Good to know
Questions, answered straight
Everything homeowners, new-home buyers, and builders ask me, with real numbers. If yours isn't here, just text me.
The basics
The basics
Who I am, what I charge, and how I work.
Who installs home theaters in Utah County?
Cam's Custom AV installs home theaters across Utah County, Salt Lake County, and Park City. It's owner-operated: Cameron Chidester designs the room, runs the wiring, installs the projector or TV and the sound system, and calibrates it himself. The business is based in Springville and has been operating since 2020.
How much does a home theater cost in Utah?
Most home theaters I build cost between $15,000 and $60,000. A living-room upgrade with a large TV and real surround sound starts around $10,000 to $15,000, a dedicated basement theater typically runs $25,000 to $40,000, and fully custom theaters run $75,000 to $150,000 or more. You get an itemized written quote before any work starts.
What areas do you serve?
I'm based in Springville and cover all of Utah County, Salt Lake County, and up to Park City and the Heber Valley. That includes Lehi, Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain, Vineyard, Provo, Orem, Highland, Alpine, Draper, Salt Lake City, Park City, and Deer Valley. If you're a bit outside that, just ask.
Do you only do residential work?
Yes. Cam's Custom AV is residential only. I work for homeowners, home builders, basement finishers, and remodelers. I don't take commercial jobs.
Am I working with a big company or an actual installer?
You're working with me: Cameron, the owner. You'll text or call the same number every time, I'm the one who shows up and does the work, and I'm the one you reach if you ever need a tweak later. No call center, no rotating crews.
What's your labor rate, and how do you quote jobs?
Labor is $100 an hour, but most small jobs I quote as one flat project price so you know the number up front. On bigger projects you'll get an itemized written estimate within 48 hours, with no hidden fees.
How fast can you get me a quote?
Text or call and I'll usually have a quote back to you within the hour during business hours, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM. Bigger projects get an itemized written estimate within 48 hours.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Cam's Custom AV is a licensed Springville business (City Business License #5089319) and fully insured, and I'll send a certificate of insurance on request. Your walls, floors, and equipment are covered while I'm working.
Can you work with my builder or basement finisher?
Yes. I coordinate directly with your builder, finisher, or electrician, do the low-voltage rough-in after electrical and before insulation, and come back after paint for the install. Call me as soon as you have plans.
What happens if I need something adjusted after the install?
Just reach out. I stand behind my work and I'm local. If you need a preset tweaked or something moved down the road, I'll take care of you.
Home theater
Home theater questions
Cost, projector vs TV, sound, and timing.
How much does a basement home theater cost in Utah?
A dedicated basement theater in Utah typically costs $25,000 to $40,000 for a 4K laser projector, a 120 inch screen, Dolby Atmos sound, acoustic treatment, and two rows of recliners. A simpler basement media room with a large TV and in-wall surround starts around $10,000 to $15,000.
Projector or 85-inch TV for a basement?
If you can keep the room dark, a 4K laser projector on a 110 to 130 inch screen gives you far more picture for the money, at about $2,500 to $15,000 for the projector and screen. If the lights are usually on or the ceiling is low, an 85 inch TV is brighter and simpler.
When should I pre-wire for a theater during a new build?
After framing and electrical rough-in, and before insulation and drywall, usually weeks 6 to 12 of the build. Contact me as soon as you have a floor plan so the screen wall, seating, and speaker locations are settled before the walls close.
What does surround sound cost to install?
A 5.1 in-wall system with a receiver and subwoofer runs about $2,500 to $4,000 in equipment. A 7.1 or Dolby Atmos system with in-ceiling speakers and dual subwoofers runs about $5,000 to $9,000. Labor is $100 an hour.
Is Dolby Atmos worth it in a home theater?
In a dedicated room with a flat ceiling, yes: overhead speakers make sound move above you. In an open great room with a vaulted ceiling the effect is weaker, and the money is better spent on the front speakers and a second subwoofer.
What brands do you install?
I source equipment through SnapAV (Snap One), the trade distributor installers buy from, so I install the brands they carry, and I like UniFi gear for networking. I pick what fits the room and the budget and list every model number on the quote. If you already own equipment, tell me and I'll work with it.
Rather just ask me directly?
Text or call. I answer my own phone.
Areas & pricing
Service areas & other pricing
Where I go, and what TV mounting and cameras cost.
Do you serve Park City?
Yes. I travel to Park City, Deer Valley, the Snyderville Basin, Heber City, and Midway for home theater, smart home, whole-home audio, WiFi, and camera work. I'm based in Springville, about an hour away, and I don't charge a travel fee.
Do you serve Salt Lake City?
Yes. I work across Salt Lake County, including Salt Lake City, Draper, Sandy, South Jordan, Herriman, and Riverton.
Do you charge a travel fee?
No. I don't charge a travel or drive fee anywhere in my service area, including Park City, the Heber Valley, and Salt Lake County. I'm based in Springville.
How much does TV mounting cost in Utah?
A standard TV mount on a drywall wall with studs is a flat $150 to $250 depending on TV size. Hiding the wires inside the wall typically adds $150 to $300. Custom work like masonry or a new outlet is $100 an hour.
How much does security camera installation cost in Utah?
Installed outdoor cameras typically run $150 to $400 per camera, and a 4 to 8 camera home system costs about $800 to $2,500 or more. The systems I install are wired, record locally, and have no required monthly fee.
Do you handle HOA approvals for exterior cameras or mounts?
I do. A lot of Utah neighborhoods, especially Daybreak and the newer Saratoga Springs and Herriman communities, have HOA rules on exterior work. I place things to stay within the rules and can help with the approval paperwork.
Do you set up satellite and rural internet?
Yes. Out in spots like Eagle Mountain and the Heber Valley where cable doesn't reach, I mount and align the satellite dish and build the whole-home WiFi around it so every room gets a strong signal.
Do you clean up after the install?
Always. Shoe covers on, drop cloths down, and I leave the space cleaner than I found it. Hidden wiring, leveled mounts, and nothing for you to deal with after I'm gone.
New homes
Building or buying a new home
What to wire, what it costs, and when to bring me in.
What should I wire before drywall in a new home?
The essentials: Cat6A network drops to every room (two per bedroom, four in living areas), a central wiring closet, ceiling drops for WiFi access points, speaker wire for whole-home audio and theater, PoE lines for security cameras and a video doorbell, conduit from basement to attic for future upgrades, and a neutral wire at every switch for smart lighting.
Is pre-wiring a new home worth it?
Almost always. Pre-wiring during construction runs about $3,000–$8,000 — roughly 1–2% of the build — while retrofitting the same wiring later costs $10,000–$25,000+. That's a 40–60% savings, because the walls are already open.
How many ethernet drops should a new home have?
A good rule of thumb is two Cat6A drops per bedroom, four in main living areas, two per office, plus a ceiling drop for each WiFi access point. Most modern Utah homes end up with 20–30+ total drops, home-run to a central closet.
Cat6 or Cat6A for a new house?
Cat6A is the 2026 baseline — 10 Gbps to 100 meters, better PoE heat handling for cameras and access points, and ready for Wi-Fi 7 and Matter. It's a small upcharge now and it future-proofs the house.
When do you need to come out during the build?
After electrical and plumbing rough-in, but before insulation and drywall — usually weeks 6–12. I walk the framing with your builder to lock the wiring-closet location, cable routes, and speaker and mount positions.
Can I add smart-home features after the house is built?
Some, yes — but the wiring is the expensive part to add later. Running cable during framing costs a fraction of fishing finished walls, and some runs aren't even possible after the fact because of fire breaks. Pre-wire now, add the gear whenever you're ready.
What does new-home pre-wire cost in Utah?
A whole-home pre-wire typically runs $3,000–$8,000, or about $1.50–$2.50 per square foot. Per network drop it's roughly $150–$250. You'll get an itemized quote before I start.
Do you work with my builder?
Yes — I coordinate directly with your builder and electrician so the low-voltage rough-in lines up with the schedule, respects the other trades, and passes inspection.
Builders
For builders & basement finishers
Takeoffs, per-plan pricing, scheduling, and getting me on your bid list.
Do you coordinate with our electrician and other trades?
Yes. I walk the plan with your electrician to align rough-in, respect trade boundaries and box/mud-ring placement, plan neutral wires and conduit pathways before framing closes, and flag conflicts on paper during design so they don't become change orders at rough-in.
Can you price per plan for our production communities?
Yes. Send me your plan set and I'll produce a takeoff and a fixed per-plan price for each floor plan, with volume pricing across the community — predictable, repeatable low-voltage numbers you can drop straight into your budgets and options sheets.
Are you licensed and insured to work on our jobsites?
Yes. I operate as a licensed business (Springville City Business License #5089319) and I'm insured. I provide a current certificate of insurance and a W-9 on request so your estimating team can add me to your approved trade-partner list.
Who is our single point of contact on a job?
Me. One dedicated point of contact who owns scheduling, on-site coordination, documentation, and punch-list — one number to call and one company responsible for the low-voltage scope from pre-wire through trim-out and testing.
Do you do plan-set takeoffs from our drawings?
Yes. I take off directly from your plan set to quantify drops, device locations, and pathways, then return a clear bid broken into materials, labor, and scope so you can see exactly what's included and compare apples to apples.
Can you handle both production and custom homes?
Yes. For production builds I standardize a repeatable per-plan package and hit volume schedules; for custom and luxury homes I collaborate early on design, layout, and component placement so the infrastructure is built in during rough-in rather than retrofitted later.
Why should our low-voltage go in before drywall?
Running structured wiring during rough-in costs a fraction of a post-drywall retrofit, avoids opening finished walls, and lets the home ship move-in ready. Integrated smart-home wiring also helps homes sell faster and command a premium — which protects your margins and your buyers' experience.
How do we get you on our bid list?
Send me your plans or a request to bid and I'll return a takeoff-based quote, my certificate of insurance, and my business license. Text or call 801-735-8056 to start.
Free quote · No pressure
Been meaning to get this done? Let's knock it out.
Tell me what you're picturing: a theater in the basement, a TV over the fireplace, cameras, a network that finally reaches the whole house. I'll get you a straight quote, usually within the hour.
- Licensed business & insured
- No hidden fees
- You talk to Cameron, not a call center