Pot lights

9/16/2012 at 4:16:53 PM

Hello Jay,

First of all, hire a licenced electrician for this job. Usually they charge $75-$100 per pot light installation (including the light fixture). Secondly, ask your contractor to install the LED lights. Because LEDs are very energy efficient and they will give you very clear and crisp light. Before starting the job, make sure that the contractor is willing and able to nicely fill the cuts and hole to make them invisible.

Dont hesitate to check contractor's licence before letting him start the job. Many of them lie.

For the kitchen cabnets, the LEDs are recommended again. If you dont mind working a little with your hands then you can get these lights from IKEA and install them by yourself. You will save money! there will be no electrical work required for these. The contractor will make the wholes in wall and cabinets to install them permanent in a different way.

Good luck!

9/16/2012 at 4:24:41 PM

While this project is relatively straight forward, I'd strongly encourage you to verify that your contractor has a licensed electrician doing the actual connections. Your looking at a full days work (~8 to 12 hours). Rates per hour will vary depending on who you contact. Many will give you a set price regardless of how long it takes them to complete.

Steve Soper, Owner

Mr. Handyman of Richmond Hill and Southwest Markham

Phone: 289-203-1150

Fax: 289-203-1151

346 Newkirk Rd., Unit 9.

Richmond Hill, ON. L4C 0A9

9/16/2012 at 4:29:27 PM

My only advice would be to hire a licensed contractor, always when dealing with anything electrical choose a licensed contractor.

9/16/2012 at 7:15:47 PM

1. Ask for their ESA license, if they do not have one, they are not licensed and insured (if they hit a water, drain or gas pipe, there will be lots of problems. If they tell you there is no risk, be wairy, there is always risk fishing wires in closed walls.

2. Ask them exactly what they are going to do, some people notch drywall holes every 12 inches and then leave you with the mess to patch them.

3. Tell them you want an ESA inspection and certificate.

4. Read the contract and ask for their certificates, they should be proud to show you them.

5. Pay no more than 50% up front and 50% upon your satisfied completion.

6. The job should be no more than 1300-1500 +HST permit, materials and labour incl.

9/16/2012 at 8:42:09 PM

Never do electrical unless you hire an electrician!. The pots can be retro-fit which will likely not involve alot of destruction of ceiling.

Standard pots with face plates are from $30-40 and an electrician is from $75/hr...you will also have to pay for electrical materials needed and may have to hire someone to patch drywall if he cannot run wires unobtrusively or in attic etc.

Cheers!

9/16/2012 at 11:08:38 PM

Wow thanks for the honest replies.

Thank you again.

9/19/2012 at 6:26:57 AM

Is this a single or a two story house? Because we need to know if the ceiling is insulated. And even a 2 story house may be insulated for sound barrier. If it is insulated, the pot lights must be rated for insulation contact. This will complicate installation and increase the cost of the fixtures and require isolation boxes to be installed.

If it is uninsulated it will be easier. In either case we have to look at the load on the lighting circuit as it is and whether we can add these additional pot lights to it. A 15 amp circuit is only legally able to feed 80% of its rating, or 12 amps.

Also, holes in the ceiling may be required to run the new electrical cable. These can be fixed without too much trouble though.

10/6/2012 at 12:48:10 PM

One other suggestion I would like to add...

To keep your costs down and potential damage to a minimum, make sure your work areas are fully cleaned out so the tradesmen can work easily and quickly.

Either having to move your stuff, or working around it will add costs of labour to the job and potentially add risk to damage to furniture, food items, etc.

Cheers

John

John Kuehnl-Cadwell

Master Electrician

Datawise Solutions Inc

3/26/2013 at 12:02:47 AM

All good answers. Remember ESA Certified Electricians are good at what they do, but not at fixing the many holes that will be left in the drywall. You might have to get someone for that. Patching holes in drywall and repainting are costs to be considered also.

3/26/2013 at 7:23:46 AM

Professional electricians do not leave any holes or marks, the amateurs and DIY'ers do that... ;)

Some of us can even do drywall and mudding, but hate the dust!! Remember, electricians are the cleanest tradespeople (some even call us "the pretty boys"--- yes Mr. Plumber I'm looking at you)!! well, except for cleaners and window washers, but those aren't schooled trades.

4/4/2013 at 8:55:23 PM

Here in Durham Region it is fairly standard from one electrical company to another with in a few dollars but all the prices you guys are saying are way lower. Here it is $175 per light you supply the light

Exterior pot lights $250 per you supply the light add a switch $125.

Remember you get what you pay for a house down the street had there's done went the cheep route $65 a light supply and install licensed electrician did the work 3 weeks later house burnt to the ground. Fire Marshall said the wire used was almost 20 years old and told the home owners they should have ran from that price anything under $100 per light just installation you know they are cutting corners. And by the way the job was inspected and passed needless to say the inspector has be fired and sued.