cuts speed. A hardwired, managed network with planned access point locations gives every room full speed and keeps cameras and guests on separate networks.
By directly connecting access points through wiring, we eliminate the latency, signal drops, and limited bandwidth that can plague mesh networks. With a managed, wired network, every device benefits from full-speed access, maximizing security and minimizing interference, especially in high-demand environments like smart homes. Our approach future-proofs your home’s connectivity, providing robust, stable coverage where you need it most.
Does a security system still need prewire?
Partly. Touchscreens, cameras and keypads still need wire, while most door and window sensors can now be wireless. With PowerG wireless technology, adding sensors after construction is easier than ever, with batteries that last significantly longer and support for greater distances. This advanced wireless solution offers flexibility and security without needing frequent maintenance—ideal for homes that were not pre-wired during construction.
While PowerG minimizes the need for wired installations, some essential devices, such as touchscreens, still require a wired connection to ensure consistent performance. Wired systems also remain an option for those seeking the ultimate in reliability, with almost no yearly maintenance needed.
For new builds, pre-wiring remains beneficial and allows flexibility in adding security monitoring later. However, with PowerG wireless technology, you have a high-performance option for post-construction installations, combining long-lasting power with reliable wireless security.
Where should conduit go in a new home?
Anywhere the future use is unknown. At minimum, run conduit from the service entry to the equipment rack for future fiber, from the rack to a reachable attic, and to every detached building, where it carries fiber plus a Cat 6. Fiber between buildings avoids the static and surges that copper can carry into equipment.
Google Fiber and AT&T Fiber both serve parts of Austin. A conduit from the service entry lets a fiber line reach the rack later without opening walls, even if the home starts on another provider.
Which rooms need network wiring?
Every room with a TV, desk, access point, touchscreen or camera, plus offices and media rooms. Smart devices need strong WiFi signals to operate and update properly. We run Cat 6 to every room that needs a strong connection, three Cat 6 runs to every TV location, and conduit anywhere the future use is unknown. Large homes depend on every room being wired for WiFi.
How do you plan for future upgrades?
Add two conduits: one from the service entry (the demarc) to an attic you can reach after move-in, and a second from that attic to the structured wiring panel or rack. Together they let new cable reach the rack years later without opening a wall.
Schedule Smart Home Consultation
We prewire for many of the area's custom builders; see the builders we work with.
Should you prewire for audio and video you may add later?
Yes. Speaker wire and three Cat 6 at each likely TV location cost little during framing, and they let you add whole-home audio and video room by room later without patching walls.