Recessed lights sit flush in your ceiling. They spread light throughout your room, making it look spacious. Because recessed lighting is in your ceiling, they are best for low ceilings like your basement.
When arranging your lights, install them every four to six meters and when combined with dimmers, they provide mood lighting when needed. Installing recessed lighting is not as easy, especially if you are not familiar with this type of work.
Yes, you’ll need an electrician to install recessed lighting to ensure your installation abides by the local code and meets those requirements. They will have a permit and can avoid common mistakes like poor wiring or overloading. A licensed electrician will also know how to space your cans, safety, and not damage your ceiling.
Altering the electrical wires in your home is serious work, if done incorrectly you are at risk for home fires and electric shock. Therefore, a neighborhood handyman is out of the question. While they are a cheaper alternative, they are not qualified to perform complicated tasks of wiring or abiding by National Electrical Code rules.
An Electrician Knows Recessed Lighting Safety
A professional electrician understands the dangers and potential risks of fire with recessed lighting, so they abide by the Installation Contract (IC ratings). They used these ratings in ceilings that were insulated without the risk of overheating. They contain 75 watts bulbs with a maximum of 100 watts.
IC-rated devices are made with a specification for a double can or “can in a can”. The air gap between the two canisters produces an insulating effect that cools the outside. This cooler exterior surface can be mounted without the possibility of combustion in close contact with the isolation. The IC-rated lights have the right housing for today’s attics with blown-in-isolation.
A professional will know where to install your recessed cans with no mistakes. However, if you are doing it at home with no experience, you can make mistakes. As a result, you’ll need to take them out without causing further damage to your ceiling. Also, you are at risk of electric shock if you don’t know what you are doing.
They Know The Recessed Lighting Layout And Spacing
When positioning your recessed cans, an electrician will calculate the perfect spacing and layout for your room. Not all recessed lights look the same. As a result, your electrician will need to perform a site visit first.
According to Home Depot, to determine your light spacing you’ll need to divide the height of your ceiling by two, and the results are the spacing to leave between each light.
Therefore, for an 8-foot-high ceiling, recessed lighting spacing will be 4 feet between each light. This will provide sufficient spacing for general room lighting. Rooms like the kitchen that rely on task lighting may need more creative spacing.
The Price OF Recessed Light Installations
Recessed light installation costs between $200 and $250 per fixture for labor only. At a labor cost of $85 to $105 per hour, the procedure takes around 2 1/2 hours for each fixture.
It takes this long to build each one in both new building and remodel programs. Extra charges can apply if the electrician you employed is required to run additional wiring or shift obstacles.
Materials for pot light installations range in price from $30 to $230. Housing costs anywhere from $9 to $160, depending on the form. Trim and bulbs range in price from $15 to $60.
Wire and other components cost around $8 per fixture, but this will increase if complications occur. Expect to spend an extra $125 for the installation of a dimmer.
Do You Need A Permit To Install Recessed Lighting?
The National Electric Code permits homeowners to have a permit whenever they are doing electrical work. A building department inspector should also examine the installed fixtures. Improper recessed lighting installation is a fire hazard Moreover, the document structure and price vary depending on where you live.
However, you don’t need a permit for basic upkeep on your fixture. For instance, replacing bulbs or trims.
An electrician is the best choice when installing recessed lighting: you can employ a handyman to change the bulbs. Remember, you are messing with your ceiling and electric wires, that is why it is important to hire someone who knows what they are doing.
