Case Study - Fibaro Smart Home Retrofit
Unifying Lights, Blinds, Curtains, CCTV, and Garage without Rewiring
Canny Electrics completed a full retrofit automation project for a finished residential property in Kew, installing one Fibaro system without rewiring the home.
The project automated lights, blinds, curtains, CCTV cameras, and the garage door by combining Z-wave smart modules, an IR controller, and a network controller for remote access.
The result was a fully automated home with local and remote control of key systems, achieved without structural disruption to the completed property.
- Client Type: Residential homeowner
- Industry: Residential electrical services and home automation
- Location: Kew
- Project Date: 28/01/2025
- Project Type: Retrofit home automation installation
- Property Type: Finished residential home
- Trigger for Project: New property purchase with a requirement to automate cameras, garage door, lights, blinds, and curtains
- Primary Services: Retrofit automation installation, network controller setup, Z-wave controller installation, smart module installation, IR control integration
- Technology Stack: Fibaro Z-wave automation controller, Z-wave smart modules, IR controller, network controller
- Integrated Functions: Lighting control, blind automation, curtain automation, CCTV access, garage door control
- Company: Canny Electrics
The Challenge
The homeowners wanted broad smart home functionality, but the house was already finished. This meant the automation system needed to be installed without rewiring walls, replacing unnecessary hardware, or creating major disruption.
The main technical challenge was automating lighting through existing switches using wireless communication rather than new cabling. The solution required smart modules to be installed behind current switches and managed through Z-wave, so the property could gain automation capability without changing the visible user interface.
A second challenge involved the existing blinds and curtains. Rather than replacing these systems, Canny Electrics needed a way to automate them using an IR controller capable of simulating original remote handsets while still allowing remote and centralised control.
The Solution
Canny Electrics delivered a full retrofit automation system with the following scope:
- Installed 1 network controller to manage the home network and enable remote access
- Installed 1 Fibaro Z-wave automation controller
- Installed wireless smart modules behind existing light switches
- Configured smart modules to communicate via Z-wave
- Installed 1 IR controller to simulate physical remote handsets for existing blinds and curtains
- Integrated the garage door and CCTV cameras into the automation environment
- Enabled local and remote phone-based control of lights, blinds, curtains, cameras, and garage access
- Delivered whole-home automation without rewiring the finished property
Key implementation entities:
- Fibaro automation controller and Z-wave smart modules
- Existing light switches adaptation
- IR controller for existing blind and curtain remotes
- CCTV and garage door integration
- Remote smartphone control
The Results
- 1 full-property Fibaro automation system installed
- 0 rewiring required to automate the finished home
- 1 Z-wave controller installed for wireless automation communication
- 1 IR controller installed to automate existing blinds and curtains
- All key lighting circuits brought into the automation system through smart modules
- 1 garage door and 1 CCTV system integrated into the control environment
- Full local and remote phone control enabled
Summary
- Canny Electrics completed a retrofit smart home automation project in Kew.
- The system used Fibaro with Z-wave smart modules installed behind existing light switches.
- The project automated a finished home without any rewiring.
- An IR controller was used to simulate existing blind and curtain remotes.
- The automation system integrated lights, blinds, curtains, CCTV cameras, and the garage door.
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Testimonials
What our customers are saying about us
Vanessa Fenyk
Very happy with the service Canny Electrics provided! Saulo was helpful and gave me a quote over the phone.
The boys that installed my ceiling fans was very professional, so polite and very quick. I have never dealt with such polite professionals and so neat with their work, not one bit of mess left. Would highly recommend Canny Electrics no job too small for them.
Carol Saw
Excellent service from Saulo and his team – he was patient, caring, knowledgeable and professional. I am so glad I engaged him as I have been very stressed about my home automation system not working and Saulo was able to get it fixed. I would highly recommend him and look forward to using his services in the future.
Marrs Attaxx
Saulo and the team went well above and beyond installing a massive job in our two story brick home. From the moment I spoke to Saulo I could see he was super knowledgeable about all things home elec and home automation and every step of the process was smooth and handled professionally by him and his highly capable team.
Every bit of the system is working perfectly and we’re getting them back to Install our Entertainment system next. Amazing work, highly recommended.
Shirley d'Avoine
Saulo and his team, were very professional and knowledgeable, the fans that were supplied and installed by Canny, were better than the ones we thought of ourselves, the work in the placing of downlights was well calculated, the outside lights were perfectly positioned, all the work was exceptional. The team were also very caring. I would highly recommend Canny Electrics.
Common Garden Health
Saul and his team were prompt, thorough, friendly and kind yesterday; they quickly resolved our electrical emergency and were an absolute pleasure to deal with. I couldn’t recommend them more highly!
Tricia Ong
General electrical work and a 65inch tv installation completed today. Very professional and excellent workmanship. The team were friendly and efficient, would definitely use them again!
Daniel Zarb
Could not fault the team at Canny. Saulo was very responsive and easy to deal with. Did a great job installing new ceiling fans, would definitely use their services again.
Nicole Kelly
Arrived on time, really helpful and respectful, played with my dog these guys are amazing! Don’t make you feel like your just another job or number, they ask questions so the job is done to absolute perfection 👌
Melissa Hebbard
What a delightful team. They arrived on time and did all of the jobs quickly but well. They also cleaned up after. They were a pleasure to have do the job.
Rosie W
Canny Electrics came out quickly to fix a broken light switch for me. Very happy with the helpful and friendly service at a good price.
Justine Costigan
Very happy with the service from Canny Electrics. Saulo responded quickly to my online enquiry, and quickly provided a reasonable and easy to understand quote. On the day, Saulo and John arrived on time, and were great to deal with, consulting me at every stage of the lighting installation, and cleaning up dust and debris along the way. I would happily use Canny Electrics again.
Adolfo Salas Tapia
Top quality and friendly service. Saulo managed our quotes (and amendments) very promptly. Saulo and Johnny arrived perfectly on time, the job was efficient, professional and overall flawless. They explained how the CCTV system works, helped us setup our accounts, mobile apps and didn’t leave until we were satisfied. I was very impressed with the service, attitude and workmanship. We’ll definitely use Canny electrics again.
Andrew Pasco
Quote was managed very promptly. The follow up job occurred the following week. Any queries were responded to in quick time. The day of the job was efficient, professional & results were great. We had an explanation of how our cameras would work in relation to remote management on mobile devices. Finally, a minor unrelated issue occurred & Canny answered our call after hours & quickly resolved it. Great service
