Wi-Fi answers
New build Wi-Fi problems
How do I get good Wi-Fi in a new build?
The short answer
In a new build the building is the limit, not the broadband. Foil-backed insulation board in walls and ceilings Foil acts like a mirror — the signal will not go through it. We do not quote a single "walls cut the signal by X%" figure, because the loss depends entirely on what the wall is made of.
Tell us the walls and floors and we mark where the boxes should go.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Foil-backed insulation board in walls and ceilings | Foil acts like a mirror — the signal will not go through it |
| Metal stud partitions | Find out whether the house has network sockets in the rooms; many new builds do |
| Often a media plate cupboard the router is hidden in | Never leave the router shut inside the services cupboard |
The short answer
- Foil acts like a mirror — the signal will not go through it
What gets in the way here
- Foil-backed insulation board in walls and ceilings
- Metal stud partitions
- Often a media plate cupboard the router is hidden in
What actually works
- Foil acts like a mirror — the signal will not go through it
- Find out whether the house has network sockets in the rooms; many new builds do
- Never leave the router shut inside the services cupboard
Before you buy
- Run the free home score first
- A cable between two boxes beats a bigger mesh pack
People also ask
- How many mesh boxes do I need in a new build?
- Do Wi-Fi extenders work in a new build?
- Where should the router go in a new build?
If you do end up spending money
Only after the free fixes. Nobody pays to appear here, and no shop link changes anything we say.
- Mesh sized to the building, not the broadband speed
- Wired backhaul or an outdoor access point