Frequently Asked Questions

Cinemation specializes in comprehensive home technology solutions including:

• Home Cinema Installation: Custom cinema rooms, media rooms, and dedicated screening spaces
• Smart Home Automation: Whole-home control systems including Control4, Crestron, and Savant
• Lighting Design & Control: Architectural lighting with Lutron, Rako, and smart lighting systems
• Multi-Room Audio/Video: Distributed audio and video throughout your property
• Security Systems: Integrated CCTV, alarm systems, and access control
• Network Infrastructure: High-performance Wi-Fi and wired networking solutions

We serve clients across the South East of England, including Brighton, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Kent, and London. Our service areas include Horsham, Crawley, Worthing, Chichester, Guildford, Tunbridge Wells, and surrounding towns.

For projects outside these areas, please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Yes, we work on both residential and commercial installations. Our residential projects range from single-room installations to whole-home automation systems. For commercial clients, we provide boardroom AV systems, office automation, hospitality solutions, and retail installations.

Absolutely! We have a specialist demo centre in Brighton where you can experience our technology firsthand. You can see working demonstrations of home cinema systems, smart home automation, lighting control, and multi-room audio. Visits are by appointment to ensure we can give you our full attention.

Home cinemas can be adapted to various room sizes. Ideally, a dedicated cinema room would be at least 3.5m x 4.5m, but we've successfully installed systems in smaller spaces and converted garages, basements, or spare bedrooms.

The key considerations are viewing distance, screen size, and acoustics. During our consultation, we'll assess your space and recommend the optimal configuration.

Home Cinema: A dedicated room designed specifically for movie viewing with cinema seating, acoustic treatment, blackout capabilities, and premium audio-visual equipment. It's optimized for the ultimate cinematic experience.

Media Room: A multi-purpose space that combines entertainment with everyday use. It might include comfortable furniture, ambient lighting control, and high-quality AV equipment but remains flexible for other activities.

Both options have their advantages:

Projectors:

• True cinema experience with very large screen sizes (100"+ easily achievable)
• Better suited for dedicated dark rooms
• Screen can be hidden when not in use
• More affordable for very large sizes

Large TVs:

• Excellent brightness for rooms with ambient light
• No maintenance (projector bulbs need replacement)
• Superior HDR performance
• Better for gaming with lower input lag

We'll help you choose based on your room conditions, usage patterns, and budget.

Yes, we specialize in Dolby Atmos installations. Dolby Atmos adds height channels to create a three-dimensional soundscape with audio that moves around you. We can install either in-ceiling speakers or use upward-firing speakers depending on your room configuration and preferences.

We'll also configure the system properly to ensure you get the full benefit of object-based audio.

Yes, we can implement acoustic treatment and soundproofing as part of your cinema installation. This includes acoustic panels, bass traps, and soundproofing materials to minimize sound leakage and improve the audio quality within the room.

We work with specialist acoustic consultants for larger projects requiring comprehensive sound isolation.

Almost every aspect of your home can be automated and controlled from a single interface:

• Lighting (on/off, dimming, color temperature, scenes)
• Climate control (heating, cooling, underfloor heating)
• Audio and video systems throughout the house
• Blinds, curtains, and shades
• Security systems (CCTV, alarms, door locks)
• Garden irrigation and outdoor lighting
• Swimming pool and spa controls
• Garage doors and gates
• Energy monitoring and management

We're certified installers of premium automation platforms including:

• Control4: Our most popular choice, offering robust whole-home control with excellent reliability
• Crestron: Enterprise-grade solution ideal for luxury properties and complex installations
• Savant: Apple-centric system with beautiful interface design
• Lutron: Industry-leading lighting control systems
• KNX: European standard for commercial and high-end residential projects

We'll recommend the best system based on your requirements, property size, and budget.

Yes, all our smart home systems include remote access via smartphone apps. You can control your heating, check security cameras, adjust lighting, and receive notifications from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

We also implement secure remote access protocols to protect your privacy and home network.

Modern automation systems can integrate with thousands of third-party devices and brands. This includes popular smart home devices like Sonos speakers, Nest thermostats, Ring doorbells, Philips Hue lights, and many more.

During our consultation, we'll assess your existing equipment and advise on what can be integrated and what might need upgrading for optimal performance.

Absolutely. While it's easier to install during a renovation or new build, we regularly retrofit smart home systems into existing properties. We use a combination of wired and wireless solutions to minimize disruption and avoid major redecoration.

For lighting control, we can often use existing wiring with smart switches or wireless control modules.

Architectural lighting design is the art and science of using light to enhance spaces. It goes beyond simply illuminating rooms to create atmosphere, highlight architectural features, improve functionality, and enhance wellbeing.

We consider factors like color temperature, beam angles, dimming curves, and daylight integration to create lighting schemes that are both beautiful and practical.

Lutron is the gold standard in lighting control, offering:

• Exceptional quality: Smooth, flicker-free dimming that works with all lamp types
• Scenes: Save and recall your favorite lighting settings with a single button press
• Energy savings: Reduce electricity consumption by up to 60%
• Integration: Works seamlessly with all major automation systems
• Keypads: Beautiful switches that enhance interior design
• Reliability: Industry-leading warranty and long-term support

Yes, our lighting control systems integrate with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. You can use voice commands to turn lights on/off, dim them, or activate preset scenes.

For example: "Alexa, set the living room to evening mode" or "Hey Google, dim the dining room to 40%".

Lighting scenes are pre-programmed combinations of light levels across multiple rooms or zones. Instead of adjusting each light individually, you can recall the perfect ambiance instantly.

Common scenes include:

• Good Morning: Gradually brings lights up to energizing levels
• Entertaining: Sets welcoming light levels for guests
• Movie Time: Dims or turns off lights for cinema viewing
• Bedtime: Reduces lighting throughout the house
• Away/Vacation: Simulates occupancy for security

Yes, we design and install comprehensive outdoor lighting including pathway lighting, garden uplighting, facade lighting, deck and patio lighting, and outdoor entertaining areas.

All outdoor lighting can be integrated with your home automation system for scheduling and remote control.

Our consultation process includes:

1. Initial Meeting: We discuss your vision, lifestyle, and requirements either at your property or our demo centre
2. Site Survey: We assess your property, take measurements, and identify any technical considerations
3. Technology Demonstration: We show you our systems in action so you can experience them firsthand
4. Proposal: We create a detailed proposal with system design, equipment specifications, and pricing
5. Refinement: We work with you to fine-tune the proposal until it's exactly right

The consultation is complimentary and there's no obligation to proceed.

Installation timeframes vary depending on the project scope:

• Single Room (Cinema/Media Room): 3-5 days
• Multi-Room Audio/Video: 5-10 days
• Whole Home Automation: 2-4 weeks
• Full Smart Home Integration: 4-8 weeks

New builds and renovations are coordinated with other trades throughout the project. We'll provide a detailed schedule during planning.

We work hard to minimize disruption. For retrofit projects, we'll discuss the installation plan in advance and work around your schedule where possible. Our team is respectful of your property and will protect floors, furniture, and finishes.

For new builds or major renovations, we coordinate with other trades to ensure efficient workflow. Most wiring happens during the "first fix" stage before walls are closed.

Yes, our installation team includes qualified electricians who can handle all electrical work required for your installation. We're Part P certified and all work is completed to current UK electrical standards with appropriate certification provided.

After installation, we provide comprehensive handover:

• System Demonstration: We walk you through every feature and function
• Training: We ensure you're confident using all aspects of your system
• Documentation: You receive user guides and system documentation
• Fine-tuning: We make any adjustments needed for optimal performance
• Sign-off: We confirm you're completely satisfied before we finish

Home cinema costs vary significantly based on room size, equipment quality, and features:

• Entry Level Media Room: £5,000 - £15,000
• Mid-Range Home Cinema: £15,000 - £40,000
• Premium Cinema Room: £40,000 - £100,000
• Luxury Reference Cinema: £100,000+

These estimates include equipment, installation, and basic acoustic treatment. We'll provide a detailed quote based on your specific requirements.

Smart home pricing depends on the number of controlled devices and the sophistication of automation:

• Single Room Control: £2,000 - £5,000
• Multi-Room System: £5,000 - £15,000
• Whole Home Automation: £15,000 - £50,000
• Luxury Smart Estate: £50,000+

Systems can be installed in stages, allowing you to start with priority areas and expand over time.

Yes, we can arrange flexible finance options for projects over £5,000. This allows you to spread the cost over 12-60 months with competitive interest rates. Contact us for details and eligibility criteria.

No, our initial consultation and site survey are complimentary. We'll visit your property, discuss your requirements, and provide a detailed proposal at no charge. There's no obligation to proceed.

Our detailed quotes include:

• All equipment and materials
• Full installation and programming
• System testing and commissioning
• User training and handover
• Documentation and manuals
• Manufacturer warranties
• Our labor warranty

We believe in transparent pricing with no hidden costs.

We provide comprehensive warranty coverage:

• Equipment: Manufacturer warranties ranging from 1-5 years depending on product
• Installation Labor: 12-month warranty on all our workmanship
• Programming: Included in the installation warranty

We're your single point of contact for any warranty issues.

Yes, we offer various support and maintenance options:

• Phone/Email Support: Available during business hours
• Remote Support: We can diagnose and often fix issues remotely
• On-Site Visits: Available when needed
• Annual Maintenance: Optional service plans for system health checks and updates
• Priority Support: Premium support packages with guaranteed response times

Yes, most issues can be diagnosed and resolved remotely. We can securely connect to your system to adjust settings, update software, or diagnose problems. This saves you time and often resolves issues the same day.

All our systems are designed to be expandable. Whether you want to add rooms, integrate new technology, or upgrade equipment, we can seamlessly extend your existing system without starting from scratch.

We recommend planning for future expansion during the initial installation to ensure adequate infrastructure is in place.

Yes, we can service, support, and upgrade systems originally installed by other companies. We'll assess your existing system and advise on the best path forward, whether that's servicing, upgrading, or integration with new technology.