Improving WiFi in old stone buildings

If you live or work in a traditional stone building anywhere in the Outer Hebrides, you've probably noticed that WiFi doesn't travel well through thick walls. A router in one room can leave the rest of the house with patchy or non-existent signal.

The problem is simple: stone, particularly the dense gneiss found across Lewis, Harris and the Uists, absorbs and reflects wireless signals far more than modern plasterboard walls. Add in multiple floors and thick internal partitions, and a single router just can't cope.

The solution isn't a more powerful router — it's better placement and, in most cases, additional access points. A professional WiFi site survey identifies exactly where signal drops off and where access points should be installed for full coverage.

We typically recommend hardwired access points connected back to your router via ethernet cable. This gives each access point a strong, stable backhaul connection rather than relying on wireless repeaters, which halve your speed with every hop.

For listed buildings or properties where running cables is difficult, we can use discreet surface-mounted trunking or route cables through existing conduits. The goal is always full coverage with minimal visual impact.

If you're struggling with WiFi in a stone building anywhere in the Hebrides — whether it's your home, office, B&B or holiday let — get in touch. We'll survey your property and recommend a solution that actually works.