Most “smart homes” struggle because the wiring behind the walls was never planned. If you’re renovating a Toronto semi, rowhouse, bungalow, or condo, the lowest‑cost, highest‑impact upgrade you can make is a clean low‑voltage plan: structured cabling, ceiling access points, camera and doorbell drops, shades, speaker wire, and a tidy rack. Do it once, and your Wi‑Fi is solid, your video calls are crisp, and adding new tech later is painless.

Why Plan Low‑Voltage During a Renovation

• Open walls = easy pulls: Running cable and adding back boxes costs far less when drywall is open.
• Wi‑Fi you can rely on: Properly placed ceiling access points (APs) beat one overworked modem.
• PoE simplifies power: Doorbells, cameras, access points, touch panels, and even some blinds can run on Power over Ethernet, reducing wall warts and clutter.
• Future‑proofing: A few conduits and spare runs save you from re‑opening finishes in 2–5 years.

Your Core Backbone: Cabling That Lasts

• Cat6A for data and PoE: Supports multi‑gig speeds and higher PoE budgets for cameras and access points. We home‑run to a central rack location.
• Fiber (optional): Pull a single‑mode fiber from the network demarc to the rack and between floors for a simple, future‑proof backbone. Cap both ends now, light it later.
• Coax (RG6): Still useful for some ISP lines and over‑the‑air (OTA) antennas.
• Speaker wire: 14/2 for in‑ceiling speakers; 12/2 for longer runs or outdoor zones.
• Low‑voltage rings and back boxes: Use deep boxes behind wall tablets, doorbells, and touch screens so upgrades fit.

Wi‑Fi That Works on Every Floor

• Ceiling‑mounted APs: Place one per floor as a starting point on hallway ceilings or in central locations away from metal ductwork.
• Avoid dead zones: Prewire for APs near kitchens (tile + appliances) and add a drop to the backyard or deck for outdoor coverage.
• Backhaul: Wire APs with Cat6A; don’t rely on wireless mesh when you can hardwire.
• ISP modem out, gateway in: Terminate all home runs to a patch panel and feed a proper router/gateway.

Cameras, Doorbells, and Access Control (PoE Wins)

• PoE cameras: Prewire eaves, laneway, and entry points with Cat6A to soffit‑mounted junctions. Include a drip loop and weather‑rated box.
• Video doorbells: A Cat6A drop at the door location plus a standard door chime circuit gives you options (PoE or traditional).
• Gate or garage control: Pull a spare Cat6A to the garage door header for future controllers or keypads.
• Data security: Centralized recording on a network video recorder (NVR) in the rack, quiet fans, surge protection, and lockable doors help.

Audio, Media, and Home Office

• In‑ceiling speakers: Prewire living areas, kitchens, and patios. Add a subwoofer line (RCA over Cat6 balun if distance is long).
• Media walls: Run two Cat6A + one coax to every TV. Add a conduit from the media box to the rack for swaps later.
• Home office: Dual Cat6A drops at the desk for a hardwired computer and VoIP or a backup AP. Add acoustic upgrades if your office shares a party wall (see our Soundproofing Guide).

Shades, Lighting, and Power Planning

• Smart shades: Prewire windows with low‑voltage power (or Cat6 for PoE systems). Leave service loops and label by window.
• Lighting control: Even if you’re not ready for whole‑home control, add neutral wires in switch boxes and a spare Cat6 to key locations for future keypads.
• Exterior zones: Pull Cat6A to soffits and pergolas for PoE lighting or future controls.
• UPS and surge: Put the network core on a UPS; add a whole‑home surge at the electrical panel (see our EV & Panel Upgrade guide).

Rack Location, Cooling, and Aesthetics

• Where: Choose a dry, accessible spot: mechanical room, closet, or under‑stairs niche. Keep clear of laundry steam and hot water tanks if possible.
• How: Wall‑mount or small floor rack with patch panel, PoE switch, gateway, NVR, and labeling.
• Cooling: Provide vented doors or a quiet fan; avoid stuffing gear into sealed millwork.
• Noise: Use rubber isolation feet and quiet fans; in tight semis, we can remote‑mount louder equipment in the basement.

Documentation, Labeling, and Testing

• Label both ends of every run (room + outlet ID).
• As‑builts: We provide a simple map showing cable routes, AP locations, cameras, and conduits.
• Testing: Certify Cat6A runs with a tester; note any remedial terminations before drywall closes.

Special Notes for Condos and Rowhouses

• Condos: Boards may limit penetrations and exterior devices. We run cabling within suites, use existing sleeves, and coordinate with management for core drilling and firestopping where required.
• Shared walls: Avoid penetrations into party walls; use surface raceways or alternate routes. Add mineral wool in office/media walls for sound.

Good, Better, Best Prewire Packages

Good
Central rack + patch panel, Cat6A to each TV, one ceiling AP per floor, front doorbell/camera drops, and media‑wall conduit.

Better
All of the above plus PoE cameras at soffits, dual drops at home office and bedrooms, patio speaker prewire, and shade power at priority windows.

Best
Fiber backbone between floors, expanded PoE switching, in‑ceiling speakers in key rooms, full camera suite, window shade power everywhere, outdoor AP and lighting conduit, and a ventilated rack enclosure with UPS.

Our Process at JG Contracting

1. Walkthrough & plan: We map Wi‑Fi dead zones, media walls, office locations, and exterior coverage.
2. Prewire & rough‑in: Clean pulls, protection plates, labeled drops, and photos of hidden work.
3. Trim & test: Patch panels, keystones, labeling, and certification.
4. Set‑up (optional): Access point placement, router configuration, and NVR commissioning.

Related reading on our blog

• Toronto Soundproofing Guide 2025
• Toronto EV Charger & Panel Upgrades 2025
• Toronto Range Hood & Kitchen Ventilation 2025
• Toronto Attic Insulation & Air Sealing 2025

Ready for Rock‑Solid Wi‑Fi and a Cleaner Setup?

We can design a low‑voltage package that fits your renovation and budget, so your home is fast, quiet, and ready for what’s next.

Ready to transform your home? Contact us today to book a consultation.

📞 Call us at: 437-259-9632

✉️ Email us at: jgcontractingyyz@gmail.com

🌐 Website: https://jgcontractingyyz.com