Smart home technology
Everyone can expect some level of automation and remote control in their homes these days – but self builders have an opportunity to create integrated systems that help to make life easier. Emily Brooks investigates the options
Emily Brooks introduces the innovations making your house even more welcoming; from lighting controls to security systems, your home has never been smarter
Smart home products are rapidly becoming mainstream. Wireless technology has given us easily retrofitted DIY solutions, such as Philips Hue for lighting, Hive for heating and security, plus Google Home and Apple Homekit that work to unite many separate functions. They’re quick to set up, inexpensive, and you can add more kit as you need it.
Creating a home from scratch offers the opportunity to establish a wired, integrated system where everything works together. “If you’re self building, then you’ll probably want a professionally installed smart home ecosystem, as opposed to off-the-shelf solutions that might not be compatible with one another,” says Loxone’s operations and marketing manager, Tyron Cosway. Gone are the days when smart homes felt gimmicky; now, everyone can see the benefit of improved comfort and better control, and installers have focused on what’s really useful, not simply adding layers of complexity because they can.
What can you automate?
Heating, lighting, audio-visual (AV) and security products can all be centralised and controlled from one place. Motorised windows (and blinds) can integrate with heating and ventilation to regulate temperature or for security.
It’s when it all works together that the magic happens: a ‘goodnight’ button, for example, could turn off downstairs lights, check garage doors are shut and alarm the house. High-end systems such as Crestron and Control4 have almost unlimited programming capabilities: use them to feed your fish, check the weather and water your lawn.
Smart homes & self builds
Get an integrator on board at the same time as your architect and they can collaborate on making your system as efficient and hidden as possible, incorporating space considerations for cable runs and racks in initial plans.
Budget wireless setups like Google Home are designed to be assembled by anybody, although compatibility needs researching (Amazon’s popular Ring video doorbell isn’t yet certified by Apple Homekit, for example). In the middle market, expect to see more electricians up-skilling so they can install systems such as Loxone. At the upper end, only a custom installer can design, programme and fit a wholehouse system (they will often need to update and maintain it, too). CEDIA, the membership organisation for home technology specialists, is a good starting point for advice and ideas. If you know what arrangement you want to use, you could also seek an installer through their website.
“In order to understand what’s possible, visit one of the many amazing home tech showrooms and experience centres around,” says James Ratcliffe, managing director of Homeplay and a CEDIA member. “Do your homework, interview two or three companies and make a decision based on which one best meets your needs. Much like architects or kitchen suppliers, technology integrators specialise in different types of home. One that typically works on projects upwards of £200,000 will probably not be a good fit if your budget is £30,000.”
What will it cost?
For a whole-house starter system, £15,000 might buy you a wired and wireless data network and multi-room audio. It’s worth reinforcing that it’s not really the cabling pushing up costs, but TVS, speakers and the controls themselves. Installers usually suggest focusing on one or two areas that really matter, like a great media room or topnotch security, rather than spreading budgets too thinly. Wiring for internet data and capability is a must, though.
“It really does come down to where your priorities are,” says Alex Josling, co-founder and director of Seven Integration. “We are currently doing a project where the Lutron lighting system is costing £70,000, but the client is having one TV and a radio on a shelf in the kitchen.”