Pre-Wiring Services
Professional low-voltage rough-in for network, home theater, distributed audio/video, and smart home automation — done right before the drywall goes up.
Pre-wiring Can Save You Money
If your home is under construction or undergoing major renovation, now is the ideal time to rough-in the cables you’ll need — before the walls and ceilings are sealed with drywall.
Once construction is finished, any retrofit wiring costs significantly more. You’ll face drywall cuts, patching, repainting, and disruption throughout the home. Getting it right during the rough-in stage is far cleaner and far less expensive.
The best time to pre-wire is after framing and electrical/HVAC rough-in are complete — and critically, before insulation and drywall.
Contact Us ›What Cables Should You Pre-wire?
The cables you need depend on the technologies you want to integrate. Here are the most common requirements by system type.
Network & Wi-Fi
CAT6 or CAT6A to each wireless access point, patch panel, and wired device location. Fiber optic for longer runs in some cases.
Multi-Room Audio
In-wall speaker wire from amplifier to each speaker pair. CAT6 for matrix or streaming system configurations.
TV Locations
CAT6/CAT6A plus 1.5″ flexible conduit from behind each TV to source component area — essential above fireplaces and feature walls.
Home Theater
Speaker wire to all positions, subwoofer cable, CAT6, and 1″ flexible conduit from projector ceiling location to AV receiver.
Outdoor Entertainment
Direct-burial rated speaker wire, conduit for power and signal, and CAT6 for outdoor access points and display locations.
Surveillance & Automation
CAT6 to each CCTV camera and smart home controller location. Placement planning is critical for full coverage.
What to Rough-In for Each System
Flexible conduit (min. 1″ inner diameter) from projector ceiling location to AV receiver. Structural blocking at correct throw distance. Dedicated outlet at projector mounting point.
CAT6 from AV receiver to network. Speaker wire to all positions — front, centre, surround, height channels. Pre-construction in-wall/in-ceiling speaker brackets. Dedicated outlet at rack location.
Flexible conduit (min. 1.5″ inner diameter) from behind TV to source component area. Electrical outlet hidden behind mounted TV position. CAT6 to network switch. Critical above fireplaces.
CAT6 home-run to each WAP location. WAP placement must be designed before rough-in to eliminate dead zones. Full wiring schematics required for automation before any cable is pulled.
One Company from Design to Deployment
Effective pre-wiring starts with a complete system design — not just running cables wherever they might be useful someday. The AV company responsible for your system design and pre-wiring should also deploy the full system after construction.
When the same team handles both phases, cables end up in the right places, the system provisions for future upgrades, and there’s no ambiguity when something doesn’t work.
Custom AVI manages the full lifecycle — from rough-in consultation and cable installation during construction through to final commissioning and handover once the build is done.
Contact Us ›
Pre-wiring & Rough-In Gallery
Pre-wiring Questions
Common questions about pre-wiring and rough-in services for new construction and renovation in Toronto GTA.
When exactly should pre-wiring happen during a new build?
The ideal window is after framing is complete and after electrical and HVAC rough-in — and before insulation and drywall. This gives the pre-wire crew unobstructed access through the framing and ensures low-voltage cables don’t interfere with other trades.
Can you pre-wire during a renovation if walls aren’t fully open?
Yes — if walls are partially open during a renovation, we take advantage of that access to rough-in cables that would otherwise require cutting and patching later. Even partial access can save significant cost and disruption compared to full retrofit wiring after construction is finished.
What is the difference between pre-wiring and retrofit wiring?
Pre-wiring is done during construction with open walls — cables run cleanly through framing with no damage to finished surfaces. Retrofit wiring is done after construction in a finished home, requiring drywall cuts, fishing cables through insulated cavities, and patching and repainting. Pre-wiring costs a fraction of retrofit and delivers a cleaner result.
Do I need to know exactly what system I want before pre-wiring?
Not in complete detail — but you should have a general idea of the technologies you want (home theater, mesh Wi-Fi, multi-room audio, etc.). Custom AVI will help design the full system during our consultation so the right cables end up in the right places, with provisions for future expansion where possible.
Can Custom AVI coordinate directly with my builder or general contractor?
Yes — we regularly work alongside builders, general contractors, electricians, and other trades. We coordinate scheduling so our pre-wire crew arrives at the right stage of the build and communicate directly with site supervision to keep things on track.
Do you service all cities in the Greater Toronto Area?
Yes — Custom AVI serves the entire GTA including Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Brampton, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Aurora, Newmarket, and surrounding areas.
Every System. Every Client. 5 Stars.
“Custom AVI pre-wired our entire new build — network, home theater, multi-room audio. Everything came out exactly where it needed to be. The final installation was seamless because the rough-in was done right.”
“Had Custom AVI pre-wire during our basement renovation. They coordinated perfectly with our contractor and the whole job was done cleanly and professionally. Would absolutely recommend to anyone building or renovating.”
“Fantastic experience start to finish. They came during framing, ran all cables correctly, then came back after construction to complete the full AV setup. Incredibly professional — no surprises, no shortcuts.”
“We were building a custom home and wanted everything pre-wired properly from the start. Custom AVI designed the whole system, coordinated with our builder, and the result is exactly what we envisioned. Couldn’t be happier.”
Serving Toronto & All of GTA
Pre-wiring and full AV services throughout the Greater Toronto Area — residential new builds, renovations, and commercial construction projects.
Toronto · Mississauga · Vaughan · Richmond Hill · Markham · Brampton · Pickering · Ajax · Whitby · Aurora · Newmarket · Stouffville · King City · Woodbridge