Despite the name, flood wiring is not the latest advance in anti-global warming technology, designed to ensure that after the glaciers have all melted, you can still keep playing your Xbox under several feet of water.

Flood wiring, quite simply, is about flooding your home (hence the name) with cabling and data ports – often as many as 50% more than are actually needed.
It’s a clever and cost-effective way to benefit from the latest developments in home audio, home video and home automation, as well as future-proofing your home to allow you to exploit future developments in home entertainment, networking or security.

At its heart is the ability of Cat5 and Cat6 cabling to carry pretty much any kind of signal, from voice and audio to video and data, whilst coping with the bandwidth demands of today’s (and tomorrow’s) technology.

Best installed either at build stage or during a major refurbishment, it offers some serious advantages.

Cable and data sockets are cheap, so installing enough of both for every conceivable eventuality is hardly going to blow the budget.
With multiple data/comms sockets placed liberally around the home, all leading back to a central hub, it offers total flexibility. The occupants can choose to use an individual socket for whatever they want, and change its use as their needs change, with no additional cabling required.

Home entertainment and automation systems can be installed fully, or in part, and augmented or upgraded over time as needs and budgets permit

Home networks can be set up quickly and easily, with linked computers, gaming consoles, and networked printers, data storage and backup facilities.

Additional audio and video sources (BluRays, Tuners etc) can be connected to data sockets and routed directly to TV’s, amps and speakers.

Keypad and Touchscreen points can be wired with network, video, audio, intercoms and remote temperature sensors for HVAC.

And all potential TV points can be wired for automated control, aerial, power and video so screens can be wall mounted, without having to choose between a ‘spaghetti junction’ of cabling, or having to chase the new wiring into walls

In short, it offers home entertainment and automation enthusiasts all the advantages of new developments and technologies, but with none of the redecorating.