Low Voltage Contractor · Milwaukee & Madison

Wired for what comes next. Built into your project from day one.

Q: How many ethernet drops does a typical home need?

A typical 3-4 bedroom home benefits from 2-4 drops per bedroom, 2-4 in living areas, 1-2 in the home office, plus drops for security cameras, access points, and smart home hubs. A 2,500 sq ft home typically has 16-24 drops.

Q: Do you work directly with builders and general contractors?

Yes, we work directly with builders, general contractors, and developers as a low voltage subcontractor. We coordinate with your project timeline, attend site meetings as needed, and provide documentation for permits and inspections.

Q: What areas do you serve for structured wiring and low voltage work?

BadgerLayer serves the full Milwaukee metro (Waukesha, Brookfield, Mequon, Lake Geneva, Racine, Kenosha) and the full Madison metro (Middleton, Verona, Sun Prairie, Waunakee, Fitchburg, Stoughton). We also cover Janesville, Fort Atkinson, and the corridor between both cities.

Professional low voltage installation for builders and general contractors across the Milwaukee and Madison metros. We run ethernet, pre-wire for security cameras, and build out smart home infrastructure during construction — so your builds ship ready for how people actually live.

Request a quote (262) 220-7884

// The case for low voltage

Today's buyers expect more than WiFi.

Whole-home connectivity, security cameras, and smart home readiness aren't premium upgrades anymore — they're table stakes for new construction in 2026.

Running structured wiring during the rough-in phase costs a fraction of retrofit pricing and positions your builds as truly move-in ready. From custom homes in Waukesha County to developments in Middleton, Verona, and Sun Prairie, proper low voltage is now a selling point, not a luxury.

We're the low voltage sub you call when you want it done right, on schedule, and documented well enough to hand to the buyer at closing.

// For builders & contractors

A sub you can actually count on.

01 / 04

Construction ready

We understand rough-in timing, work around electrical and HVAC, and show up when scheduled. No calling around chasing us down.

02 / 04

Turnkey package

Planning, materials, installation, testing, documentation. One sub, one scope, one handoff — not three vendors you coordinate.

03 / 04

Buyer-ready

Labeled diagrams, test results, warranty paperwork. Everything the homeowner needs, ready to hand over at closing.

04 / 04

Volume pricing

Regular builder clients get better per-drop pricing and priority scheduling. Build the relationship, save real money per project.

// Services & pricing

Four project tiers,
real pricing.

Every project starts with a site visit or plan review. These ranges reflect typical new-construction scopes — your actual quote depends on drop count, home size, and material choices.

01 · Residential12–24 drops

Whole-Home Ethernet

$1,500 – $8,000

Cat6 or Cat6A runs to bedrooms, living areas, office, and media locations. Includes the structured wiring panel, patch panel termination, testing, and labeling. Pricing is per-drop with volume discounts on larger scopes.

→Panel + patch panel included
→Each drop tested to spec
→Labeled diagram provided

02 · Security4–8 locations

Camera Pre-Wire

$800 – $4,000

Cat6 runs to strategic camera locations with weatherproof junction boxes at exterior points. Home-run to central equipment location. We can install cameras and NVR systems at trim-out or leave it ready for the homeowner's choice.

→Exterior weatherproofing
→Junction boxes installed
→Camera install available

03 · Smart homeCustomized scope

Full Automation Stack

$2,000 – $15,000+

Complete smart home readiness: WiFi access points, smart switch wiring, motorized shade pre-wire, whole-home audio, intercom and doorbell wiring, and a proper central equipment room. Scoped to the homeowner's automation goals.

→Equipment room designed
→Platform-agnostic wiring
→Future expansion planned

04 · CommercialMulti-tenant / office

Multi-Unit & Commercial

$5,000 – $50,000+

Apartment buildings, condos, offices, and mixed-use. Includes unit-level drops, common area connectivity, access control cabling, and building-wide backbone. We work with developers and commercial GCs at any scale.

→Fiber backbone option
→Access control ready
→Scaled documentation

// Scope of work

Everything we install.

Security & access

IP camera pre-wire & install
Video doorbell wiring
Access control cabling
Alarm system wiring
Intercom systems
Gate & entry systems
Weatherproof exterior terminations
NVR / DVR setup

Smart home & AV

Smart switch & dimmer wiring
Motorized shade pre-wire
Whole-home audio distribution
In-wall & ceiling speakers
TV mounting locations
Central equipment rooms
Lutron / Control4 / HomeKit-ready
Network rack installation

// Project workflow

Four phases, zero surprises.

We integrate into your existing construction workflow. You shouldn't have to manage us — we coordinate with your schedule and the other trades directly.

Phase 01

Plan review

Send us the blueprints or invite us to a site walk. We'll recommend drop locations, quote the scope, and provide an upgrade package you can offer buyers.

When → Pre-construction

Phase 02

Rough-in

We install all cable runs after framing, before insulation and drywall. Coordinated with your electrical sub and other trades so no one's in each other's way.

When → Post-framing

Phase 03

Trim-out

After drywall and paint: we install faceplates, terminate cables at the panel, mount equipment, and test every run. Equipment install can happen here or at closing.

When → Pre-inspection

Phase 04

Handoff

Labeled panel diagram, full test results, warranty paperwork, and a quick walkthrough for the homeowner. Everything documented for future reference.

When → At closing

// Materials we use

Cable & equipment standards.

Quality materials built to last decades and support the technology upgrades that haven't even shipped yet. Plenum-rated where required. Spec'd to future-proof.

Data · Premium

Cat6A

10 Gbps to 100mShielded & STPFuture-proof pick

Data · Standard

Cat6

10 Gbps to 55mMinimum we installMost common choice

Backbone

Fiber

40+ Gbps capableSingle-mode / multiMulti-building runs

Video

Coax RG6

Satellite / cableQuad-shieldedDish and feed runs

Audio

Speaker

16 / 14 AWGCL2 / CL3 ratedWhole-home audio

// Service area

Two metros, one corridor.

BadgerLayer serves builders across the Milwaukee and Madison metros and the corridor between them. For larger projects we travel outside this area and can scope scheduling on request.

// Metro 01

Milwaukee metro

Milwaukee
Waukesha
Brookfield
Mequon
Lake Geneva
Racine
Kenosha
Pewaukee

Also → Oconomowoc · Hartland · Delafield · Cedarburg

// Metro 02

Madison metro

Madison
Middleton
Verona
Sun Prairie
Waunakee
Fitchburg
Stoughton
McFarland

Also → Janesville · Fort Atkinson · Whitewater · Jefferson

Structured wiring questions, answered.

Real questions from builders, GCs, and homeowners scoping new construction. If yours isn't here, just call.

(262) 220-7884 →

When should low voltage wiring be installed during construction?

Low voltage wiring should be installed during the rough-in phase, after framing is complete but before insulation and drywall. This is when it's easiest and most cost-effective to run cables through walls, ceilings, and floors. We coordinate with your schedule to hit this window and work around electrical, plumbing, and HVAC trades.

What's the difference between Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6A?

Cat6 supports speeds up to 10 Gbps at shorter distances with better shielding than Cat5e. Cat6A extends those 10 Gbps speeds to the full 100-meter distance and has even better interference protection. For new construction we recommend Cat6 as the minimum and Cat6A for future-proofing. The material cost difference is minimal compared to labor, so the smart move is almost always spending a little more on better cable upfront.

How many ethernet drops does a typical home need?

It depends on the home's size and the owner's needs. As a baseline, we recommend 2 drops per bedroom, 2-4 in living and family rooms, 2-4 in the office, plus dedicated runs for WiFi access points, security cameras, and any smart home equipment. A typical 2,500 sq ft home might have 16-24 drops. We provide guidance based on the specific floor plans.

Do you work directly with builders and general contractors?

Yes. We work as a low voltage subcontractor for builders, general contractors, and developers throughout Wisconsin. We attend site meetings as needed, coordinate directly with other trades, provide documentation for inspections, and offer pricing packages you can present to buyers as upgrades. Regular builder clients get volume pricing and priority scheduling.

Can you install the cameras and networking equipment too?

Yes. We offer complete solutions from rough-in through final equipment installation. This includes security camera systems, network switches, WiFi access points, NVR and DVR systems, and smart home hubs. We can work directly with homeowners or provide turnkey packages through the builder.

What areas do you serve for structured wiring and low voltage work?

BadgerLayer provides structured wiring services across southern Wisconsin, including the full Milwaukee metro (Waukesha, Brookfield, Mequon, Lake Geneva, Racine, Kenosha, Pewaukee) and the full Madison metro (Middleton, Verona, Sun Prairie, Waunakee, Fitchburg, Stoughton). We also cover Janesville, Fort Atkinson, Whitewater, and the corridor between both cities. For larger projects we travel outside this area and can discuss scheduling on request.

Ready to add low voltage to your next build?

Custom home, spec house, multi-family, or commercial — we make it easy to offer whole-home connectivity as a standard feature or buyer upgrade. Send us the plans or call to scope an upcoming project.

Call (262) 220-7884 Request a quote →