Had to choose between a wired and wireless retrofit for a 1980s house

I was working on a big old house in Portland last month, built in 1985. The owner wanted a full security system but didn't want new drywall torn up. I had to pick between trying to fish wire through those old, packed walls or going with a full wireless system. I went with wireless, using a brand I trust, because the time and cost to run wire would have been huge. It went pretty smooth, but I'm still a little worried about battery life on all those sensors in a couple years. The client is happy, but I keep thinking about signal strength over time. Has anyone else done a big wireless retrofit in an older place and had it hold up for more than, say, five years?

2 comments

2 Comments

troy_butler720h ago

Check for old lead paint blocking signals.

dixon.nathan19h ago

Old lead paint, huh. That's a new one for me. I've heard of metal mesh in plaster or foil-backed insulation causing issues, but not lead paint specifically. I guess if it's thick enough and has metal in it, it could maybe mess with wifi.