The worst time to decide you want in-wall speakers, smart lighting zones, or a hardwired security system is after the drywall is finished and painted. Running wires through closed walls costs three to five times what it costs when walls are open during a renovation.
This is why smart home planning needs to happen during the design phase of your renovation — not as an afterthought.
What to Pre-Wire During a Renovation
Hardwired Ethernet
Despite improvements in WiFi technology, a hardwired ethernet connection remains significantly faster and more reliable. Pre-wire ethernet drops to:
- Home office (at least two drops — one for computer, one for a VoIP phone or second device)
- Living room entertainment centre (for streaming devices, gaming consoles)
- Each bedroom (future-proofing for workstations or gaming setups)
- A central location for your WiFi router or mesh access point
- Security camera locations (exterior corners, front door area)
The cost of running ethernet cable during a renovation is minimal — $50-$100 per drop for materials and labour when walls are open.
Lighting Zones and Smart Switches
Modern smart lighting systems allow scene control — “cooking mode,” “dinner party,” “movie night” — where multiple light fixtures adjust simultaneously with a single button or voice command.
This requires planning during the electrical phase:
- Separate circuits for each lighting zone (under-cabinet, overhead, pendant, accent)
- Smart switch locations — plan where you want switches and whether they will be smart switches, smart dimmers, or traditional controls with smart bulbs
- Neutral wire at every switch box — many smart switches require a neutral wire that older homes may not have at every switch location. Your electrician can ensure this is in place during the renovation.
In-Wall and In-Ceiling Speakers
In-wall speakers provide high-quality audio without visible equipment or wires. Speaker wire is run through walls and ceilings to the speaker locations during the framing or rough-in phase.
Common speaker locations:
- Kitchen (ceiling-mounted for even coverage during cooking)
- Living room (wall-mounted at ear level for the primary seating area)
- Bathroom (moisture-rated ceiling speakers for shower audio)
- Outdoor patio (if accessible from the renovation area)
USB-A and USB-C Outlets
Replace standard duplex outlets in countertop areas, bedside locations, and home office desks with combination outlets that include USB-A and USB-C charging ports. These eliminate the clutter of charging adapters and are available from every major outlet manufacturer.
Cost: $15-$30 per outlet (versus $3-$5 for a standard outlet). The convenience is worth the modest premium.
Motorized Blinds Pre-Wire
If you are considering motorized window coverings — increasingly popular in modern homes — the pre-wiring involves running a low-voltage power wire to a small junction box at the top of each window. This is simple during a renovation and virtually impossible to retrofit without visible wiring.
What to Skip
Not every smart home technology is worth the investment:
Smart Appliances (Skip for Now)
Internet-connected refrigerators, ovens, and dishwashers have not yet delivered compelling value for most homeowners. The smart features are often gimmicky, the interfaces are clunky, and the appliances become outdated (software-wise) long before they wear out mechanically.
Buy the best appliance for cooking performance and reliability, not for its WiFi capability.
Whole-Home Automation Systems
Expensive proprietary systems (Control4, Savant, Crestron) deliver a premium experience but at a significant cost ($10,000-$50,000+) and with ongoing programming and maintenance requirements. For most homeowners, a combination of smart switches, smart speakers, and a quality WiFi network provides 90% of the functionality at 10% of the cost.
In-Wall Tablets
Fixed wall-mounted tablets for home control seem futuristic but are quickly outpaced by the phone in your pocket. Your smartphone is always with you, always updated, and always has the latest interface.
The Cost of Pre-Wiring
The total cost of pre-wiring for smart home features during a renovation is typically:
- Basic package (ethernet drops, USB outlets, smart switch prep): $500-$1,500
- Moderate package (adding speaker wire, security camera pre-wire): $1,500-$3,000
- Full package (adding motorized blind pre-wire, dedicated audio zones): $3,000-$6,000
Compare this to the cost of retrofitting the same infrastructure after the renovation: 3-5x more, plus the disruption of opening and re-finishing walls.
The Key Takeaway
You do not need to buy or install smart devices during your renovation. But you should run the wires and prepare the infrastructure while walls are open. The wire sits dormant until you are ready to use it, and it costs almost nothing to install now versus a significant expense later.
If you are planning a renovation in the Niagara Region, contact JVR Complete to discuss smart home pre-wiring as part of your project planning.
