Cabling Infrastructure
Although the pictures that do best on our social media channels are of finished products, such as these below:
The truth is that we spend the bulk of each project working behind the scenes. In this article I’m going to explain a little bit about an overlooked part of our work, and how you as a client can get the most out of our services.
If you have a new project or renovation on the horizon, then this article could be a huge timesaver for you!
Cabling Infrastructure – Brief Introduction
Whether we are installing a TV, in-ceiling speakers, a Home Automation system, or CCTV, something somewhere is going to have a wire sticking out of it and that wire is going to be plugged in somewhere. And even in an increasingly wireless world, this is still the case. Wire connections are still more robust and reliable than wireless connections, and in some cases, your tech will need to be powered via an outlet. This is true for your more powerful speakers, almost every television screen, etc (plus, I imagine clients would not be impressed with having to climb a ladder to change batteries on their security cameras, every couple of months!)
And with the necessity of wires, comes the necessity of another consideration. How to make these wires neat, and without disruption to the interior design of the home. A simple solution to this is by hiding the cables behind the walls, under floorboards, and in the ceiling. However, as you might imagine, this means cutting into walls, and ceilings, and lifting floorboards, and this might seem counter-intuitive if the goal is to minimise disruption to the interior design.
Therefore, this article will explain why Cabling Infrastructures can be beneficial for those looking to renovate, or creating a new-build. But what exactly is it?
What is a Cabling Infrastructure?
A cabling Infrastructure is quite simply, many wires running through the walls and ceiling of a home or business that can eventually be used to set-up your WiFi, your entertainment and your Smart Home features. Homes are already kitted out with circuits in the walls for lights and power outlets, however, the Cabling Infrastructure will allow for you to install improvements to your home for increased comfortability, and convenience.
Your Cabling Infrastructure will also include the ability for upgrades and future expansions on your networks. As you may have noticed in your own home, the amount of electronic devices per household has increased dramatically over a short amount of time. If this trend continues, your cabling infrastructure can handle new features being added into your home, preventing your systems from becoming redundant.
Design Phase
The very best time to install a cabling infrastructure is when the building is still bare and skeleton-like, before the plastering and painting begins. The ideal time, however, to include integrators, such as ourselves, is during the design phase of the project. Way before any ground is broken, or renovations have started, Lairds can design a comprehensive Cabling Infrastructure for your home. This design, will not only allow for features to be included, but also allow for the features to be arranged according to your lifestyle.
Whether you like to relax and tuck yourself away in your home, or you like to be active and sociable, The design of your cabling infrastructure can include adjustments to complement this.
Every project has unforeseen issues that arise, and call for rethinking, however, getting an integrator in at the design phase is a huge timesaver!
Implementation
Once the design phase had been decided and signed off, Lairds work with other tradesmen to devise a schedule. One of the features of Lairds’ service that we take pride in, is our ability to work around other tradesmen. We can often be the last that a client calls in, and so we have had plenty of practice figuring out how to complete our jobs around the project that’s already in progress. Even if we are included at the design phase, Lairds still make sure to work tidily and efficiently to ensure we don’t hold up any other portion of the project.
Other Considerations
Cabling Infrastructures will link up all the tech in your house in a discreet way. Hidden in the bones of your building, your wires will be quietly working to give you a convenient and comfortable lifestyle.
Typically, your wires will all run towards a neat and compact AV Rack, stored in your attic, basement, or cupboard. The rack will house all of your important devices such as your video matrix for your television screens, your AV amplifier to control the speaker system, and various other devices.
The benefits of the Rack are multitudinous, and help to achieve that neat and tidy finish that our projects strive for.
Maintenance
We have recently completed installing a Cabling Infrastructure for a client who is completing a New-Build Project. The client brought us in at and we liaised with the architects, the electricians and the construction team, to get the Cabling in and up in running. We worked tirelessly to get in everything done on time and we managed to work around the other tradesmen’s schedule completely to ensure no unwanted stress was caused.
When we have completed installation, we go through a rigorous testing, to make sure the connections are sound,
Now that the project is done, we have a maintenance contract in place so that if any issues arise with elements of the AV Rack, or the Cabling Infrastructure itself, then Lairds will be back on site to make fix any problems.
The Wiring will be robust and unlikely to cause any issues.
Cabling Infrastructure – To Summarise
I’d like to stress in this article that achieving that high quality finish that we strive for in every project, a lot is done “behind the scenes”. And by scenes I mean walls and ceilings. It’s still largely unavoidable, and more often than not, beneficial.
If you have new project on the horizon for you home or business, get in touch with Lairds to find out how we can help to improve your project ten-fold!
See our other Network services here.