Basement lighting electrical quote... wow

[MagicMarker]

So I'm thinking about how I'm going to light up the basement.... Semi finished with the "warehouse" look. The ceiling is open and wanted 23 cans installed. First quote came in at $2k... that took me by surprise since there's no drywall to cut or fish wiring.

Browsing around Home Depot and found cans ranging anywhere from $10 - $20 per fixture. How do I know what kind I need? Overall it seems the materials don't cost that much.

Tell me what I need.... I'm thinking I can install the cans, run the wiring and an electrician can do the final connections to the main.

 

[klassenl]

Beware cheap potlights.

The ones we use can cost more than $100 a piece once you have put in a can, a bulb, and a trim. Suddenly $2k is a good deal.

 

[signcrafter]

100 dollars a piece for can, trim, and bulb is crazy. Maybe if that includes installation. But even if you get the most expensive housing and a standard trim and bulb it is WAY under that 100 bucks for materials.

As far as doing it yourself it should be pretty easy. I don't think you will find an electrician to come do the final hook up and if you do it will most likely cost you close to the price for him to install it all. Since he will carry most of the liability.

Just do it all yourself if you're comfortable. If you can wire up all the cans you can run the circuits to the panel.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Do you have to use conduit in unfinished basements where youre at?
Im starting on a basement wiring job after lunch today,Bathroom/Bar and tv area .
Its a friend of family project. I think I told them $1300.00 but theyre supplying their own light fixtures.
It will all be done in romex since theyre drywalling it all.

 

[mm08822]

Magic, that price isn't too bad when you figure that a professional has to do the following:
Initial estimate for materials and labor,
Layout the lighting grid,
Adjust for obstructions,
Pull a permit- fill out, run down to building dept, pay then or 2nd trip to get executed permit,
Buy materials,
2 guys for a day,
Install a switch bank,
Run a homerun to panel,
Most likely move stuff in the way (more than once),
Install trims, bulbs, switches, breaker,
Call for inspection,
Bill you and wait for the money.
You can do most of these items for no $ cost to you, but professionals have insurance, licenses, continuing ed classes, vehicle and office overhead.
So with all that considered, how much is your time worth?

It seems like a fair price to me. (Sight unseen.)

 

[MushCreek]

I don't see what's wrong with cheap fixtures. I used the cheapest thing they had ($6), and they are virtually identical to the Halo which are more than twice as much. I put them in the house, and they work. They are so-called air tight insulation contact, but there are many gaps, as there are with the more expensive ones. I built boxes over them in the attic to seal them and insulate them. I used LED retrofits, which are down to $10 a piece now (they were $27 when I started). The LED units are self-contained, so the can is just providing a socket and holding it in place. They also make LED lights that simply mount to an electrical box.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Without knowing what type of fixtures the electrician included in their quote it's impossible to say if the price is high or not. Even so, remember they have to include some profit in the quote no matter what fixture was included.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

I buy Halo cans and trims online for a bunch less than HD or the local Supply House. Last batch came from Amazon . . .

For your application you might not even need I/C A/T (In contact with insulation and Air Tight) cans, though the upcharge is minimal I believe.

Cheers

Jim

 

[Wirepuller]

2k is cheap. The can and trim will be 20-22 minimum. Is the guy not allowed to make a profit? Remember he pays all his own burden of labor. Insurance, workmans comp, health insurance etc.

 

[RM209]

Magic: The real questions is what does the quote include? Is it materials, including lights, and labor? Or just rough-in materials and labor? If you provide some additional detail, the quote will make more sense.

RM209

 

[jdsac]

I compared the Halo cans to the "commercial electric" Home depot house brand for retrofits (edison sockets)
Exactly the same sockets, gauge of wiring and wago type connectors + a UL
sticker & rated IC. The only difference that I could see was in the nail on area. With the 1250 lumen Feit leds, I went up in the attic with an ir gun-
outside of cans were the same temp as everything else in the attic.
Did I miss something? Seems to be getting the job done for less money.
Cans/ retrofits/ wire + misc , less than $30- per (no labor)

 

[MagicMarker]

$2k all in. Labor & materials. Although I thought it would be cheaper than $100/ can as the ceiling is totally exposed and no plans for finishing the ceiling. Going for the warehouse look.

 

[jrsulo]

I see you are in New Jersey so that's a fair price,,,,,,what part of jersey are you in ???

 

[MagicMarker]

I see you are in New Jersey so that's a fair price,,,,,,what part of jersey are you in ???

North Jersey up in Montville.

 

[wssix99]

Semi finished with the "warehouse" look. The ceiling is open and wanted 23 cans installed.

Why would you put recessed fixtures in a situation like this??? For starters:
- Recessed fixtures and their installation is relatively expensive
- They are intended to be flush with finished ceilings
- They are like, so 1990's...

When I think of the warehouse look, I think of pendant lights. You could put in a nice caged pendant light, get more of a warehouse look, get a better spread of light, and also bring the price way down:

 

[Mustang51js]

North Jersey up in Montville.

I live about 15 minutes from you, my normal charge for a 6 inch hi hat is $90 each for led trims with all materials included. I am cheaper than some people in the area also. As you know in nj they charge you crazy prices for everything if your a business,of coarse i could do them cheaper but have to stick with the going average or else i wouldnt make any money. My registration for my van is probably 3 times what you would pay if it wasnt commercial. So it seems like alot but overall it isnt. Btw,you can pm me if you need someone to hook up wires in panel.

 

[MagicMarker]

Why would you put recessed fixtures in a situation like this??? For starters:
- Recessed fixtures and their installation is relatively expensive
- They are intended to be flush with finished ceilings
- They are like, so 1990's...

When I think of the warehouse look, I think of pendant lights. You could put in a nice caged pendant light, get more of a warehouse look, get a better spread of light, and also bring the price way down:

This is what I'm thinking as I don't have the height to drywall or drop ceiling.

 

[MagicMarker]

I live about 15 minutes from you, my normal charge for a 6 inch hi hat is $90 each for led trims with all materials included. I am cheaper than some people in the area also. As you know in nj they charge you crazy prices for everything if your a business,of coarse i could do them cheaper but have to stick with the going average or else i wouldnt make any money. My registration for my van is probably 3 times what you would pay if it wasnt commercial. So it seems like alot but overall it isnt. Btw,you can pm me if you need someone to hook up wires in panel.

Thanks for the insight and offer. I really appreciate it.

 

[R.Anderson]

$2k all in. Labor & materials. Although I thought it would be cheaper than $100/ can as the ceiling is totally exposed and no plans for finishing the ceiling. Going for the warehouse look.

??? 23 cans quoted @ $2k is less than $100 a can. That is $86.95 per can installed.


I agree with most posts here that is a fair price for what you are asking.

 

[bww_mnm]

If it's too much $ for install, can you just do it yourself? I did my own ... Not a big deal, but it takes a little time.

 

[nh_yota]

??? 23 cans quoted @ $2k is less than $100 a can. That is $86.95 per can installed.


I agree with most posts here that is a fair price for what you are asking.

Yeah that doesn't sound too bad.

Remember that an electrician can often get parts cheaper than you can get them at Home Depot, but they also mark the parts up to include the cost of warranty repairs if one breaks and they have to replace it.

My point is that it's better to compare electricians against each other than against what it would cost to do it yourself.

 

[bczygan]

If you are confident enough to do the cans and wiring, then connection to the panel is no harder. If you're scared of the panel, the take a flashlight and turn off the main and pull the meter.

It's dead easy and not rocket science.

Figure out your layout and switching and check your panel for space. I would run 2 circuits, even with LED's, and balance the load if the spaces were available. 3 way switches if there is double access.

Easy, easy, easy.

But if your time is valuable and it's a cost versus cost, then have a pro do it.

Does the time it would take you and cost of materials equal the bid? And could you use that time to actually make that money?

In my case, my time is worth nothing, so DIY always wins.

Bill

 

[wssix99]

This is what I'm thinking as I don't have the height to drywall or drop ceiling.

Ah. (I was thinking much higher when you said warehouse look.)

Low ceilings will also work against you on the spread problem. That picture has a lot of task lighting and professional photography lighting (unseen) to light up the room. The can lights aren't really providing the light in that picture. You'd need a lot of very light colors in the room to reflect light around. (Not like the the way the room is decorated in that picture.)


We have a few can lights in our new house and if we were to do it all over again, we'd get the cheapest possible cans out there and pop in these LED retrofits: (We discovered them when we had sticker shock over trim prices. Unfortunately, we have these inexpensive lights in very expensive cans...)

These units are great and if they ever go out on us, we can just get new ones and we are still ahead on cost. All the home stores sell them, now, and they are very inexpensive. You should be able to put your lights together for less than $50, which is good for any fixture. <- That's the killer. With can lights, you need more fixtures (vs. tubes, etc.) and that will drive up the installation effort and fixture price multiple.