Why the Cheapest Cabling Contractor Isn’t Always the Best Choice
When it comes to structured cabling, many organizations are tempted to choose the cheapest contractor, assuming they will save money. However, this approach can often backfire. Low-cost contractors may present an appealing initial quote, but the true cost of the project can balloon due to change orders and inadequate design. Let’s explore why opting for the lowest bid can be a costly mistake.
Change Orders: The Hidden Cost
One of the biggest pitfalls of choosing a low-cost cabling contractor is the likelihood of excessive change orders. Many contractors issue vague or incomplete quotes to make their initial price appear attractive, but once the project starts, unforeseen issues arise. Suddenly, you’re hit with change orders—requests for additional work that was not included in the original scope—causing delays and budget overruns.
These contractors may intentionally leave exceptions and caveats buried in the fine print, banking on change orders to recoup their costs later. For example, their quote might not include proper testing or unforeseen adjustments for site conditions. Once you’re committed to the project, you have little choice but to approve these changes, turning what seemed like a cost-saving decision into an expensive endeavor.
The Importance of Proper Design
A well-functioning cable plant is critical to the performance of your network. Experienced contractors focus on the entire design process, ensuring the infrastructure is reliable and meets both current and future needs. In contrast, cheaper contractors often lack this foresight, focusing on quick installation over long-term reliability.
Take Power over Ethernet (PoE) as an example. If a contractor overlooks cable length limits for PoE devices, it can result in underpowered or unstable devices, requiring expensive post-installation fixes. Worse still, it could mean rebuilding intermediate distribution facilities (IDFs), running new copper and fiber cabling, and purchasing additional network hardware—all expenses that weren’t budgeted initially.
Media Selection Matters
Another common mistake made by less experienced contractors is selecting the wrong type of cable media. For example:
- Multi-mode fiber instead of single-mode fiber: While multi-mode fiber might seem like a cost-saving option, it may not support future scalability or longer transmission distances. Single-mode fiber, while slightly more expensive initially, provides a more robust and future-proof solution, as well as robust support for modern Ethernet backbone capacities such as 10/25/40/100Gigabit Ethernet.
- Wrong category of copper cable: Using older Category 5e cables instead of Category 6/6A/6E, for instance, may not support the speeds required for modern data transmission or PoE applications, forcing costly upgrades sooner than expected.
- Lack of shielding: In certain environments, shielding is necessary to prevent interference. Failing to use shielded cables where required can result in degraded network performance, leading to ongoing troubleshooting and costly network downtime.
Expertise Saves Time and Money
An experienced cabling contractor understands these pitfalls and takes the necessary steps to avoid them, starting with a thorough site assessment and clear project scoping. They consider your specific environment, potential growth, and the technical requirements of your network. Proper design and planning ensure that you get a reliable and scalable cable infrastructure from day one, saving you from costly fixes and upgrades down the road.
The Bottom Line
While the cheapest contractor may seem like a good deal initially, hidden costs, poor design, and future fixes can result in a much more expensive project than anticipated. To avoid these issues, it’s essential to choose a contractor with the experience and technical expertise to deliver a properly functioning cable plant that will support your network for years to come.
If you’re looking for a trusted partner with a proven track record in delivering high-quality structured cabling solutions, Semaphore is here to help. With extensive experience in structured cabling design, installation, and support, we ensure your infrastructure is built to last.
Don’t let a poor cabling decision cost you more in the long run—get it right the first time with Semaphore.