Planning a renovation or extension is exciting. You get to change your home and make it a far more practical, useful space, and you even get to design it! There’s a lot to do, with layouts to consider, materials to choose and plenty of decisions to make about how you want the finished space to look and work. Unsurprisingly, security might not be at the top of that list. But if you’re changing the structure of your property, it’s worth thinking about it before the work starts. From CCTV and alarms to access control and door security, planning your security alongside the building work can make the finished system more effective, discreet and easier to install.

Why Think About Security During A Renovation?

There are a lot of reasons your security should be thought about beforehand, but there’s one big reason. Once the walls are finished, installing security equipment can become much more complicated. For example, cables might need to be routed through finished walls or ceilings, sensors and cameras may have fewer suitable positions. Extra equipment can also mean visible trunking, drilling, or other alterations that could have been avoided if security had been considered from the start. But if you plan out your security before building work starts, all of this can be incorporated into the design. Cables can be concealed, equipment positioned properly and power supplies planned for where they’re needed. You get a much cleaner installation that works with the property rather than looking like an afterthought.

CCTV Is Best Before You Build

If you’re looking at extending a property or changing its layout significantly, the areas that need monitoring by your CCTV system might change. A new extension could create another entrance, while a redesigned driveway could alter the approach to your property. Additional windows, gates or access points might also need to be considered. Planning your CCTV early allows you to identify the best positions for cameras and make sure your works don’t cause problems.

This is particularly important for commercial properties, where CCTV may need to cover entrances, loading areas, car parks, stock areas and other vulnerable points. Getting the positioning right from the beginning can provide much better coverage than trying to work arounds an existing building.

Don’t Forget Your Alarm System

Renovation work is also a good opportunity to review your intruder alarm. Adding rooms, changing access points or creating a different layout can affect where sensors should be positioned. An extension may require additional detectors while a new door or window could create another potential entry point. If an alarm system is being installed or upgraded as part of the project, planning it before the walls are finished means that wiring and equipment can be incorporated neatly into the property. It also gives you the opportunity to consider how the different parts of your security system can work together.

Access Control For Commercial Properties

For businesses, an extension or refurbishment can be an ideal time to consider access control. If you’re creating new offices, staff areas, storage rooms or restricted spaces, you might not want everyone to have access to every part of the building. An access control system can help you manage who can enter specific spaces and when. While these can be retrofitted, planning it during building work means that readers, locks, cabling and other equipment can be installed as part of the project rather than added later.

Security Shouldn’t Spoil Your New Space

You’re investing a lot of time and money into creating a property that looks and works exactly how you want it to. The last thing you want is a load of ugly security systems getting in the way of that. A professionally designed system that’s been integrated from the start means you don’t need to have cameras, cables and equipment dominating the finished space. Infrastructure can be built in to the design, and equipment positioned where it provides the best protection without compromising the appearance of your property.

When Should You Talk To A Security Specialist?

So when should you be thinking about security? Ideally, before the building work even starts. You don’t necessarily need to know every detail of the security system you want before you appoint your builder, but having an idea and a security specialist involved early will give you a lot more options. A professional will be able to assess your plans, identify potential vulnerabilities and recommend where cameras, alarms, sensors, access control and other equipment should be positioned. Then your builder can take those requirements into account during the work. After all, it’s considerably easier to run a cable through an unfinished wall than a finished one!

Doing this level of renovation or extension work is a significant investment to any property, so it’s well worth making sure your security keeps pace with the changes. At Securifix, we provide tailored security solutions for homes and businesses, including CCTV, intruder alarms and access control. By planning your security alongside your building work, we can help ensure your new or renovated property is protected from the moment the work is complete. For more information, just get in touch with the team at Securifix today.