When having your house remodeled, you as a homeowner you have so many choices to make and so many things to consider. How many nights have you spent worrying about your project, hoping that you and your contractor have thought of everything? As a contractor, I can honestly tell you that many of us go through the same thing. In some cases, I have built the entire project in my head quite a few times, trying to visualize potential problem areas, looking for items that could be improved, and how to make any possible future upgrades easier.
I am glad to say that sometimes, a company or individual comes up with a product that just screams, “Why didn’t I think of that?” In this case, I believe Mike Hines and his partner at HomePath Products have come up with such a product. While I have not had a chance to use this product in a project yet, based on the samples I have received I am quite impressed. In Mike’s own words…
When remodeling, a small amount of forward planning creates tremendous flexibility and value for homeowners. Oftentimes, when planning a remodeling project, the “needs” discussion revolves around function and aesthetics. The world behind the drywall is usually the realm of the construction expert but a little knowledge of what happens in there can benefit the homeowner greatly.
Most homeowners view the wall as just that, a wall that either bears a load or provides separation and definition to the periphery of the room. Within those walls you find many supporting systems that are carefully thought out in design and construction. In the mind of the builder there’s framing for structural support, water pipes, electrical wiring, ductwork, low voltage wiring, waste pipes, thermal insulation, exterior sheathing, vapor barriers, drywall, telephone wires, noise reduction insulation, and vibration dampening construction to name just a few. Once the drywall is up and the homeowner is pleased with the results the remodeler gets to take a deep breath knowing that everything behind the drywall went according to plan.
When the time eventually comes to modify or add computer network wiring, security systems, whole-house audio or other consumer electronics driven systems, the contents of the wall may make such upgrades or changes a major challenge. However, with preparation, a change in practices, and open communication between customers and contractors, remodeling experts like SLS Construction help avoid future wiring problems for building and homeowners.
One common scenario is the kitchen. For many years the question was, where would you like the phone jack located? Today, most new kitchens are getting wired, not only for the telephone, but cable TV, computer networking, and intercoms. If you are considering getting your kitchen remodeled, you can easily get those items added at that time, but what does tomorrow bring? What happens if you require new wiring due to unforeseen changes in consumer electronics, lifestyle changes, etc…By offering and installing in-wall cable pathways, remodelers can help solve a long-term problem for building and homeowners. Without in-wall pathways this becomes difficult and expensive. Think of in-wall pathways as an insurance policy against technological change.
There are Many Types of Cabling Systems
It is important for the homeowner and remodeler to understand the available cable pathway options to determine which products provide the best balance of installation ease and long-term cabling flexibility. Some common types of cabling systems include metallic conduit, non-metallic rigid conduit, flexible nonmetallic raceway, and modern geometrically optimized in-wall cable pathway systems. There are also external solutions, but after selecting wall treatments, the last thing a building or homeowner generally wants to do is add unsightly surface mount raceways to hide cables that could have been more suitably hidden behind the walls.
Choosing the Right System
When selecting in-wall pathways, it is important to choose systems that allow placement of outlets from floor to ceiling, before or after drywall or expensive wall treatments are in place. In-wall cable pathway systems help to capture nearly all the future cabling upgrade installation costs at the time of construction or renovation. Without such systems, there are many additional expensive risks of adding cables later: drilling, wire fishing, insulation displacement, cable installation, w all damage, wall repair, and redecorating. Cable pathways should also allow electricians to install line voltage wires permanently and horizontally in a daisy-chain manner while permitting low voltage cables to be installed perpendicularly to achieve best performance.
By combining pre-installed pathways while remodeling, business or homeowners create more efficient structures that enable future wiring decisions without compromise.