When to book low voltage pre-wire on a new build

The short answer: book it while the house is still at framing, before insulation and drywall. That's the one stage where low voltage cable can go exactly where it needs to, with no walls to open later. This post explains why the timing matters, what we need from you, and what a pre-wire actually covers.

Why framing is the moment

Once drywall is up, every new cable has to be fished through finished walls, and some runs simply can't be done cleanly. At framing, it's the opposite. The walls are open, the routes are easy, and you can plan for things you may not install for years.

That's the idea behind our New Construction Pre-Wiring service. Working from your plans, we pre-wire new builds and major renovations for networking, audio, video, security and automation, future-proofing every room so systems can be added later without opening walls.

What a pre-wire includes

A Platinum pre-wire covers:

• Low voltage rough-in at framing stage. The cable goes in before the walls close.
• Future-proofed drops in every key room. Planned now, so the room is ready when you are.
• Coordination with your builder and trades. We fit into the schedule rather than working around it.
• Plan review and system design. Included, so the wiring matches what you actually want the house to do.

What to send us before the walk-through

The earlier we see the plans, the more useful the design review is. Please send:

1. Your drawings. The current floor plans are the starting point for the design.
2. A room list. Which rooms matter for TVs, speakers, offices, cameras and WiFi coverage, including the yard if you want coverage outside.
3. What's in scope. Tell us whether motorized shades, security cameras or a central equipment rack are part of the plan, even if they're a "maybe." A maybe is easy to wire for now and hard to add after drywall.
4. Your builder's schedule. So we can book the rough-in before insulation.

If you already know you want a specific system, say so. If you don't, that's fine. Plan review and system design are part of the service.

The pieces that make it work

A good pre-wire is really three services planned together.

Structured cabling. Our structured cabling uses Cat6, Cat6A and fiber, neatly terminated, labelled and tested, in a home-run topology back to a central rack. Every TV, access point, camera and workstation gets its own run.

WiFi. Whole-property WiFi is built on wired-backhaul access points. Those access points need cable, and the time to run it is at framing. See our WiFi and Mesh Networks page for how we design coverage.

The rack. All those home runs have to end somewhere. Our media closets and equipment racks are cleanly cabled, labelled, ventilated and power-protected, so the gear is organized and easy to service. Choosing that location before drywall is one of the most important pre-wire decisions.

Where our work stops

Platinum Connections is a low voltage company. We pull the low voltage cable: network, audio, video, security and automation. We don't rough in power, add circuits or change a panel. That work belongs to Able Electrical, a separate licensed electrical contractor. A new build needs both trades at framing, so knowing who does what keeps the schedule clean.

A timing checklist

• Plans drawn: send them to us for review.
• Framing underway: book the pre-wire walk-through.
• Before insulation: low voltage rough-in done.
• After drywall: equipment can go in where the cable is already waiting.

Book before drywall

We're an owner-operated team, so you deal directly with the people doing the work. If you're building anywhere in Metro Vancouver or the Lower Mainland, including Coquitlam and the rest of the Tri-Cities, email info@platinumconnections.ca or call Jagvir at 604-725-3876 or Amol at 778-968-2253. You can also request a free consultation. We get back to you within one business day.