New Build CCTV for Logan Estates

The frame stage window

There is a point in every build when the frame is up, the roof is on and the electrician has done the rough-in, but the insulation and plasterboard are not in yet. At that stage, cable can drop straight down inside the wall to wherever a camera will go. A week or two later, the same cable has to be fed through finished walls and a roof full of insulation.

That window is when a pre-wire happens. Ask your builder for the date, because it moves around with the build schedule.

What gets done

We plan camera positions with you from the plans: usually the driveway, the front entry, the side access, the alfresco and the back yard, plus anything specific like the garage door, a side yard for the trailer, or the boat parking. Cat6 runs from each spot to the recorder location, which is best near the NBN box or the modem cupboard with a power point nearby. Each cable is labelled at both ends and left safely coiled.

After handover, the cameras and recorder go in. Nothing has to be cut into a new wall.

Logan’s growth areas

A lot of Logan’s new homes are being built in planned communities and growth areas. Yarrabilba and Flagstone are the biggest, with Park Ridge, Logan Reserve, Bahrs Scrub, Holmview and Greenbank’s newer estates also adding homes. These houses are generally single storey slab homes with low pitched roofs and tight eaves. They are cabled through the roof after handover in a normal install, but the pre-wire is cleaner, quicker and avoids crawling through insulation.

Some estates have design rules for what can go on the front of a house. Small cameras under the eaves are rarely a problem. Larger items, like a pole at the front boundary, are worth checking against your estate’s guidelines first.

Already handed over?

Then it is a standard install. We plan each cable route through the roof, mount the cameras under the eaves and set up the recorder near your modem. The quote shows each camera position and how it will be reached.

Questions people ask

Does my builder have to agree?

Yes. Builders control site access until handover, and most allow owners' trades at set times with notice. Some ask for insurance details first. Check with your site supervisor early.

How much does a pre-wire cost?

It depends on the number of camera positions and the size of the house. It costs less than cabling a finished home, and the cameras can be added whenever you are ready.

Can the builder's electrician do it instead?

They can run cable if they hold cabling registration. Make sure each run is Cat6, goes to the right spots and is labelled, and that the recorder location has power and a network connection.