Recessed lights in the kitchen.
Adding recessed lighting can dramatically change the look and feel of any room. Changing an existing surface-mounted light fixture on the ceiling to a series of recessed fixtures can be a simple task even if little room is available in the attic above. Recessed lights are available in two basic configurations. "New Construction" recessed lights are built with mounting arms that reach out to the ceiling joists for attachment, and are intended to be installed before any ceiling finishes have begun. "Remodel" recessed lights are designed to be supported by the ceiling finish with clips around the fixture housing. These fixtures are designed to easily slip into the ceiling from below. Remodel fixtures are the best choice when installing recessed lights with no attic space in an old house, and can be installed by following some simple guidelines.
Instructions
1. Use a stud finder to locate the ceiling joists. Make a note of locations with small pencil marks on the ceiling.
2. Lay out your preferred fixture locations between the joists. Mark the centers of each fixture and try to center the locations between the joists.
3. Drill a 1/4-inch hole at the center of each fixture location. Use a small wood dowel to poke through the hole into the ceiling space to check that there is enough room to fit the recessed fixture. Most fixtures will need about 7 to 8 inches of clearance.
4. Cut out openings in the ceiling. When installing remodel-type fixtures, it's important to cut out precise openings that match the fixture. Use a specialized light-fixture bore that matches your fixture size. Light-fixture cutting bores cut perfectly round holes in plaster or gypsum board, which makes for professional results without patching. They are sold at most home improvement stores.
5. Run electrical wire between the hole locations. Use a 3/4-inch bore bit on a flexible shaft to cut a pathway in the joists for your wiring. After you're done with this step, you should have two electrical cables with about 12 inches of slack drooping down from each hole in the ceiling. One of these holes will be where the old ceiling fixture was, and will be the source of electricity to power your new lights.
6. Turn off power to the circuit you will be working on at the main breaker. If you aren't sure which circuit to turn off, trip the main breaker to turn off all of the circuits.
7. Connect the wiring to the lights. Newer fixtures include press-in connectors that make wiring them simple. Strip the wires according to the strip gauge on the fixture and press the exposed conductor into the connector. Always connect like wire colors: black to black, white to white, and ground to ground. Leave all of the fixtures loose until all the wiring has been connected and you are able to test your work.
8. Install the light fixture housings into the ceiling holes. Remodel-type fixtures are designed to easily install into the ceiling from below and firmly snap onto the ceiling finish material. Push the fixtures up into the hole while gently guiding the wires into the joist space. Be sure to follow the fixture instructions for specific mounting requirements.
9. Install the final trim pieces to your light fixtures.
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