Smart Home Planning During Apartment Renovation

Smart home during apartment renovation is not buying a voice speaker after move-in — it is part of engineering design in rough work. Light, climate, curtains, security, and low voltage need the right panel, routes, and provisions while walls are open. If decisions wait until finishing, rework hits timeline and finishes.

Below is what to plan before plastering, how smart home links to design project, and which scenarios to define at start. Designer format guide — in the calculator and Designer Renovation Cost. For complex engineering — premium calculator and services.

What counts as smart home in renovation

On site, smart home usually means integrated systems, not standalone gadgets:

• Scenario lighting — groups, dimmers, motion sensors, night mode.
• Climate — air conditioning, underfloor heat, ventilation, humidification.
• Curtains and blinds — motors, power, remote or app control.
• Security — leak, smoke, opening sensors; video intercom.
• Multiroom and audio — low voltage, acoustic zones.
• Network — Wi-Fi points, switch, smart home hub in panel or cabinet.

Without a project, the client buys incompatible devices — and pays twice for electrical work.

Rough stage: mandatory minimum

Element	Why in rough work	If skipped
Panel with spare modules	Relays, dimmers, surge protection, smart breakers	Panel rebuild after finishing
Neutral at switches	Smart switches and scenarios	Re-chasing for neutral
Low-voltage routes	Sensors, cameras, audio	External cables on walls
Ceiling provisions	Curtains, projector, Wi-Fi AP	Cannot hide wires
Sensor provisions	Leak, motion, climate	Batteries and workarounds
Air conditioning coordination	Drain, power, low voltage	AC "on the side" without integration

All points are fixed in a working scheme — as a design project section or separate sheet. More on design — in design project article.

Scenarios: what to plan in the brief

Scenario	Devices	What to build into renovation
"Leaving home"	Light, climate, curtains, alarm	Groups in panel, window sensors
"Movie"	Light, curtains, audio	Low voltage, dimmers, AV outlets
"Morning"	Light, underfloor, coffee	Timers, scenarios in panel
"Night"	Night light, hallway accent	Motion sensors, low brightness
"Vacation"	Presence simulation, leaks	Water sensors, remote access

Scenarios need not be "everything at once" — infrastructure reserve for expansion matters.

Smart home levels during renovation

Level	Scope	When chosen
Basic	Smart switches, few light scenarios, leak sensors	First apartment, limited budget
Extended	Climate, curtains, multiroom, single app	Family, full-time living
Project-grade	KNX / wired buses, full integration	Large area, premium format

Renovation format guide — designer vs premium; exact scope — in estimate after brief.

Electrical and low voltage: separation

Power and low voltage must not mix without rules:

• separate trays or conduits for low voltage;
• distances from power cable per code;
• collection point — panel or low-voltage cabinet;
• documentation with IPs, VLAN, passwords — for future service.

System	Cable/route type	Accounting point
Lighting	Power + neutral	Panel, groups
Smart outlets	Power	Panel
Sensors	Low voltage	Controller
Cameras	Twisted pair / PoE	Switch
Audio	Speaker / twisted pair	Amplifier

Link to design project and renovation

Smart home intersects layout, ceilings, and furniture:

• switches — count and location per scenarios, not habit;
• sensors — not behind wardrobe or in dead zone;
• curtain motors — provisions before stretch or drywall ceiling;
• TV and audio — connections before wall finishing.

With turnkey renovation from one contractor, project, electrical, and setup align in one schedule — fewer losses at "not our scope."

Implementation stages

Stage	Work	Result
Brief	Scenarios, devices, budget	Engineering brief
Project	Schemes, specification, panel	Drawings for builders
Rough	Routes, provisions, panel	Ready base
Finishing	Switches, panels, grilles	Visible part
Commissioning	Programming, scenario test	Working smart home
Handover	Documentation, training	Client controls system

Common mistakes

Mistake	Consequence	How to avoid
Buying devices before project	Incompatibility, extra cost	Scenarios and scheme first
No neutral at switches	Smart scenarios fail	Routing per project
One Wi-Fi router for whole apartment	Dead zones	Access points in project
No leak sensors	Flood without alert	Provisions in wet zones
"Someone will configure later"	System fails after handover	Commissioning in contract

Checklist: smart home before rough work

• Scenario list per room
• Protocol or ecosystem decision
• Panel scheme with spare capacity
• Neutral for lighting groups
• Low-voltage routes and cabinet
• Provisions for curtains and projector
• Leak sensors in bathrooms and kitchen
• Wi-Fi coverage plan
• Who commissions and hands over documentation

When to contact Profmaster

Submit a request on the contacts page if:

• you plan smart home with renovation, not "later";
• you need a design project with light scenarios and low voltage;
• electrical, climate, and finish coordination on one site matters;
• you consider designer or premium format with engineering;
• you want a budget guide — designer-cost, premium.

Profmaster builds smart home engineering base during rough work per project. Scope and estimate — after brief and measurements; service list — on services.

What the team can do:

• smart home section in design project;
• power and low-voltage routing;
• panel and provisions for scenarios;
• coordination with climate and finishes;
• commissioning and documentation handover recommendations.

Request a consultation via contacts.