What to Know About Planning New Home Technology
Most builders treat technology like plumbing—a functional necessity handled by whoever pulls the cables. The problem? Their "low-voltage wiring plan" sounds comprehensive until you discover speakers terminated in ceiling centers instead of optimal listening positions, network jacks placed where furniture will block them, and that thermostat wired directly to your HVAC, sitting dead-center on the wall you envisioned for artwork. New home technology requires the same thoughtful planning as your kitchen layout or lighting design. Whether building in Bountiful's growing neighborhoods or undertaking major renovation, early tech planning separates exceptional Utah homes from merely functional ones.
SEE ALSO: What Happens in a Home Automation System Upgrade?
When Early Planning Actually Means Early
If the drywall is up, it’s already too late. That's when compromises begin—retrofitting conduit through finished walls, accepting visible cable runs because the pathway doesn't exist, settling for equipment shoved into coat closets because nobody planned proper ventilation. To prevent these issues, bring your technology integrator into the architectural phase, right alongside your electrician and HVAC contractor.
What does early actually look like? Discussions about equipment room locations with proper cooling. Planning recessed screen and projector cavities before framing begins. Routing network backbone cabling through structured pathways rather than hoping everything reaches wirelessly. The difference between custom tech plans and builder-standard approaches becomes apparent in the details: speaker wire running to acoustically optimal positions, security camera cables terminating at strategic exterior locations, and low-voltage and line-voltage systems coordinated so that switches and keypads are placed where your interior designer actually wants them.
Your architect, interior designer, builder, and integrator need to collaborate before concrete gets poured. Otherwise, you're designing around limitations instead of possibilities.
The Critical Conversations (and Questions to Ask)
Start with your builder. "Do you have a preferred technology integrator?" isn't a red flag—many do. But it opens essential follow-up questions: What brands do they typically install? Do they provide custom system design or work from standard packages? Can they handle specific requirements, such as whole-home automation integration, high-end audio distribution, or sophisticated lighting control systems?
If their integrator specializes in basic solutions, you're not stuck. Frame it diplomatically: "We'd like to include a specialized technology consultation in our planning phase." Most builders appreciate clear communication about expectations early rather than change orders later.
Your architect needs specifics: equipment closet dimensions and ventilation requirements, hidden screen cavity locations, projector mounting points, TV installation areas with in-wall conduit for equipment access. Interior designers care deeply about keypad aesthetics versus traditional switches, control panel placement that complements room design rather than interrupting it, and technology that’s invisible until needed.
These conversations feel premature when you're still selecting tiles, but they're not. Technology infrastructure decisions are made during the framing and rough-in phases, long before you consider furniture placement.
Examples of Good Tech Planning
Network backbone planning means Cat6 or fiber runs to every room, not just "a network jack in the office." Wi-Fi access point locations are mapped for actual coverage, rather than relying on a single router to reach everywhere. Security camera cables terminate at strategic exterior positions you've identified, not randomly placed afterward.
Whole-home audio requires speaker wire positioned for optimal sound, not ceiling-center convenience. Equipment closets get sized for actual receivers, amplifiers, and distribution gear—with ventilation that prevents expensive electronics from cooking themselves. In-ceiling speakers need backing boxes installed during framing for proper sound quality.
Hidden technology demands the most foresight: recessed TV niches with conduit pathways for clean installations, projector screen cavities cut into ceilings before drywall, motorized screen pockets designed before framing happens.
Centralized lighting control can't be retrofitted easily. Low-voltage control wiring is installed during the rough-in stage, and keypad locations are coordinated with switch plates and wall sconces, ensuring your lighting designer's vision becomes a reality rather than a compromise.
Technology infrastructure is mostly permanent. Once walls are closed, your decisions are locked in, or they cost significantly more to change. The right conversations early mean a home that lives as smartly as it looks. Visit our Bountiful showroom or contact us here to discuss pre-construction planning. We look forward to working with you.