Hillside homes in Los Angeles need more planning than flat lots: longer wire runs, shading for big view glass, gate and driveway cameras that work at night, and a backup plan for weak cell and internet service. LA Techs has been wiring homes in the Hollywood Hills, Bel Air and Brentwood's canyons since 2006, and the lesson never changes. Solve it in the drawings, not after the drywall.
Long runs, many levels
A hillside house is usually tall and narrow (or long and stepped). The gate might be 200 feet and three levels below the equipment rack.
That changes the pre-wire. Plan conduit between floors, pick a rack location near the middle of the house, and be ready for fiber or extra network switches on the far ends. Copper network cable has a 100-meter limit, and canyon lots blow past it more often than you'd think.
The view glass problem
People buy hillside homes for the view. Then the afternoon sun turns the living room into a greenhouse and the TV disappears behind glare.
Motorized Lutron shades are the answer, but they have to be designed early. Shade pockets go in the ceiling framing, and power and control wiring go to every window head. Add them after the fact and you're stuck with a surface-mounted box.
Set them on a schedule that follows the sun, and the house manages itself.
Gates, driveways and cameras
Steep driveways usually mean a gate at the street and a long climb to the front door. Everyone wants the same thing: see who's there, talk to them, and open the gate from your phone.
That needs power and network at the gate (plan the trench), a video intercom, and cameras with good night performance. Street lighting in the canyons is thin, so we spec cameras for real darkness, not a lit cul-de-sac. More on our approach on the Hollywood Hills page.
Decks and outdoor spaces
Cantilevered decks are where hillside living happens. They're also exposed to wind, sun and (sometimes) a long drop.
Plan speaker locations, landscape lighting and a Wi-Fi access point that actually reaches the deck. Weatherproof gear matters more up here than it does in a sheltered backyard.
Cell service and internet
Canyons eat cell signal. Many hillside homes have one bar in the kitchen and nothing in the primary bedroom.
The fix starts with the internet. Find out early which providers actually reach the street, because some lots only have one option. Then plan for Wi-Fi calling, a strong whole-home network, and a second internet connection as a backup.
- Confirm providers at the street before design is final
- Run conduit from the street to the rack (and a spare)
- Plan a rack spot with ventilation and power
- Pre-wire shade pockets at every view window
- Bring power and network to the gate
- Put access points on decks and lower levels
- Plan cameras for real nighttime darkness
Why architects bring us in early
On a hillside, the expensive mistakes are structural: no conduit between levels, no shade pockets, no trench to the gate. Those cost a lot to fix after framing.
We work alongside architects and builders on new builds and remodels across Bel Air and the Hills (see our Bel Air page). We're a CEDIA member, an authorized Control4, Savant and Lutron dealer, and CSLB licensed (#1031050, C-7 and C-10).
Quick answers
Q: What's different about smart home wiring on a hillside in LA? A: Longer runs between levels, more distance to the gate, and bigger windows to control. Plan conduit, rack location and shade wiring during design.
Q: How do you fix bad cell service in a canyon home? A: Start with a strong whole-home Wi-Fi network and Wi-Fi calling. A second internet connection gives you a backup if one provider goes down.
Q: When should shades be planned in a hillside build? A: During design. Shade pockets go into the ceiling framing and need wiring at each window head before drywall.
Q: Can I open my gate and see visitors from my phone? A: Yes, with a video intercom and cameras at the gate. Plan power and network in the trench early.
Building on a hillside? Send us the plans or call 213.354.8324.
