Smart home pre-wire checklist for new construction
What to run before drywall so your new home is ready for Wi-Fi, speakers, TVs, shades, and cameras without cutting walls later.
The cheapest time to wire a house is before the insulation and drywall go up. Once walls are closed, every new cable means cutting, patching, and painting. If you are building with a custom or semi-custom builder, walk through this list before your pre-drywall meeting.
1. Network backbone
- Cat6 to every TV location, office desk, and media cabinet
- Ceiling data drops for Wi-Fi access points on each floor, plus the patio
- A central structured-wiring location with power and ventilation for a rack
2. TVs and media
- A recessed box behind each wall-mounted TV with power and data
- Conduit from the TV to the media cabinet so you can add cables later
- Outdoor TV locations on the patio with weather-rated boxes
3. Speakers
- Speaker wire to ceiling locations in the family room, kitchen, primary suite, and patio
- Pre-construction brackets so the opening is set at rough-in and covered until speakers go in
- A volume or keypad location in each audio zone
4. Motorized shades
- Low-voltage wire to the head of each window you may motorize, even if you install shades later
- Blocking in the header for pockets or brackets
- Tall two-story windows are the priority: they are hard to reach and get the most sun
5. Lighting control
- Plan keypad locations at entries, the primary bedside, and the garage door
- Use deep boxes and neutrals at every switch location
- Group loads so scenes make sense (kitchen island, perimeter, under-cabinet)
6. Cameras and doorbells
- Cat6 to camera locations at eaves, driveway, and back yard
- Doorbell wiring at the front and side entries
- A dedicated run from the network rack for the video recorder
Builders and homeowners: Daisy Katy provides low-voltage pre-wire and design for new construction. See our builder program or request a pre-wire walkthrough.
