Quick summary
Historic construction demands predictive design, careful mounting, and deliberate PoE planning. We combine UniFi heat maps with on-site validation so plaster, stone, and metal lath don’t cripple Wi-Fi coverage.
Follow this playbook to document materials, choose the right access points, wire with service loops, test without damaging finishes, and capture documentation for future upgrades.
Material attenuation cheat sheet
| Material | Typical impact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plaster on wood lath | Moderate‑high | Varies with thickness and wire mesh presence |
| Plaster on metal lath | High | Treat like a partial Faraday cage; prefer corridor/ceiling placements |
| Stone/brick wall | High | Use wired APs per side; avoid trying to shoot through |
| Heavy cabinetry/mirrors | Moderate | Keep APs clear; reflections change results day to day |
Wiring strategies in historic homes
Use existing chases, closets and basements to home‑run Cat6/Cat6A to ceilings and corridor soffits. Where drilling stone is unavoidable, use conduit and bushings to protect cable and finishes.
Label both ends, leave service loops, and photograph routes before closing. This makes future AP swaps and firmware‑era changes painless.
Power and channel plan that behaves
- Favor low‑to‑medium TX power indoors to reduce overlap
- Default 40 MHz on 5 GHz; 80/160 MHz on 6 GHz where stable
- Keep 2.4 GHz narrow and modest for legacy/IoT
- Use minimum RSSI to discourage sticky roaming
Validation workflow (repeatable)
Stage APs temporarily with painter’s tape or a tripod and run near/mid/far tests in busy rooms. Close doors during tests and note mirrors, fireplaces, and metal furniture.
Adjust placement in small increments, then finalize mounts. Save a simple floor map with AP names, channels, and ports for future service.
FAQs
Ceiling or wall mounts?
Ceilings near corridors usually win for even coverage and roaming. Use wall mounts when ceilings are stone/beam or aesthetics demand it.
Can I get away with one AP per floor?
Sometimes. In heavy plaster/stone homes, budget for additional APs near busy rooms. Wired backhaul keeps them from stepping on each other.
Map construction materials room by room
Gather architectural plans, old permits, or renovation photos. Note plaster thickness, mesh or metal lath, stone fireplaces, radiant heat panels, and built-ins that can shadow signals.
Photograph open walls before they close so you know where studs, chases, and plumbing sit. Label potential mounting locations and conduit paths with painter’s tape so tradespeople know what to avoid.
Select the right UniFi radios
In most plaster homes we pair UniFi 6 Long-Range APs with a few in-room UniFi 6 Plus units where client density is high. Ceiling mounts generally outperform wall mounts, but stone or beam ceilings may require creative soffit placement or side-wall brackets.
Plan for at least one AP per floor and add more in areas with heavy masonry or thick plaster. Record your design assumptions and expected RSSI levels before you start cabling.
Ubiquiti UniFi 6 Long-Range Access Point (U6-LR)
- Wi-Fi 6 dual-band radio with 4x4 MIMO
- 300+ clients with 3,000+ sq ft coverage in open layouts
- Powered via 802.3at PoE for flexible ceiling or wall mounting
Ubiquiti UniFi 6 Plus Access Point (U6+)
- Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 with 2x2 MIMO for dense rooms
- Compact, low-profile design ideal for discreet ceiling mounts
- Powered via 802.3af PoE with easy adoption into UniFi Network
Pre-wire with PoE and service loops
Run Cat6 or Cat6a from the rack to each AP location before finishes return. Use flexible conduit when drilling through masonry, leave accessible junction boxes with engraved labels, and record the route in your documentation set.
Size PoE switches for current draw plus at least 30 percent headroom. Label both ends with heat-shrink or engraved tags so future technicians can service the run without guesswork.
TP-Link LS108GP | 8 Port PoE Gigabit Ethernet Switch | 8 PoE+ Port @ 62W | Plug & Play | Extend Mode | PoE Auto Recovery | Desktop/Wall Mount | Silent Operation
Validate coverage without damaging finishes
Use lightweight temporary mounts, tripods, or painter’s tape to test AP positions before drilling. Run active surveys with doors closed, note stairwells and porches, and document RSSI on both 2.4 and 5 GHz bands.
Adjust placement in small increments to avoid decorative moldings or plaster medallions. Testing before drilling avoids expensive repair work on historic finishes.
Document and maintain
Record exact AP locations, MAC addresses, and cable paths. Capture QR codes for controller adoption, note channel plans, and schedule annual walkthroughs to confirm signal quality hasn’t changed after seasonal décor updates.
Store before-and-after heat maps, penetration tests through plaster or stone, and any channel adjustments made after installation. When furniture or artwork moves, retest quickly and update the plan.
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