The most common query we encounter for detached houses is: "how many cameras do I actually need?" There is no universal figure; it depends on the plot's shape, the number of entrances, and what you genuinely wish to monitor. Nevertheless, a reasonable starting framework can be outlined.
How many cameras are typically used
A typical detached house on a standard plot will suffice with four to six cameras. A larger plot with a longer fence, multiple driveways or a separate garage and garden shed typically requires six to nine cameras. More cameras do not automatically mean better coverage, two well-positioned cameras at the main entrance are more valuable than five randomly distributed across the façade.
Where cameras actually belong
- ●Main entrance and gate: the route used by visitors and delivery personnel.
- ●Access road and entrance gate: view of vehicles and registration plates
- ●Rear wing and garden: typically the least monitored part of the house
- ●Garage and outdoor storage: valuables and tools, separate building without supervision from the house
- ●Terrace and rear entrance: a second way inside that is often overlooked
Outdoor protection and durability
For outdoor camera systems with recording, an IP66 rating is the minimum sensible threshold: the camera must reliably withstand rain, dust and frost throughout the year. We select cameras with a metal or high-quality plastic housing resistant to UV radiation so they do not yellow or become brittle after a few years in the sun. While installation under an eaves or shelter often allows for reduced protection requirements, we advise against economising on this for freely exposed locations.
Night reach
During the day, almost every camera looks good. The difference becomes apparent at night. Cheaper cameras have an infrared range of around five to ten metres, and beyond that limit the image merges into noise. This is insufficient for a driveway or a long garden. The cameras we install have a range in the order of twenty to thirty metres, or alternatively combine infrared illumination with a sensitive sensor capable of producing a colour image even at low light levels. For larger plots, it pays to take this into account when selecting positions, not only after installation.
Cable routing without damaging the façade
The most common concern among homeowners is: "Will you drill through the entire façade for this?" In most cases, no. We prioritise existing penetrations, technical rooms, cellars, attic spaces, and route cabling discreetly along edges, in risers or beneath window sills. Where a wall penetration cannot be avoided, we make one minimal camera-guided hole, not a groove across the whole wall. The colour of the cover strip or cable is matched to the façade so that after installation, the routing is invisible. For new builds or planned renovations, it makes sense to agree on cable routes before plastering, this saves time and effort.
When does wireless connection make sense?
PoE cabling is always the first choice for a detached house. It is more reliable, has no dropouts due to weak signal and the camera draws its power from it. The exception is a separate building without an easy route back to the house, such as a distant garden shed or a gate at the end of a long plot. There, cabling can be replaced by a point-to-point wireless link between buildings, but even that remains more of a supplement to the main wired network than a replacement for it. Purely battery-powered wireless cameras do exist, but for permanent outdoor operation with night-time use they require regular battery changes or recharging, so they are only exceptionally used at houses.
How to deal with neighbouring plots of land
For houses on smaller plots or in densely built-up areas, a common issue is how to set up the camera so it covers only the owner's property and minimises recording of the neighbour's garden or windows. The solution lies in the correct angle and tilt of the camera, or software masking of part of the view to exclude areas you do not wish to record. This is one of the matters worth discussing during the initial site visit. It is better to set it up correctly from the start than to address it later following a neighbour's complaint.
Future system expansion
Many households start with a smaller number of cameras at the entrance and driveway, expanding the system gradually, perhaps only after completing the garden or garage extension. If this is anticipated in the initial design, it is sufficient to leave spare ports on the recording device and switch, as well as reserve disk capacity. Adding one or two cameras later then becomes not a new project from scratch, but simply connecting to the existing infrastructure.
The exact placement and number of cameras are always finalised during the on-site inspection, photos or floor plans can never replace seeing the actual lighting conditions and obstacles in the terrain.