Should I prewire for smart home devices during a remodel?

Yes, in most cases, if your remodel opens walls or ceilings. Running cable and setting switch boxes across open framing is a short job; doing the same thing after drywall means fishing cable, cutting holes and patching. The decision has a deadline: it needs to be made before the electrical rough-in, because once the inspector signs off and the insulation goes in, the cheap window closes.

This page helps you decide what to prewire, when, and who to hire. The work itself is for licensed pros.

When prewiring pays off

The remodel opens the walls you care about. A kitchen or basement remodel that exposes framing is the time to run cable to that room's TV wall, desk or ceiling access point, and to the rooms above or beside it if the path is open.

You plan to stay. Cable, boxes and conduit are cheap to add now and hard to add later. If you will live with the house for years, the extra runs are low-cost insurance against future rewiring.

You want devices that need power where there is none. Cameras under the eaves, a wired video doorbell, a ceiling access point and a network closet all need outlets or transformers. Adding them during the remodel avoids extension cords and battery swaps.

Your switch boxes are old. Many smart switches need a neutral in the box. Older homes often lack one, so a remodel is the moment to have the electrician bring one to each switch location in the work area.

Your thermostat is on the remodelled wall. Google Nest notes, "Some systems may require a common wire (C wire) or the Nest Power Connector."^[11] A new thermostat cable with spare conductors settles that for good.

It pays off less when the remodel is cosmetic and opens no walls, or when you rent the house out and use only plug-in devices.

Timing and inspections

Prewiring belongs at rough-in, after framing and before insulation. Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code says a permit is required before work on electric wiring begins,^[1] and the building code calls for electrical materials, equipment and systems to be inspected before they are concealed.^[2] It also says defects found at an inspection are to be corrected and reinspected before any work proceeds that would conceal them.^[2] Adding new outlets or switch boxes after the rough-in inspection can mean another inspection, so give your electrician the smart home list before they start.

Most of the low-voltage cable does not need its own permit. The code says no permit is needed for wiring and equipment that operates at less than 50 volts, is for broadband communications systems, or is for monitoring or automation systems in dwelling units,^[1] unless it runs in a plenum, goes through fire-rated or smoke-protected construction, or is part of a fire alarm, fire detection or access control system.^[1] Your county or city building department applies the same state code and can confirm how it treats your plans.

Smoke alarms are a special case. The U.S. Fire Administration says, "Only qualified electricians should install hardwired smoke alarms."^[12] A remodel that touches bedrooms or hallways is a good time to ask the electrician what the code requires for alarms in that area.

Who to hire

For the house wiring. Virginia law defines a tradesman as anyone who does electrical, plumbing or HVAC work for the general public for compensation,^[5] and no individual may do that work, or offer to, without a tradesman licence unless working under the supervision of a licensed tradesman.^[6] A residential building contractor (RBC) licence does not provide for electrical services,^[3] so ask your general contractor who the licensed electrical subcontractor is.

For the low-voltage cable. Virginia licenses low-voltage cabling as electronic/communication service contracting (ESC), and the electrical contractor classification also covers it.^[4] So the remodel's electrician may do it, or a separate low-voltage firm can work alongside them.

For alarms and cameras. A business that installs alarms or security cameras for a homeowner needs a private security services licence from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services.^[10][8][9]

Doing part of it yourself. Under Virginia law, an owner working on no more than one primary residence they own, for their own use, in any 24-month period is exempt from contractor licensing,^[7] but must still comply with the Uniform Statewide Building Code.^[7] Our answer on doing your own electrical work in Virginia explains the limits.

Questions to settle before rough-in

Bring a short list to the pre-construction meeting: which rooms get network cable and where the plates go, where the router and central wiring spot will sit and whether it gets its own outlet, which switch boxes get neutrals and deeper boxes, where cameras, access points and the doorbell go, whether the thermostat gets new cable, and who documents the runs with photos before drywall. For more on what the job covers, read what prewiring for smart devices involves, and for planning ahead, how to keep a smart home easy to upgrade.

When to call a licensed pro

Call the electrician as soon as the remodel's layout is settled, before framing inspections, so the smart home items are priced into the electrical scope rather than added as change orders. Call one too if the remodel uncovers old or damaged wiring; see what rewiring an old house involves. Ask for the prewiring to be itemised in the written quote, see what smart home wiring costs, and check the contractor's licence before you sign.

You can also browse smart home wiring services, find electricians in Blacksburg, or read more electrical answers.

Describe your remodel's smart home wiring and licensed local pros quote it.