Electrical Home Work / Recessed Lighting Specific - Page 2

**scheides** · 12-03-2006

Go to menards. They have very similar fixtrures for a lot less. I did my whole kitchen for about $150 in lights. I paid like $80 for a case of 8 remodel cans, $15 worth of the rings that go around them, $20 worth of light bulbs, and then I bought a few smaller lights at ikea for like $30. Another $30-50 worth of wire and misc shit and I was at like $200 for the whole project

It does take time though. The electrician will be expensive mostly because of the time it takes. Wiring is really the easy part.

Enes · 12-03-2006

yeah plan, planning some more, laying it out, planing again, and redesign and then cut..

Jana · 12-03-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by scheides

Go to menards. They have very similar fixtrures for a lot less. I did my whole kitchen for about $150 in lights. I paid like $80 for a case of 8 remodel cans, $15 worth of the rings that go around them, $20 worth of light bulbs, and then I bought a few smaller lights at ikea for like $30. Another $30-50 worth of wire and misc shit and I was at like $200 for the whole project

It does take time though. The electrician will be expensive mostly because of the time it takes. Wiring is really the easy part.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with a math problem.

**scheides** · 12-03-2006

Hey! Please note the use of the terms 'about' and 'like' and the absense of 'exactly' !!!

80+15+20+30= $145 aka 'about $150'

+30-50 in misc shit = $175-195 aka 'like $200'

at least it was a 'safe' $200 and not a $278 '$200' if you know what I'm saying!

Jana · 12-03-2006

LOL, I just had to give you some crap.

More than likely, I'll be buying the light fixtures from Menards/Home Depot/Lowe's as they do have about the best prices.

**1ViciousGSX** · 12-03-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by scheides

Here's some pics of my mini remodel. Not very good quality pics, sorry!

http://www.scheides.com/gallery/house-work?page=5

If you're gonna do it yourself, be prepaired for the worst:

Damn scheides, you never told us you were dating Joey Ramone's sister.

92EvilTalon · 12-03-2006

I am going for my journyman ... its going to be fun. I found out I love doing electrical when I bought my house. I had to replace almost all the outlets and put in a few GFCI outlets. Put up a outside light on the side of the house and run a outlet into my office closet. Right now I am going to price out two attic fans and a light fixture for up there. I hate caring a flashlight and during the summer that attic is freaking hot.

Enes what you are trying to talk about is right its called ' Fish Tape '. You can also get glow rodes too at Homedepot or Lowes with a hook on the end.

So far what I gather from looking at my book (Complete Home Wiring By Sunset) If you use a metal box you need to tie down 12" and for plastic box's 8" away to tie down. And for that metal plate less then 1 1/4" from edge of stud. If you don't want to do it. Just get some one to come in. Its not hard but if you don't think you can do it. Contract some one to do it. Good luck.

rst95eclipse · 12-03-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by FattyBoomBatty

This is one of the most repressive statements ever.

everything can be fixed in a home, there are products for everything.

I wasn't being repressive. Read my previous post again. I recommended a professional/licensed company due to the insurance. What if the house caught fire due to these lights being installed improperly? I'm certain that there are something that just cannot everything can be replaced.

tim · 12-03-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by FattyBoomBatty

This is one of the most repressive statements ever. I was told once that if I've never buffed a car before, I should never try it because I didn't know how. Gimme a break, the only way to learn is doing it yourself.

Buffing a car is a little different than doing a bunch of rewiring on finished surfaces. If it was new construction or if he had access to the top side I would suggest doing it himself too.

Experience goes a long way when you are doing something like this. I never said to hire a business, but finding someone to do a little sidework would be a good idea.

**JET** · 12-03-2006

Just make sure the someone is licensed, you must be either the home owner or licensed to do electrical work.

**scheides** · 12-03-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ViciousGSX

Damn scheides, you never told us you were dating Joey Ramone's sister.

Hah! Anna looked like such a rock star that day I couldn't help but snap a pic of her!

Enes · 12-04-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET

Just make sure the someone is licensed, you must be either the home owner or licensed to do electrical work.

licensed guy will charge you $75/hr and he's going to take his sweet time.. beleive me i know. I made that mistake once. Key is going to be inspections, get a permit to do the work, electrical inspector comes out and approves it, say you did it and done...

**Goat Blower** · 12-04-2006

I've got a friend that I hired to wire a celiing fan, my lift and some 220 outlets at my shop. He's fast and relatively inexpensive. He told me he charges $65-$70/can light to builders and we paid $100/can when we built our house.

We have almost 50 can lights in and outside our house. Our entire outside front and rear lighting is cans in the soffits. You can't go wrong from an investment perspective with can lighting. Track lighting is easy to do and isn't bad, but can actually hurt house values depending on the price of the house.

**scheides** · 01-06-2007

I installed recessed lighting in my living room today. The whole ceiling has plaster/lathing, so cutting the holes took a while, but I have all of the cans in place now. Two rows of three remodel cans run down between joyces so wiring will be easy, maybe another hour or so tomorrow to finish it up. The biggest time-waster was hanging out with Steve Hill, the guy wouldn't let me leave!

Costs:
6x remodel cans @ 9.99 each
3x 2-pack of light bulbs @ $4 each
6x light baffles @ 7 each (got the nice brushed nickel ones)
50' of wire $20
1x hole cutting saw (b/c of the plaster/lathing) $40 (ouch!!)
1x dimming switch $10
Total cost about $185

more pics: http://www.scheides.com/gallery/house-work?page=6

92EvilTalon · 01-06-2007

I looked that them photos...how is that hole saw blade? Does it work great or is it crap just wondering... Looks very nice.

Like I said in the other thread. I was thinking of taking some crown molding and dress up the living room with that. But recess it about a inch or two down for some led or rope lighting to lay in it. Or should I do the can lighting or even track lighting for the room. I want to keep the ceiling fan where its at. So I have to put a whole new system in. Thanks for the ideas scheides on the can lighting.

**Goat Blower** · 01-07-2007

Slim Scheidy, you need a bigger TV for that stand. I've got just what you need.

**scheides** · 01-07-2007

Yea, that's my 'little' TV. The big one is in the bedroom. I live in Minneapolis, and don't need to give anyone an excuse to find their way into my house.