Structured Wiring Checklist For Custom Homes: What To Plan In Every Room (So You Do Not Regret It Later)
If you are building a custom home in Vancouver or West Vancouver, there are some decisions you can safely leave until later. Structured wiring is not one of them. Once the walls are closed, adding new cable paths for TVs, offices, Wi-Fi and smart features usually means cutting into finished spaces.
This guide is written for homeowners, builders, and architects as a simple, client-facing checklist. Your job is to think about how you want to live in each room, where you will relax, work, cook, entertain, and unwind. Our job at Graytek is to turn those plans into a complete structured wiring and smart home design before rough-in, so you are not the one trying to figure out cable routes and Wi-Fi layouts after framing.
If you would like to see how Graytek approaches a full smart home, start here.
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Your Role vs Our Role
Your role:
- Decide where you want TVs, workspaces, listening areas, and special features.
- Share how you plan to use each room day to day and for entertaining.
- Flag any premium fixtures or appliances that might need data or integration.
Our role:
- Translate your plans into a complete structured wiring design.
- Decide cable types, quantities, and routes so nothing is missed.
- Specify Wi-Fi access point locations, rack positions, and conduit paths.
- Coordinate the low-voltage design with your builder and design team before rough-in.
You do not need to know what Cat6a, fibre, or VLANs are. You just need to know how you want your home to feel and function. We handle the technical design and documentation that makes it all work behind the scenes. Learn more about our process here.
SEE ALSO: Discover the Graytek Design and Build Process
Before You Start: A Few Planning Questions
Before we walk room by room, it helps to think about a few big-picture questions.
- Where will you spend most of your time at home.
- Do you or anyone in the household work from home regularly.
- Do you host larger gatherings, game nights, or movie nights.
- Are there any wellness, spa, or specialty features planned, such as a steam shower, chroma therapy, high-end kitchen appliances, or a fitness room.
- How important is clean, minimal design with as little visible equipment as possible.
Your answers guide the low-voltage and structured wiring design. For example, a home with two serious remote workers and teenagers gaming online needs a different network and wiring plan than a part-time residence that is used mainly for weekends and holidays. To see what a connected lifestyle can look like, explore our indoor living examples.
SEE ALSO: Explore Connected Indoor Living
Room-By-Room Planning Checklist (Client Facing)
Use this as a discussion tool with your family, designer, and builder. You do not have to answer every technical detail. The goal is to capture intent. Graytek will then design the structured wiring, networking, and control systems that support it.
1) Front Entry, Vestibule, And Foyer
Ask yourself:
- Do you want a smart entry system where you can see and speak to visitors.
- Where should a security keypad or small control interface go so it feels natural when you walk in.
- Do you want music in the entry area when you entertain.
Why it matters: Answering these questions early tells us where to allow for a door station, keypad, and any in-ceiling speakers. We then design the wiring and device locations to work with your finishes and millwork. For more on smart entry and security, explore our security solutions.
SEE ALSO: Discover Smart Security Solutions
2) Great Room / Living Room
Ask yourself:
- Exactly where do you imagine the main TV or feature display.
- Is this the main movie and sport-watching room, or will there be a separate media room.
- Do you want in-ceiling or hidden speakers, or are you comfortable seeing a soundbar and visible speakers.
- Will furniture ever be rearranged in a way that might change the TV wall.
Why it matters: This is usually the most important AV room in the home. Once you choose the TV wall and decide how clean you want it to look, we design the wiring, conduit, power, and speaker locations to match. If you want technology to disappear into the design, a design-first approach really pays off.
SEE ALSO: Explore Hidden Audio and Video Options
3) Kitchen
Ask yourself:
- Do you want background music in the kitchen and adjoining spaces.
- Will there be a small TV, art display, or family information screen.
- Do you want an easy way to adjust music and lighting while cooking or entertaining.
- Are there any premium appliances or systems that might need network connectivity, such as smart refrigerators, wine storage, or cooking ranges with app control.
Why it matters: The kitchen is often the heart of the home. Once we know where you want screens, speakers, and any connected appliances, we design the structured wiring and data points so they do not compete with millwork, stone, or tile selections.
4) Dining Room
Ask yourself:
- Do you want music in the dining area for entertaining.
- Will there ever be a display, art TV, or projection in this room.
- Do you want simple control of lighting scenes for everyday dinners and special occasions.
Why it matters: A few decisions here can avoid visible cables or awkward device placement later. With a clear plan, we design speaker wiring, data locations, and control points that integrate cleanly into the room.
5) Media Room / Home Theatre
Ask yourself:
- Do you see this as a casual media space or a dedicated cinema experience.
- How many seats or rows are you envisioning.
- Would you like immersive surround sound, or something simpler.
- Is a projector and screen part of the brief, or will you use a large TV.
Why it matters: The answers drive everything from display location to seating layout, speaker positions, and acoustic treatment options. Graytek translates your vision into a full theatre design, including structured wiring for audio, video, control, and networking. For inspiration, explore our home theatre solutions.
SEE ALSO: Explore Dedicated Home Theatre Solutions
6) Home Office Or Study
Ask yourself:
- Who will use this space, and how often.
- Do you rely on video conferencing and large file transfers.
- Will there be one main workstation, or multiple desks.
- Do you anticipate specialised equipment such as dedicated printers, network storage, or studio gear.
Why it matters: Home offices in Vancouver and West Vancouver custom homes are more important than ever. Your answers tell us where to place data outlets, how to back up Wi-Fi with hard-wired connectivity, and how to support reliable video calls. Graytek handles the network and structured wiring design so your office feels as dependable as a commercial workspace.
SEE ALSO: Learn About Wi-Fi and Networking Solutions
7) Primary Bedroom And Ensuite
Ask yourself:
- Do you want a TV in the bedroom. If so, where should it go to work with your furniture layout.
- Do you want music in the bedroom and ensuite.
- Would you value simple scene control for lights, drapes, and audio from the bedside.
- Are there wellness features planned in the ensuite, such as a steam shower or chroma therapy.
Why it matters: Primary suites are often where clients appreciate subtle smart technology the most. Once we know your preferences, Graytek designs the wiring for TV, networking, audio, and any specialised spa features that need connectivity. You get a calm, retreat-like experience without visible clutter.
8) Secondary Bedrooms
Ask yourself:
- Will these rooms have TVs now or in the future.
- Is there a chance they will be used as offices, guest rooms, or hobby rooms later.
- Do you want music in any of these spaces.
Why it matters: These answers inform how many data outlets and prewires we recommend. A bit of planning now can avoid surprise costs when a teenager needs a fast connection for online learning or a guest needs a comfortable work setup.
9) Hallways, Landings, And Stairs
Ask yourself:
- Do you want music in any circulation spaces.
- Are there locations where a small control keypad would feel natural.
- Would you like subtle night lighting that can be integrated into scenes.
Why it matters: You do not need to think about Wi-Fi access point layouts or sensor types. That is our job. You simply tell us how you move through the home, and we design the infrastructure to support lighting, control, and connectivity in a way that feels effortless.
10) Garage And Utility Areas
Ask yourself:
- Will you charge an electric vehicle now or in the future.
- Do you want music or a small TV in the garage or workshop.
- Is this a space where you might want strong Wi-Fi and data for tools, fitness equipment, or hobby projects.
Why it matters: Your answers inform the data and power requirements we design for these zones. If EV charging, security, or workshop use is important, we ensure the structured wiring supports it rather than treating the garage as an afterthought.
11) Outdoor Living And Spa Areas
Ask yourself:
- Will you have covered outdoor areas for dining, lounging, or a pool.
- Do you want music outdoors.
- Will there be an outdoor TV, spa controls, or heating elements you might want to integrate.
- Do you want strong Wi-Fi on patios, in the garden, or by the pool.
Why it matters: Metro Vancouver and the Sea-to-Sky Corridor lend themselves to serious indoor-outdoor living. Once we understand how you plan to use these spaces, Graytek designs the wiring for outdoor audio, displays, Wi-Fi, and security so it all feels considered, not bolted on later. To see what is possible outdoors, explore our outdoor living projects.
SEE ALSO: Explore Connected Outdoor Living
12) Specialty Rooms And Equipment
Ask yourself:
- Are you planning a fitness studio, golf simulator, craft room, studio, or playroom that might need displays, audio, or connectivity.
- Are there spa features like steam showers and chroma therapy that need control integration.
- Are there high-end appliances or systems with their own apps or control systems that you want to integrate into the broader smart home.
Why it matters: Specialty rooms and equipment often have specific data and control requirements. Rather than expecting you or your builder to read technical manuals and plan wiring, Graytek takes your room list and equipment wish list, then designs the infrastructure behind it so everything works together.
Turning Your Answers Into A Structured Wiring Design
Once you have worked through the checklist, even at a high level, you are ready for a structured wiring consult. Here is what happens next when you work with Graytek.
- We review your floor plans and your answers to the room-by-room questions.
- We collaborate with your builder, designer, and architect to align with the overall vision.
- We design the full low-voltage and structured wiring scope, including rack locations, wiring types, Wi-Fi coverage, and conduit paths.
- We provide documentation that your builder and trades can follow confidently during rough-in.
You are not expected to plan cable routes or calculate Wi-Fi coverage. You simply define how you want your custom home to work. Graytek does the detailed design, coordination, and documentation behind it. To see the range of systems that can be part of this design-first approach, explore our smart home solutions overview.
SEE ALSO: Review the Full Smart Home Solutions Overview
Avoid The “We Are Framed And We Forgot” Moment
The most stressful calls we receive sound very similar.
- We are framed and we forgot a path to the main TV wall.
- We did not think about data in the office and the drywall is going up.
- The spa equipment is here and they are asking for network wiring we did not run.
You can avoid that entirely by bringing Graytek in for Discovery and Design before rough-in. A short planning phase now protects your investment in a Vancouver or West Vancouver custom home for many years to come.
Next Step: Book A Structured Wiring Consult
If you are planning a new build or major renovation and want to make sure the structured wiring and smart home infrastructure are done right the first time, we would be happy to help.
- Learn more about our process.
- Explore networking and Wi-Fi solutions.
- Ready to talk. Contact us to book a Discovery call or wiring consult.
SEE ALSO: Learn More About the Graytek Process
SEE ALSO: Review Wi-Fi and Networking Solutions
SEE ALSO: Book a Discovery Call or Wiring Consult
Graytek serves luxury residential projects across Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, with a particular focus on Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Whistler.
