What the job involves
We do two kinds of recessed work. One is swapping existing cans or trims for new ones, including converting old can lights to LED. The other is adding fixtures into a ceiling where we can tie into an existing light location and its switch.
We do not run new circuits, add panel breakers, or rewire a house. If your plan needs new power, you need an electrician, and we will tell you plainly when that is the case.
- What is above the ceiling: insulation, joists, ducts, or truss webbing
- Whether the existing wiring and switch can serve the new fixtures
- Fixture type: remodel can, new-construction can, or low-profile LED wafer
- Whether a dimmer is compatible with the lamps you chose
Why it matters in Arizona
Most Valley homes have blown-in attic insulation and ducts running overhead, and the attic is very hot in summer. A recessed fixture is a hole in the ceiling, so it needs to be rated for contact with insulation and, ideally, air-tight, or it leaks cooled air into the attic.
Heat in the attic is also hard on older incandescent cans and their trims, which can discolor and become brittle. LED retrofits run much cooler and last longer. Many older Sun City homes have sparse lighting and few ceiling fixtures, and some have flat roofs or low attic clearance that limits where cans can go.
How a visit goes
We walk the room with you and map where light is needed, then check the attic or ceiling space to see if that is practical. We locate joists and note any obstructions.
With power off at the breaker, we cut the openings, connect the fixtures to the existing circuit following the manufacturer's instructions, and install the trims. We test everything, check dimmer behavior, and patch or touch up around the openings as needed. Fixtures that are not insulation-contact rated are not used where insulation touches them.
We also keep an eye on spacing from walls and from each other. Cans placed too close to a wall throw harsh scallops of light, and cans spaced too far apart leave dim spots in between. A few minutes of layout before cutting saves a lot of patching after, and it is the step people most often regret skipping.
What affects the cost
The number of fixtures, ceiling type, and attic access are the main variables. A vaulted ceiling or a second-story ceiling with no attic access is harder than a single-story ceiling with a clear attic.
Fixture quality, dimmer choice, and any drywall patching and painting add to the total. The estimate is free and the price is upfront once we have seen the space.
When it needs a specialist
If you want a new circuit, additional switching on new wiring, a service panel change, or you find old wiring that is damaged or unsafe, you need a licensed electrician. We will stop and tell you rather than work beyond our scope. Anything involving smart-home lighting systems with a hub or low-voltage control is also better handled by a specialist.
“Nathan did a great job of cutting and finishing the exterior wood beams on my home. He remove the rotted wood and sealed and painted and they look so much better. He worked in the blazing sun without complaint, nice guy and talented craftsman. Highly...”