TV mounting, smart home and Wi-Fi in Manhattan, NY

Most Manhattan homes fall into a few types, and each one changes how an install works. Prewar co-ops on the Upper East Side and Upper West Side tend to have thick plaster walls, high ceilings, steel and masonry structure and original details worth protecting. Postwar and newer glass towers in Midtown, Tribeca, Chelsea and along the rivers usually have concrete ceilings and drywall partitions. Townhouses and brownstones are tall and narrow, with four or five floors stacked over a small footprint.

In a co-op, larger projects often require an alteration agreement, board approval and contractor paperwork before work starts, and most buildings limit work to weekday hours. It helps to ask your managing agent early what counts as an alteration and what can be done without one. Simple projects like mounting a TV or adding a soundbar usually move faster than running new wire through walls. Plan for freight elevator reservations and protecting hallways, and confirm whether drilling into masonry or ceilings is restricted.

Wi-Fi in a Manhattan apartment competes with dozens of neighboring networks, and plaster or concrete keeps it from spreading between rooms. Wiring access points into the rooms you actually use, rather than relying on one router near the entry, makes a real difference. In a townhouse, an access point on each floor is the starting point, with cable running through an existing chase or a closet stack. Wired connections for the TV, streaming box and desk reduce congestion further. In tight apartments, a small network cabinet inside a coat or linen closet keeps the equipment out of sight but easy to reach.

Light and space are the other big themes. Large windows facing the street or another building make motorized shades valuable for both privacy and glare, and blackout shades in bedrooms help with city lights. Terraces and roof decks can take weather-rated speakers and an outdoor access point if the building allows. If you live in Manhattan part of the year and elsewhere the rest, remote access to cameras, thermostats, leak sensors and lighting lets you check on the apartment from anywhere.