Project: builder new construction
An Auburn custom home,
brought in after electrical, finished on Control4
A custom home in Auburn, WA, built by a custom builder who brought Rivas Technology Group in right after electrical rough-in. That is later than we recommend, so we specified Control4 wireless lighting control and designed the rest of the technology around the wiring already in the walls.
Rivas Technology Group worked with the homeowner and a custom builder on a new home in Auburn, WA. We were brought in right after electrical rough-in, so we recommended Control4 Contemporary wireless lighting control, which uses the electrician's existing switch wiring instead of new runs. We specified the whole project: pre-wiring, whole-home networking, whole-home music, whole-home video distribution, a golf simulator, permanent outdoor lighting, and intrusion and surveillance, all controlled from keypads, touchscreens and the app on Control4 X4.
- Client
- Private home, with a custom builder
- City
- Auburn, WA
- Brought in
- Right after electrical rough-in
- Lighting control
- Control4 Contemporary wireless lighting
- Systems
- Pre-wire, networking, whole-home music and video, golf simulator, permanent outdoor lighting, intrusion and surveillance
- Control
- Control4 X4: keypads, touchscreens and the app
Brought in after electrical, not before
The best time to bring in the low-voltage contractor is before framing and electrical plans are final, so the wiring for lighting control, audio, video and the network is drawn with the electrician. On this Auburn home, the builder brought Rivas Technology Group in right after electrical rough-in.
That still worked, but it changed the lighting plan. With the line-voltage wiring already in place, we recommended Control4 Contemporary wireless lighting: keypads and dimmers that go in the switch boxes the electrician had already wired, with no new lighting runs. One keypad controls the Island, Kitchen and Great Room lights, plus Cooking, Music and Goodbye scenes.
What we specified for the whole house
We worked with the homeowner and the builder and specified the entire project:
- Pre-wiring for the low-voltage systems, terminated in a structured wiring panel.
- Whole-home networking and Wi-Fi.
- Whole-home music, with speakers in the ceilings and outdoors.
- Whole-home video distribution from one equipment rack.
- A golf simulator room.
- Permanent outdoor lighting along the eaves.
- Intrusion and surveillance, with cameras and a siren outside.
Everything runs on Control4 X4 and is controlled from keypads, touchscreens and the Control4 app.
Music, video and the golf simulator
Ceiling speakers and a Wi-Fi access point sit above the kitchen, and outdoor audio and Wi-Fi reach the deck. The golf simulator room has a ceiling projector, a large screen and a second display on the side wall. The golf simulator AV page covers how we build those rooms.
Outdoor lighting and security
Permanent outdoor lighting runs along the eaves. Taylor, a technician on our team, installed it from a lift. Under the eaves, a camera and an outdoor siren cover the yard as part of the intrusion and surveillance system.
For builders
Coming in after electrical meant wireless lighting control. Coming in before it would have given the homeowner a choice between wired and wireless. Either way, the builder gets one low-voltage contractor for the whole house, and the homeowner's technology questions come to us after move-in. The builder page explains how we work with builders, and the Control4 page covers the system itself.
Questions we hear
When should a builder bring in the low-voltage contractor?
Before framing and electrical plans are final, so device locations, cable routes, rack space and lighting control are planned with the electrician. On this Auburn home we came in right after electrical rough-in, which still worked, but it decided the lighting control for us.
Can you add Control4 lighting after the electrician has roughed in?
Yes. Control4 wireless lighting, such as the Contemporary keypads and dimmers, goes in the switch boxes the electrician already wired, so no new lighting runs are needed. That is what we specified for this Auburn home.
What did this Auburn home get?
Pre-wiring, whole-home networking and Wi-Fi, whole-home music, whole-home video distribution, a golf simulator, permanent outdoor lighting, and intrusion and surveillance, all controlled from Control4 keypads, touchscreens and the app on Control4 X4.
Does Rivas Technology Group work directly with builders?
Yes. We work alongside custom and production builders as their low-voltage contractor, from a pre-wire plan to commissioning before closing. On this home we worked with both the homeowner and the builder.
Who handles the homeowner's questions after move-in?
We do. The homeowner gets our number for the technology, so Wi-Fi, music and lighting questions come to us, not to the builder's warranty team.
Building a custom home? Bring us in before electrical.
Send the plans for one build. We mark up device locations and cable routes, coordinate with your electrician and send a fixed proposal. We call or text back within one business day.