How Much to Install Recessed Lighting In My Home?

We try to ask this towards the beginning of a conversation in order to make sure we have a good appointment window for your schedule and to also verify that we service your home area.

Whenever you ask us to help we need to know whether you need something repaired, replaced, or do you want to install something new.

Knowing when your home was built lets us know what to expect when repairing or installing electrical projects in your home.

Modern building code started around the 1980’s. Any home built before 1980 tends to have some interesting wiring techniques, and materials that may need to be replaced.

6 inch recessed lighting is the most popular size to install in home.

You will want to space recessed lighting out a certain way in order to get the best lighting effect in the room. Nobody wants shadows in the room if they can help it.

6 inch recessed lighting fixtures should be spaced a maximum 5-8 feet apart from each other in order to eliminate any shadowing in the room from happening.

4 inch recessed lighting fixtures should be spaced a maximum 3-6 feet apart from each other in order to eliminate any shadowing in the room from happening.

Knowing what ceiling fixture you already have on the ceiling lets us know if there is existing electrical wiring that we can repurpose to your new recessed lighting fixtures.

If you're relocating an existing ceiling fixture, then we will have to either stretch the wire to the new location or replace the electrical wire if it will not reach.

If you already have a wall switch, then you will want to check if the switch is still in good shape.

If there is no switch existing on the wall in the room, then we will have to figure out where we can get power for the new light switch as easy as possible.

When adding a new light switch to room. Try to look around for the closest power outlet to where you would install a light switch in the room.

We need to know what color electrical devices you have installed already in the house.

The most popular electrical device colors are white or ivory.

The types of light switches would be a classic ”toggle” style or the other type is called a ”rocker”or ”decor” switch.

If there is access, most times you can install new wiring for indoor electrical circuits without needing drywall repair after.

If there is no access then chances are there will be a need to cut ”easy to patch“ access holes in order to install the wiring for the light switch.

We need to know if the walls are made of drywall, brick, or other building material.

We need to get an idea of how tall of a ladder we will need to bring in case we need it.

Typical home ceiling heights are between 8-10 feet. They can go up to 12-18 feet in some homes.

We always want to communicate that drywall repairs are sometimes necessary when running new wiring behind the walls. Though we try are hardest, sometimes drywall cutouts are necessary in order to get wires form A to B. If this has to happen then the drywall repair is not included, most times a painter can give you a really fair deal on patching the drywall.

Note that when mounting on finished surfaces or installing outside, you will need to install the electrical circuit wiring in conduit (pipe) for protection.

All we need to do is be able to get to where we need to work as best as possible.

Reason 1: Fuse boxes are not allowed to have new wiring added to them according to modern electrical safety code.

Reason 2: They are against modern safety code for a reason, and before we take care of your electrical wants; We need to take care of your home electrical safety first.

Reason 3: Electrical breakers DO NOT LAST FOREVER! Depending on how much use they get used, circuit breakers can last anywhere between 25 to 35 years depending on its usage. There are very few electrical emergencies because circuit breakers stop them from ever happening. Circuit breakers lose their reliability past a certain age, and we try to notify you when this starts to happen.

Knowing the location of your electrical panel helps us understand how long of an electrical wire will need to be in order to install a new electrical circuit.

The main electrical breaker is usually the biggest looking breaker. It should say 100amp, 150amp 200amp, 400amp.

We need to know what brand circuit breaker to buy in order get the right one for your electrical panel.

We need to know if have to make more space in the electrical panel in order to add another circuit breaker.

If your house is on the newer side we need to know whether you have AFCI circuit breakers already installed in the electrical panel.

AFCI circuit breakers are the new standard for all new housing. If you add to an existing electrical circuit in your house, then you need to install AFCI circuit breaker protection according to modern safety code.