Questions
Questions we hear most
Anything not here, call or write and a person answers in office hours.
Can you add dimming and scenes to a house that is already built?
Yes, in most houses. Wireless dimmers and keypads go into your existing switch boxes, and we check each box first because some older ones have no neutral wire. Shades and outdoor lights may need new wire where a wall is already open.
When should a builder call you?
When the framing goes up, and no later than before the electrician's rough-in is inspected. That is when keypad boxes, shade pockets and low-voltage runs can still be placed without opening a finished wall.
What if the internet goes down?
Dimmers and keypads should keep working from the wall. We design the system so scenes run from the keypads and not from a cloud account, and we tell you before the quote which parts, if any, need a connection.
Do you work with my builder, electrician or designer?
Yes. On most custom homes we are one of several trades. We take the plan set and the schedule from your builder, and we work from the same marked-up sheet as the electrician who wires the line-voltage side.
What does it cost?
It depends on the number of circuits and keypads, how many windows get shades, and whether the walls are open. After a walk-through of the house or the plan set we write a scope and a quote you can compare line by line.
Are you licensed and insured, and how do I check?
The license line is in the footer of every page. The Oregon Building Codes Division keeps a public lookup, and a certificate of insurance can be sent with your written quote.
What happens at the walk-through?
We go room by room, ask how each is used, look at the switch boxes or the plans, and photograph what matters. We do not price on the spot. The scope and quote follow in writing.
Do you do emergency work?
No. We are a planned-work firm and there is no after-hours line. If you smell burning or see sparks, scorching or water near wiring, turn off the breaker if it is safe and call 911 for fire. For a lighting system that has stopped responding, call in office hours.
Still deciding?
Ask us about your house
Tell us the town, the stage of the build and the rooms.