Who the smart home design touches
Smart home work isn't a trade unto itself — it's woven through the work of every other trade. Design coordination ensures each trade knows what to provide, on what schedule, and to what specification.
Architect
Device locations on architectural drawings
General Contractor
Schedule, access, site coordination
Electrical Engineer
Circuit design, panel coordination
Electrician
Circuit installation, dimmer compatibility, equipment-closet power
HVAC Contractor
Thermostat integration, duct routing, equipment-closet ventilation
Plumber
Water leak sensor installation, smart shut-off valve coordination
Drywaller
Backing for wall mounts, plate boxes, ceiling speaker cutouts
Painter
Keypad and plate finishes, in-wall component access
Trim Carpenter
Speaker grille fitment, integrated screen openings
Lighting Designer
Fixture selection coordinated with control system
Interior Designer
Keypad finishes, speaker visibility, equipment hiding
Landscape Architect
Outdoor lighting, audio, irrigation integration
Pool Contractor
Pool/spa control integration
Security Monitoring Provider
Central station handoff and signal verification
Cabinet Maker
Built-in equipment, integrated TV bays, motorised lift cabinets
What Each Trade Needs From Design
Three representative examples — every trade gets a tailored scope document.
Electrician needs
- —Circuit-by-circuit lighting schedule
- —Equipment closet power requirements (dedicated circuits, locations)
- —Network rack power (typically 4–8 dedicated circuits)
- —Lutron or Crestron processor power and locations
- —Whole-home audio amplifier power requirements
Drywaller needs
- —Plywood backing locations for TV mounts
- —Plate box rough-in locations and depths
- —Ceiling cutout positions for in-ceiling speakers
- —Access panels for in-wall equipment
HVAC contractor needs
- —Thermostat locations and brands (compatibility)
- —Cable paths through HVAC chases
- —Equipment closet ventilation requirements
- —Cooling load for AV closet and theatre
How Coordination Happens
01
Pre-rough-in coordination meeting
Builder, electrician, plumber, HVAC, integrator
Walk the framed home with drawings. Every trade marks their work and flags conflicts.
02
Pre-drywall walkthrough
Builder, electrician, integrator
Verify every cable is in place, labelled, and photographed.
03
Pre-finishing coordination
Builder, painter, trim carpenter, integrator
Confirm finishes, plate boxes, speaker grilles.
Beyond formal meetings, we maintain a live coordination document with open questions, decisions, and trade-specific instructions. Every trade has access. Every trade can see what's blocking what.
Where coordination breaks down
- —Late-engagement integrators arrive after critical decisions are made
- —Builders who bypass formal coordination meetings
- —Multiple low-voltage trades (security separate from AV separate from networking) without a master coordinator
- —Verbal decisions not captured in writing
- —Lighting designers without integrator coordination
Designed properly, coordination is administrative. Designed poorly, it becomes a series of expensive change orders.
Related Reading
Design Hub
The full Summit Logic design methodology and deliverables.
Learn morePre-Construction Consulting
Engagement at the architectural drawing stage.
Learn moreDesign for Custom Builders
How we partner with custom builders across every project phase.
Learn moreDesign for Architects
Working alongside architects from concept through construction.
Learn moreCoordinate your project with documented design.
A fixed-price design engagement gives every trade on the project a clear scope. No installation commitment.