Professional AV Integration — Southwestern Ontario
Pre-wire is the once-in-a-decade window. Open walls, no finishes, accessible chases — running cable now costs almost nothing. Running the same cable after the building is finished often costs ten times as much, sometimes more, and frequently isn't even possible without major reconstruction.
Operators who skip pre-wire planning aren't saving money. They're deferring it, with interest. Every "we'll add that later" decision becomes a wall demo, a ceiling cut, a tile pull, or a no-go that locks you into a worse system for the life of the build.
This guide walks through the eight pre-wire decisions that have the biggest financial impact — what to plan, who to involve, and the questions to ask before drywall closes.
Use CAT6 minimum throughout. CAT6A is better for AVoIP runs longer than 50 metres or anywhere you might want to support 10 Gigabit later. Avoid CAT5e — it's still common in older buildings but it can't reliably support modern AVoIP systems and is the bottleneck most often retrofitted.
Building codes specify what type of cable can run through certain spaces. Plenum-rated cable goes in air-handling spaces (above drop ceilings used for HVAC return). Riser-rated cable goes between floors. Ordinary cable belongs only in conduit or accessible wall cavities. Run the wrong rating and your inspection will fail and the cable will need to be ripped out.
The cable itself is rarely the expensive part of a future change — it's the labour and damage of getting access to it. Empty conduit run during pre-wire turns "we need to add a screen there later" from a $4,000 demo job into a 30-minute pull.
The thing that usually forces visible cables down a wall isn't the data run — it's the power. A "recessed AV outlet" behind every display location costs almost nothing during framing and saves the visible white plug-and-cable that ruins clean installs. Pair power and low-voltage in the same backbox so future changes are coordinated.
Recessed combo backbox at exact mounting height, with power outlet, HDMI/CAT6 stub, and a low-voltage faceplate. Display mount goes on, cables disappear into the wall, the wall looks intentional.
✅ CLEAN INSTALLPower isn't behind the TV, so a visible white cord runs down the wall to the nearest outlet. Or you cut a hole in the drywall and snake an extension. Or you spend $400 having an electrician add a recessed outlet through the back of a finished wall.
⚠️ AVOIDABLE COSTCeiling speakers, projectors, mounted PTZ cameras, ceiling array microphones — every one of these is much easier to install when the box and backing structure are framed in before the ceiling closes. Specifically:
The network closet is the spine of your AV system, and it's the room operators most often shrink during value engineering. The first piece of advice we give every GC: the closet is going to be too small. Make it twice as big as you think you need, then add 20%.
Outdoor speakers, outdoor displays, exterior cameras, patio Wi-Fi access points — every single one of these is dramatically easier and cheaper to install before the patio is poured, the landscaping is done, and the trenches are filled.
If a trench is open for plumbing, irrigation, or landscape lighting, every conduit you can drop into that trench is essentially free. Once it's filled, every subsequent trench is a separate job, separate landscaping repair, and separate billing. A 4-inch conduit ring around the patio costs almost nothing on opening day and turns every future addition into a 1-hour pull.
All figures in Canadian dollars and represent typical labour multipliers. The cable itself is the same cost in either case — it's the access, demo, repair, and finish work that drives the difference.
Pre-wire works when three parties are talking to each other before the framing inspection: your GC, your electrician, and your AV integrator. Most operators handle this as three separate conversations and end up with surprises at every interface point. The 30-minute coordination meeting at the start of construction saves 30 hours of cleanup at the end.
Before the framing plan is finalized, your AV integrator should be reviewing the floor plan, marking display locations, speaker zones, mic positions, conduit runs, and closet placement. This is a 2–4 hour conversation that pays for itself many times over.
By the time finishes are starting, your AV options have been quietly narrowed by every wall that closed without a chase. You can still install a system — you just can't install the right system without surface conduit, exposed cable, or expensive demo.
1. Letting the electrician handle the low-voltage runs. Most electricians will pull the cable, but they're not AV specialists — they don't know which jacket type goes where, what bend radius matters for CAT6, or where to leave service loops. Insist on a low-voltage installer or your AV integrator pulling the AV cabling specifically.
2. Specifying "CAT6" but not specifying the brand or category. Cheap CAT6 from a generic supplier often performs below spec. Specify a known brand (Belden, Berk-Tek, Commscope) and request test results.
3. No documentation at handoff. The cable map, port assignments, and rack layout need to be documented and given to you on day one. If your integrator hands you the keys without a map, ask for one before final payment.
4. Skipping conduit because "we don't need it." You don't know what you'll need in three years. Conduit is the cheapest insurance in the entire build.
The full pre-wire checklist as a single-page handout for your GC, your architect, and your project manager.