The Best Security System for Renovated Homes With No Wall Access
Practical guide showing why many Melbourne renovations cannot support traditional alarm cabling, and how Ajax wireless systems solve the problem without damaging plaster, tiles, or heritage walls.
Understanding the Renovated Home Security Challenge
Why Traditional Alarm Systems Fail in Renovated Properties
🏗️ Modern renovations seal ceiling cavities with insulation batts blocking cable access completely
🎨 Heritage plasterwork and decorative ceilings cannot accommodate cable routing without irreversible damage
🔧 Exposed brick features, tiled surfaces, and polished concrete eliminate concealed cable pathways
Based on 300+ security installations in renovated Melbourne properties 2022-2025.
Melbourne property owners investing hundreds of thousands of dollars renovating heritage homes, modernizing period apartments, or creating contemporary living spaces consistently encounter the same frustrating security installation obstacle in 2025. Traditional wired alarm systems require extensive cable routing through ceiling cavities, wall spaces, and floor voids connecting every door sensor, window contact, and motion detector back to central control panels. These cable pathways simply no longer exist in properly renovated properties where modern building practices prioritize energy efficiency through comprehensive insulation, preserve architectural features through careful restoration, and showcase industrial aesthetics through exposed structural elements.
The security industry historically approached this challenge through three unsatisfactory solutions, each creating significant compromises undermining either property aesthetics, renovation investments, or security effectiveness. Surface-mounted cable conduit runs visible alarm wiring along walls, skirting boards, and ceilings, destroying the clean modern aesthetic homeowners spent fortunes creating through professional renovation work. Destructive cable installation cuts access holes through brand new plasterwork, removes sections of expensive tiling, or damages heritage decorative ceilings to create cable pathways, requiring extensive repair work that never quite matches surrounding finishes. Simplified wireless systems using basic radio frequency sensors provide inadequate security with poor reliability, limited range, frequent false alarms, and vulnerability to interference or jamming attacks.
Ajax Systems revolutionized security for renovated properties through professional-grade wireless technology specifically engineered to eliminate cable installation entirely while delivering reliability, range, and features matching or exceeding traditional wired platforms. This comprehensive guide examines specific renovation scenarios preventing traditional alarm installation, explains Ajax wireless technology enabling security without property damage, provides installation procedures for various renovated property types, and delivers practical recommendations ensuring optimal system performance in challenging architectural environments.
Critical Understanding for Renovated Property Security
Modern renovation practices fundamentally changed cable installation feasibility. Properties renovated before 2010 often retain accessible ceiling cavities enabling traditional wired alarm installation, while renovations completed after 2015 increasingly incorporate comprehensive insulation, architectural features, and building techniques eliminating concealed cable pathways without destructive access.
Ajax wireless eliminates installation constraints but requires understanding radio propagation. The technology performs exceptionally across typical residential construction but demands careful assessment of metal building elements, dense masonry walls, and electromagnetic interference sources that may affect wireless communication requiring strategic device placement.
Professional wireless installation differs fundamentally from DIY consumer systems. Ajax platforms provide commercial-grade reliability and monitoring compatibility impossible with basic consumer wireless alarms, though proper installation verifying adequate signal coverage throughout protected property remains essential for long-term performance.
Common Renovation Scenarios Preventing Traditional Alarm Installation
Heritage home restorations represent the most challenging security installation scenario, with properties built between 1850 and 1950 featuring ornate plaster ceilings, decorative cornices, and architectural detailing that cannot accommodate modern cable routing. Melbourne suburbs including Carlton, Fitzroy, Richmond, South Melbourne, and St Kilda contain thousands of heritage-listed or heritage-overlay properties where local council regulations strictly control modifications affecting architectural character. Running alarm cables through these properties requires either surface mounting destroying period aesthetics, or destructive access cutting through irreplaceable plasterwork and timber detailing.
Heritage ceiling roses, decorative cornices, and ceiling medallions create specific cable routing obstacles, with installers historically forced to drill through ornamental plaster risking permanent damage to architectural features. The plasterwork itself often sits directly against timber lath without ceiling cavity space, making concealed cable installation physically impossible without removing sections of ceiling. Heritage window and door frames feature timber construction incompatible with modern contact sensors requiring cable connections, with drilling through heritage timber potentially violating heritage protection orders.
Apartment renovations in converted warehouses, former industrial buildings, or modern multi-story developments eliminate cable routing through concrete floor slabs separating apartments. Melbourne inner suburbs including Collingwood, Abbotsford, Richmond, and Southbank contain extensive apartment conversions from industrial buildings with exposed brick walls, polished concrete floors, and high ceilings showcasing structural beams. These architectural features define the premium aesthetic owners purchased, making surface-mounted alarm cables completely unacceptable.
Modern apartments in new developments feature concrete construction throughout with no accessible ceiling cavities, wall spaces, or cable pathways between apartments and common areas. Body corporate regulations often prohibit cable penetrations through external walls or common property boundaries, restricting traditional alarm installation to individual apartment interiors only. The concrete construction naturally blocks wireless signals requiring careful system design ensuring adequate coverage throughout apartment layouts with minimal Hub-to-device obstructions.
Contemporary home renovations prioritizing energy efficiency incorporate comprehensive ceiling and wall insulation filling every cavity space previously available for cable routing. The insulation batts completely block ceiling cavity access, with any cable installation requiring either insulation removal defeating energy efficiency improvements, or external cable routes destroying modern minimalist aesthetics. Properties renovated under modern building codes since 2010 increasingly feature this comprehensive insulation approach, making traditional alarm installation progressively more difficult across Melbourne’s housing stock.
Exposed brick feature walls have become defining elements of contemporary renovations, with property owners specifically paying premium prices to expose and restore brick walls previously hidden behind plaster. Running alarm cables across these feature walls requires either surface-mounted conduit destroying the industrial aesthetic, or drilling brick and pointing mortar to bury cables within wall thickness creating ongoing maintenance issues as mortar repairs age differently than surrounding original brickwork. The feature walls typically appear in living areas, kitchens, and bedrooms where motion detector and glass break sensor installation proves essential for comprehensive security coverage.
Polished concrete floors represent another contemporary finish eliminating traditional cable pathways, with ground-floor renovations increasingly featuring polished concrete throughout living areas and even bedrooms. Installing door and window sensors on ground-floor openings traditionally involved running cables through subfloor spaces, crawl spaces, or beneath floor coverings. Polished concrete eliminates all these pathways, forcing cables either across floor surfaces creating trip hazards and aesthetic disasters, or up walls in surface-mounted conduit equally unacceptable in premium renovations.
“I receive weekly calls from homeowners who spent 200,000 to 500,000 dollars renovating properties only to discover traditional alarm systems cannot install without destroying finishes. The frustration peaks when they learn previous quotes assumed accessible ceiling cavities that renovation completely eliminated with insulation, or failed to account for heritage restrictions preventing cable routing through period features. Ajax wireless eliminated this entire problem category from our business.”
— Licensed Security Installer, Melbourne 2025
How Ajax Wireless Technology Solves Renovation Installation Challenges
Ajax Systems developed the Jeweller radio protocol specifically for security applications, operating on 868 MHz frequency band allocated for alarm systems throughout Australia and Europe. The protocol achieves remarkable 2000-meter line-of-sight communication range between Hub and wireless devices, ensuring reliable coverage throughout even large renovated properties without requiring cable infrastructure. The bidirectional encrypted communication occurs every 12 to 36 seconds enabling instant alarm transmission while maintaining years-long battery life through optimized power management.
The wireless architecture eliminates every cable-related installation constraint affecting renovated properties. Door and window contacts mount directly to frames using provided adhesive or two small mounting screws, requiring no cable connections whatsoever. Motion detectors install via simple wall brackets positioned anywhere providing optimal detection coverage without regard to cable routing feasibility. Glass break sensors mount directly to windows using adhesive backing, remote controls and panic buttons operate entirely wireless, and even sirens function on internal batteries eliminating power wiring requirements.
Ajax Hub represents the only device requiring hardwired connections, needing only power outlet access and ethernet internet connection or WiFi capability. The Hub installs anywhere within property providing adequate wireless coverage to all devices, typically in central locations like hallway cupboards, utility rooms, or inconspicuous corners of living spaces. Properties with challenging wireless propagation characteristics may benefit from multiple Hub devices creating overlapping coverage zones, or range extender installations bridging difficult signal paths through dense construction materials.
The system design process for renovated properties focuses entirely on wireless signal propagation rather than cable routing feasibility. Installers assess building construction materials affecting radio frequency transmission, identify potential interference sources including WiFi routers, microwave ovens, or industrial equipment, and verify adequate signal strength from proposed Hub location to every device position throughout property. The Ajax smartphone app includes signal strength indicators displaying real-time communication quality during installation, enabling immediate verification of reliable operation before finalizing device placement.
Ajax devices demonstrate impressive wireless penetration through typical residential construction materials. Standard brick veneer walls, timber stud walls with plasterboard, and even double-brick construction allow reliable communication across 30 to 80 meters from Hub depending on wall thickness and quantity. Metal building elements including steel beams, aluminum window frames, and metal roofing may reduce effective range by 20 to 40 percent but rarely eliminate communication entirely. Concrete walls and floors represent the most challenging construction materials, reducing range to 15 to 40 meters depending on reinforcing steel density and concrete thickness.
The wireless installation procedure transforms timeline expectations, with typical renovated home security installations completing in three to five hours compared to eight to fifteen hours for equivalent wired systems. The dramatic efficiency improvement reflects elimination of all cable routing, power supply installation, and electrical termination procedures that consume majority of traditional alarm installation time. Installers focus entirely on optimal device positioning for security coverage and wireless signal strength rather than cable pathway identification and routing feasibility.
Ajax Installation Procedures for Specific Renovation Types
Heritage home Ajax installations prioritize preserving architectural features while providing comprehensive security coverage across multi-room layouts and multiple building levels. The Hub typically installs in ground floor locations providing vertical signal propagation through timber floor construction to upper story devices. Door and window contacts mount using adhesive backing avoiding screw holes through heritage timber frames, with magnetic separation gaps adjusted to accommodate frame irregularities common in century-old construction.
Motion detectors position in corners of major rooms providing overlapping coverage patterns, mounting via supplied brackets requiring only two small screw holes easily repaired if system removal becomes necessary. Glass break sensors protect heritage windows including leadlight and stained glass installations vulnerable to breakage, positioning within eight meters of protected glazing while maintaining clear acoustic path for glass breakage sound detection. The wireless architecture enables protecting detached garages, studios, or outbuildings without trenching cables between structures, expanding security coverage impossible with traditional wired systems.
Heritage properties with thick double-brick walls between rooms may require careful Hub placement ensuring adequate signal penetration through load-bearing masonry. Testing during installation verifies every device maintains reliable communication, with marginal signal strength potentially requiring Hub repositioning, range extender installation, or alternative device placement achieving stronger signal paths. Properties with basements or cellars benefit from dedicated motion detectors or door contacts positioned within basement spaces, with wireless signals typically propagating adequately through timber floor construction between basement and ground floor Hub locations.
Apartment renovations in concrete buildings demand careful wireless coverage planning accounting for signal attenuation through concrete floors and walls. Hub installation typically occurs near apartment entrance providing direct wireless paths to entry door contacts and hallway motion detectors while maintaining adequate signal strength through interior walls to bedroom and living area devices. Metal-framed windows common in modern apartment construction may create signal reflection or attenuation requiring motion detector positioning away from window walls where possible.
Apartments with balconies benefit from outdoor-rated Ajax devices protecting balcony doors and windows, with the wireless architecture enabling security coverage across outdoor spaces impossible to cable without penetrating external building envelope. Body corporate approval becomes unnecessary when wireless installation involves no cable penetrations through common property walls or building exteriors. Small apartments maintain excellent wireless coverage throughout with single Hub installation, while larger multi-level apartments may benefit from range extenders ensuring reliable communication to distant bedrooms or study areas.
Contemporary renovations with exposed brick and polished concrete showcase Ajax aesthetic advantages, with sleek white device housings complementing modern minimalist design better than bulky traditional alarm equipment. Motion detectors mount directly to exposed brick using supplied brackets without conduit or visible wiring destroying industrial aesthetic. Door and window contacts install on powder-coated aluminum or timber frames common in contemporary renovations, maintaining clean lines without cable connections.
Properties with extensive glazing including floor-to-ceiling windows and glass sliding doors benefit from strategic glass break sensor placement protecting large vulnerable areas, with Ajax acoustic sensors covering up to nine square meters of glazing from single device location. The wireless architecture enables protecting skylights, clerestory windows, and other architectural glazing features physically impossible to wire with traditional contact sensors. Open-plan living areas common in contemporary renovations allow single strategically positioned motion detector to cover extensive floor areas, reducing total device count while maintaining comprehensive detection coverage.
Wireless Coverage Optimization Strategies
Signal strength verification represents the most critical step ensuring reliable Ajax system operation in renovated properties with challenging construction materials. The installation procedure includes systematic testing of every device location using Ajax app signal strength indicators, displaying bars or percentage values indicating communication quality between device and Hub. Devices showing marginal signal strength below 50 percent reliability may require repositioning either the device itself or the Hub to achieve stronger signal paths avoiding dense construction obstacles.
Hub positioning optimization considers multiple factors beyond simple geometric center of property. Ground floor locations typically provide better vertical signal propagation through timber floors than basement locations requiring penetration through concrete or double-brick subfloor construction. Locations away from dense masonry walls or metal structural elements reduce signal blockage compared to corners or alcoves surrounded by concrete or brick. Avoiding immediate proximity to WiFi routers, cordless phone base stations, or other 2.4 GHz wireless devices prevents potential interference despite Ajax operating on separate 868 MHz frequency band.
Range extenders enable reliable coverage in properties where single Hub location cannot adequately serve distant rooms or separate building levels. The ReX range extender functions as wireless signal repeater, receiving communications from distant devices and retransmitting to Hub effectively doubling coverage range. Properties with basements, second stories with marginal signal strength, or detached outbuildings benefit from range extender installation creating reliable signal bridges across challenging wireless paths. The range extenders require only power outlet connection, installing anywhere providing adequate signal strength to both Hub and distant devices requiring coverage extension.
Metal building elements require specific attention during installation planning, with steel beams, metal roofing, aluminum cladding, and reinforced concrete potentially affecting wireless propagation. Device positioning avoiding direct signal paths through metal elements where possible improves reliability, though Ajax signals typically penetrate most residential metal construction adequately. Properties with extensive metal structural elements including steel-framed buildings or metal roof cladding may benefit from elevated Hub positioning or multiple Hub installations ensuring redundant communication paths to critical security devices.
Electromagnetic interference assessment identifies potential sources affecting wireless communication reliability. WiFi networks operating throughout properties create crowded electromagnetic environments, though Ajax 868 MHz operation typically avoids congestion affecting 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi bands. Microwave ovens generate brief but intense electromagnetic emissions that may momentarily affect wireless communications during operation, though Ajax error correction and retransmission protocols ensure reliable message delivery despite brief interference. Industrial equipment including welders, motor controllers, or radio frequency machinery may generate continuous interference requiring careful system design in mixed residential and commercial properties.
“Heritage properties with three-foot-thick stone walls initially concerned me for wireless reliability, but Ajax consistently exceeds expectations. I completed installation in 1880s Carlton terrace with load-bearing bluestone walls where traditional wiring proved physically impossible. Every device maintained excellent signal strength with Hub positioned strategically avoiding direct stone wall penetration. The wireless technology unlocked security coverage for properties previously considered impossible to alarm properly.”
— Heritage Property Security Specialist, Melbourne 2025
Installation Cost Comparison: Wireless vs Traditional Systems
Ajax wireless installation costs reflect dramatically reduced labor requirements eliminating cable routing procedures that consume majority of traditional alarm installation time. A typical 15-zone renovated home installs in four to six hours at standard security installer rates of 80 to 120 dollars per hour, resulting in labor costs of 320 to 720 dollars. Equipment costs for Ajax systems including Hub, door and window contacts, motion detectors, remote controls, and sirens range from 1,200 to 1,800 dollars depending on device quantity and specific model selections. Total installed system cost typically ranges from 1,800 to 2,800 dollars for comprehensive residential coverage.
Traditional wired alarm installation in renovated property lacking cable access requires either destructive cable routing or surface-mounted conduit, both dramatically increasing installation complexity and cost. Destructive installation cutting access holes through plaster, removing flooring sections, or creating cable pathways through finished walls requires eight to twenty hours installation time plus subsequent repair work by plasterers, painters, or floor layers. Total project costs including alarm installation and repair work typically exceed 4,000 to 8,000 dollars, with heritage properties potentially reaching 10,000 to 15,000 dollars when specialist tradespeople must repair heritage plasterwork or architectural features.
Surface-mounted cable installation reduces time compared to destructive access but creates aesthetically unacceptable results in premium renovations. Visible PVC conduit running along walls, skirting boards, and ceilings destroys the clean modern aesthetic owners invested heavily creating. Installation time typically ranges from six to twelve hours with costs of 800 to 2,000 dollars, though the aesthetic compromise proves completely unacceptable to most owners of recently renovated properties who specifically avoid this installation approach.
The cost advantage of Ajax wireless installation compounds when accounting for avoided property damage, repair work, and aesthetic compromise. Properties unable to accommodate traditional wired installation face choice between expensive destructive installation with extensive repair requirements, aesthetically unacceptable surface mounting, or abandoning comprehensive security altogether. Ajax wireless eliminates these compromises entirely, delivering professional-grade security at total installed cost typically 30 to 60 percent below destructive traditional installation including repair work.
Ongoing operational costs remain similar between Ajax wireless and traditional wired systems. Professional monitoring services charge identical fees regardless of alarm technology, typically 30 to 50 dollars monthly for residential properties. Battery replacement represents the primary Ajax-specific maintenance cost, with door and window contacts requiring battery service every five to seven years, motion detectors every three to five years, and Hub backup battery every four to five years. Annual battery maintenance costs average 50 to 100 dollars across typical residential installations, modest expense compared to installation cost savings and aesthetic advantages over traditional alternatives.
System Performance and Reliability in Renovated Properties
Ajax wireless reliability in renovated properties depends primarily on proper installation including adequate Hub placement and thorough signal strength verification during commissioning. Systems installed with appropriate attention to wireless coverage demonstrate performance matching or exceeding traditional wired platforms, operating reliably across years of continuous service. Melbourne installations dating from Ajax Australian market entry in 2019 continue performing excellently in 2025, demonstrating platform maturity and long-term reliability.
False alarm rates remain very low when systems undergo proper installation and user training. Ajax person detection technology utilizing passive infrared sensors with digital signal processing algorithms distinguishes genuine human movement from environmental changes including air conditioning airflow, sunlight patterns, or pet activity below specified size thresholds. The detection accuracy dramatically reduces false alarms compared to older wireless systems using basic motion detection without intelligent signal processing.
Wireless communication reliability proves exceptional under normal operating conditions, with encrypted Jeweller protocol providing interference resistance and error correction ensuring message delivery despite challenging electromagnetic environments. The bidirectional communication enables constant supervision of every device, with Hub detecting communication failures within 12 to 36 seconds depending on device type and immediately alerting users to potential problems. This supervision capability matches wired systems providing tamper detection and device failure notification impossible with simpler wireless platforms.
Battery life meets or exceeds manufacturer specifications across real-world installations, with door and window contacts typically operating five to seven years before requiring replacement, motion detectors lasting three to five years, and Hub backup battery maintaining adequate capacity four to five years. The Ajax app provides battery status monitoring for every device, enabling proactive battery replacement before depletion causes device failures. Users receive low battery notifications approximately one month before battery exhaustion, providing adequate time to obtain replacement batteries and schedule service if professional installation proves preferred.
Environmental performance across Melbourne climate conditions demonstrates excellent durability, with devices surviving summer heat exceeding 40 degrees, winter near-freezing temperatures, and coastal salt air exposure in bayside suburbs. Outdoor-rated Ajax devices withstand direct weather exposure including rain and UV radiation, enabling protection of external doors, balconies, and detached structures. Indoor devices operate reliably in conditioned spaces without environmental stress affecting electronics or battery performance.
Renovation-Specific Installation Advantages
Making the Decision for Your Renovated Property
Renovated properties unable to accommodate traditional wired alarm installation face straightforward decision between Ajax wireless professional platform or abandoning comprehensive security altogether. Basic consumer wireless alternatives including Ring, SimpliSafe, or similar DIY systems provide inadequate reliability, limited professional monitoring compatibility, and security vulnerabilities making them unsuitable for properties representing substantial financial investments.
Ajax wireless delivers professional-grade security matching traditional wired platforms in reliability, monitoring compatibility, and feature capability while eliminating every cable-related installation constraint. The technology specifically addresses renovated property challenges through design choices prioritizing wireless range, interference resistance, and battery efficiency enabling years-long operation without maintenance. Professional installation ensures optimal system configuration including wireless coverage verification and device positioning maximizing security effectiveness.
Key considerations for Ajax deployment in renovated properties:
Wireless coverage verification during installation confirms reliable communication throughout property accounting for construction materials and electromagnetic environment
Professional installation by licensed security technicians familiar with Ajax technology ensures optimal system configuration and long-term reliability
Hub positioning strategically located providing adequate wireless coverage while avoiding dense construction obstacles or electromagnetic interference sources
Device selection matching specific security requirements including outdoor-rated components for external areas and pet-immune motion detectors for animal-occupied properties
Professional monitoring connection enabling 24-hour alarm response and potential insurance premium reductions offsetting system investment
Battery maintenance planning establishing proactive replacement schedules preventing device failures from battery depletion
Future expansion capability enabling simple device additions protecting renovations, extensions, or changing security requirements without cable installation
“Ajax wireless transformed our business relationship with architects, interior designers, and heritage consultants who previously viewed alarm systems as necessary evils destroying their careful design work. We now collaborate from renovation planning stages, ensuring security integration without aesthetic compromise or damage to architectural features. The technology finally aligned security capabilities with modern renovation expectations eliminating historic trade-offs between comprehensive protection and property aesthetics.”
— Security Integration Specialist, Melbourne 2025
Need Ajax Wireless Security for Your Renovated Property?
Serhii from Sipko Security specializes in Ajax wireless installations across Melbourne’s most challenging renovated properties including heritage homes, contemporary apartments, and modern renovations where traditional alarm systems cannot install without destroying finishes. I provide honest assessments of wireless coverage feasibility, professional installation with comprehensive signal strength verification, and ongoing support ensuring optimal long-term system performance.
Every installation includes detailed site assessment evaluating construction materials affecting wireless propagation, customized system design optimizing device placement for security coverage and signal reliability, and comprehensive testing ensuring every protected area maintains reliable Hub communication. I work directly with architects, interior designers, and heritage consultants ensuring security integration enhances rather than compromises your renovation investment.
Contact me today for Ajax wireless consultation specifically for your renovated Melbourne property, complete with detailed quote, wireless coverage assessment, and honest guidance on whether Ajax wireless provides optimal solution for your specific architectural challenges and security requirements.
Primary Sources
Australian Communications and Media Authority https://www.acma.gov.au Regulatory framework for wireless security systems operating on 868 MHz frequency band allocated specifically for alarm applications, including technical standards for radio transmission power limits, electromagnetic compatibility requirements ensuring alarm devices operate without interference, and spectrum licensing regulations governing security system wireless communications across Australian residential and commercial properties.
Standards Australia https://www.standards.org.au Technical standards for security alarm system installation in heritage and renovated properties including AS 2201 intruder alarm standards covering wireless device performance specifications, detection coverage requirements, communication reliability standards, and installation guidelines ensuring proper system deployment without damaging architectural features or compromising building integrity across Australian heritage and contemporary properties.
Heritage Victoria https://www.heritage.vic.gov.au Heritage property protection regulations under Heritage Act 2017 controlling modifications to heritage-listed buildings and properties within heritage overlays, requirements for minimally invasive security installations avoiding damage to significant architectural features, permit procedures for alarm system deployment in protected properties, and guidelines balancing security requirements with heritage conservation obligations across Victorian heritage properties.
Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner https://www.ovic.vic.gov.au Privacy regulations applicable to residential security systems under Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014, requirements for alarm system data handling including access logs and monitoring records, notification obligations for security installations in multi-occupancy buildings, guidance on protecting personal information collected through alarm systems, and best practices ensuring security deployments respect privacy rights across Victorian residential properties.
Victorian Building Authority https://www.vba.vic.gov.au Building regulations affecting security system installation in renovated properties including electrical safety requirements for alarm device power connections, compliance obligations for licensed security installers performing alarm installations, standards for weatherproof device mounting on external building surfaces, and certification procedures ensuring alarm installations meet Victorian building codes without compromising building weatherproofing or structural integrity across residential properties.
