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Wiring recessed lighting with no attic
- Thread starter tweezer
- Start date
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
Hire one of Santa's elves in the off season?
If you don't have an attic, what do you have? Is there a room above? Flat roof?
Charles
If you don't have an attic, what do you have? Is there a room above? Flat roof?
Charles
there are 2 rooms above it.Hire one of Santa's elves in the off season?
If you don't have an attic, what do you have? Is there a room above? Flat roof?
Charles
Mr_fixit
Well-known member
Run it above the ceiling by going outside. Or a soffit, if available, closet, etc. Need to remove some siding. Or punch holes in the drywall and get them repaired.
You may have pipes in the area that you need to place the lights. Is there a bathroom above? It's not a job for a rookie. Somertimes It's just easier to hire a drywall guy after you're done.
You'll probably need someone with more experience than you probably have to figure things out. Got an electrician friend?
You may have pipes in the area that you need to place the lights. Is there a bathroom above? It's not a job for a rookie. Somertimes It's just easier to hire a drywall guy after you're done.
You'll probably need someone with more experience than you probably have to figure things out. Got an electrician friend?
Last edited:
metal1313
Well-known member
your gonna need some holes in the walls. cut a hole where you want the light, and see where the beams are, then cut a hole over by the wall, and in the wall so you can drill where you have to. then pull the wires. it minimizes the amount of repair work needed. i have pulled tons of wire in my house, but i dont have fire breaks in all walls, or even insulation. but my house is very old, and not every area has been brought up to code... yet
I added a couple recessed lights to the two already in my garage, one with access to an attic in the garage, one without. I probably spent 2 hours trying to do the one without attic-access without cutting anything other than the hole needed for the light. Finally gave up, made one small hole to help and had the project done about 20 minutes later (included in that time was patching the hole). I am not very experienced and having closer access to running the wires made life much easier, so my advice to you is do not be scared to break an egg to make your omelet.
travisd
Well-known member
Agreed... if it's drywall and not something harder to deal with (plaster, paneling) then poking some holes is the easy way to go. When did my kitchen I added a light and extended another circuit to create a switched outlet for undercounter lights and popping a couple of holes in the drywall is the best way to get the job done. Keep them small enough and you can use the little 4x4" adhesive patches.
I was able to make runs perpendicular to the floor joists by using existing holes. If you don't have this option then you may need to look at buying/renting/borrowing a right-angle drill to make them.
I found that it's actually somewhat easier (for me) to use an "old work" light fixture since my ability to precisely cut drywall to fit around a new-work can isn't as good. The old-work cans have a template that you use to cut a hole and then the can clips into it.
Make sure you get the right kind of cans if there's insulation present. Also keep in mind that they usually have a junction box appendage hanging off of them that has to go somewhere, so allow clearance for that when picking locations.
I was able to make runs perpendicular to the floor joists by using existing holes. If you don't have this option then you may need to look at buying/renting/borrowing a right-angle drill to make them.
I found that it's actually somewhat easier (for me) to use an "old work" light fixture since my ability to precisely cut drywall to fit around a new-work can isn't as good. The old-work cans have a template that you use to cut a hole and then the can clips into it.
Make sure you get the right kind of cans if there's insulation present. Also keep in mind that they usually have a junction box appendage hanging off of them that has to go somewhere, so allow clearance for that when picking locations.