The best time to integrate smart home technology is during a remodel or addition, before walls are closed up and the work of routing wires is relatively straightforward. The key is planning your smart home goals early — ideally before your electrician pulls any wire — so the rough-in work accommodates the devices you want rather than requiring workarounds later. Done’s electricians work with homeowners at the planning stage to make sure the infrastructure is right from the start.

Start With Infrastructure, Not Devices

Smart home devices are the visible part of the equation, but the infrastructure underneath them matters more. Most smart switches, dimmers, and outlets require a neutral wire at the switch box — something that many homes built before the 1990s lack, since older wiring methods skipped the neutral at the switch location. A remodel is the ideal time to run neutrals to every switch box. Similarly, hardwired smart home hubs, security cameras, and whole-home audio systems work more reliably on dedicated wiring than on Wi-Fi alone. Thinking about where you want devices before walls close means running the right conduit and wire now rather than fishing wire through finished walls later.

Smart Lighting and Dimming Systems

Lighting is often the entry point for smart home integration. Systems like Lutron Caseta, Leviton Decora Smart, or in-wall Zigbee and Z-Wave switches let you control lights by voice, app, schedule, or motion sensor. During a remodel, your electrician can ensure every switch location has the neutral wire these devices require and that your circuit layout is compatible. Multi-location switching (3-way and 4-way switch circuits) has smart equivalents that work differently from traditional wiring — planning for these during rough-in is much easier than retrofitting.

Smart Outlets, USB Ports, and EV Charging

Smart outlets let you control plugged-in devices remotely and monitor energy consumption. USB outlet combinations eliminate the need for wall adapters at frequently used locations. If an electric vehicle is in your future — or already in your garage — a Level 2 EV charger installation is an ideal addition during a remodel, since the 240-volt circuit and dedicated breaker can be roughed in when the wall is open. Colorado’s growing EV adoption makes this a common add-on for garage remodels and additions.

  • Hardwired smart devices (thermostats, doorbells, security panels) need low-voltage wiring run to their locations during rough-in.
  • In-ceiling speakers for whole-home audio require speaker wire routed before drywall goes up.
  • Smart smoke and CO detectors interconnected by wire are more reliable than battery-only models and are required in new construction and significant remodels in Colorado.
  • Structured media centers (a central location where all low-voltage wiring terminates) simplify future changes and upgrades.

Whole-Home Integration Platforms

If you want your lighting, thermostat, security, locks, shades, and audio to work together through a single app or voice command, that requires planning around a compatible ecosystem. The most common consumer ecosystems — Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit — work with a wide range of devices but have different strengths and limitations. More sophisticated whole-home systems like Control4 or Savant require professional installation and programming. Knowing which direction you want to go before rough-in lets your electrician wire for the right hubs, keypads, and access points rather than backtracking later.

Working With Your Electrician at the Planning Stage

The most common smart home regret homeowners express after a remodel is not having run more wiring while the walls were open. Cat6 data cable, speaker wire, and conduit for future use cost relatively little during rough-in but are expensive to add after drywall. Done recommends walking through your smart home wish list with your electrician before the project starts — even if you do not plan to install every device immediately, roughing in the wiring now costs a fraction of what it would cost to add it later.

Done’s electricians have experience integrating smart home technology into remodels and additions throughout the Denver metro. Visit our smart home and safety page for an overview, or explore our installations and remodels page for more on how we approach renovation projects. Our EV charging page has details if a charger installation is part of your plan.