We all know what a major renovation entails: the noise, the dust, and piles of building materials stacked in every corner. Finding the perfect spot for your router or planning where to run the internet cables is usually the last thing on your mind in the midst of all that chaos. But ignoring it is a mistake.

If you fail to plan these details during the first-fix stage, you could end up tripping over trailing cables running across your home for years to come. Or, you might be stuck with a terrible internet connection in the furthest room simply because the router was placed too far away and the Wi-Fi signal struggles to penetrate the walls.

1. Installing Network Equipment Before the Renovation is Complete

When discussing the finer details of renovation and construction, video calls with contractors are incredibly convenient, as comfort really is in the details. Furthermore, when a property is undergoing renovation and the mobile signal is patchy, a wired internet connection and Wi-Fi can be a real lifesaver.

Installing electronic locks will also greatly simplify your life during the renovation. When you hire a tradesperson, you often have to travel to the property to hand over the keys, only to return later to collect them. For instance, if you have booked an internet installation but have no direct line of communication with the engineers, you simply cannot afford to wait in for them every day. An electronic lock eliminates this hassle: you can either give the tradesperson a temporary access code or unlock the door remotely via a Wi-Fi app.

2. Power Sockets Near Network Equipment

When designing a layout, too much time is often spent on aesthetics, with practicality being overlooked. It might turn out that when the ISP engineer arrives to install the internet, there is no physical way to route the cable to the designated point, resulting in poorly thought-out equipment placement.

An insufficient number of sockets is another common issue. The fibre optic entry point typically requires two sockets: one for the optical network terminal (ONT) and another for the Wi-Fi router. For network resilience, some opt to run a backup connection, which requires additional power. Therefore, you should allocate at least four power sockets for your network equipment. Otherwise, you will be forced to use extension leads and adaptors, which introduce extra connection points. This is less safe and stable than plugging directly into a wall socket.

3. Conduit Pipes for External Cable Entry

Pre-installing conduit pipes for external network cables is the best approach. This will help you avoid chasing walls in the future and allows for much better planning of equipment placement. Even if the main cable is already in place, having a spare conduit will save you from unnecessary costs should any changes be required later on.

Poorly thought-out equipment placement inside a home can lead to Wi-Fi 'dead zones' with weak signals. Careful initial placement can help prevent this. If issues still arise, Wi-Fi repeaters or mesh systems can be deployed as a solution.

4. Deciding Between Wired and Wireless Connections

Clearly defining which devices will be hardwired and which will connect via Wi-Fi often resolves network stability issues. For example, it is far better to hardwire a Smart TV, as manufacturers often cut costs on the Wi-Fi modules in televisions.

If running a new network cable in a certain part of the house is physically impossible, alternative data transmission solutions can help (such as Powerline adapters, which transmit data over the mains electricity, or MoCA technology over coaxial cables). Such solutions are already widely available on the market.

5. Placing Your Wi-Fi Router Near a Microwave

Placing your Wi-Fi router next to a microwave (or even just on the other side of a wall) can cause connection drops or a significant drop in internet speed while the microwave is running, as both operate on similar frequency bands (2.4 GHz).

6. Routing Network Cables Alongside Power Lines

Running network cables parallel to mains power lines is a common mistake that is frequently overlooked, especially during office refurbishments. This can cause electromagnetic interference. Furthermore, it is crucial to remember that each data socket must have its own dedicated, continuous cable run directly from the central hub (router or switch), without any splitters or daisy-chaining.