Structural always trumps lighting, unless the lighting plan is incorporated into the structural plan. No one could afford to build, if you had to move trusses and adjust sheathing lengths to accomodate a lighting plan.

As fas as a pendant is/was concerned, did your electrician ever hear of a pancake box? There is no reason a pendant cannot be suspended whereever it needs to be, unless the "detail work", (whatever that may be), caused the need to move.

Trusses cost me my over-range vent and put me back using an OTR microwave recirculating fan. . . so I'm ticked, too! We had a walkthrough with our electrician today, so all this is heavy on my shoulders right now, too. We have one can light that won't be quite centered on cabinet doors as it should . . . and so it goes. But, yes, trusses are trump, and, yes, they are a headache!!

Coordination of the truss placement and the lighting plan should be assigned to someone by the owner. Of course, that is only possible if there is a lighting plan with dimensions and many owners are not willing to pay for that service.

Hostagrams - thanks for understanding and a big comforting hug to you. I spent all yesterday between the lighting people, electrician and contractor.

rollie - since I labled this venting, I am not sure why think I don't know structural trumps all else. Actually the contractor offered to move the window 3" for us but we thought that was an overkill and the kitchen cabinets have already been ordered. Yes, the electrician looked at using a pancake junction but it wouldn't work because of other factors.

Mightyanvil - I have been on this site 2001, this is the first time I have ever heard that I needed to coordinate truss placement and lighting plan beyond what was in the plans.

I feel for you. I had this issue, except it was a 2nd story toilet that got in the way of a recessed light.... Recessed lights that I had agonized over the placement of, and had finally come up with a lighting plan for the kitchen that I was happy with... Just to have the plumber come in and say "you have to move that light over". AS IF it's that simple! lol

I just overlay the electrical and the structural plans on the computer and dimension them so there won't be a problem in the field. It's not difficult. When these documents are prepared by different people coordination can get overlooked.

justme in sd,

I feel your pain, I really do, as I go thru this on nearly every job at that stage. There is not a person that builds a house that, if they are involved, doesnt go thru the same thing that you have mentioned. Moving the structural elements of a house, to facilitate a recessed can here or there, is a big pain in the butt for the framers, as any time you move a truss, you potentially affect the sheathing layout from the eave to the peak. It has little to do with the drywall end of the job.

In mightyanvils case, I would guess that he is responsible for for both the structural and lighting plans and at some point in time, even if he isnt asked to do it will overlay the lighting plan over the structural to see if there is any forseeable problems and at that point in time, ask the customer if they want to go thru the time and money of adjusting the structural.

This problem, is not much different than taking a structural plan, and overlaying it over the plumbing plan, to see if any stool collars or shower drains fall on top of structural members. If that happens, then concessions need to be made by either moving the structural members, changing to offset rough ins (not always enough) or moving walls.

Now, a direct question: On the light centered over the sink, what " detail work " could there be in that location that would cause using a rough in box to be 1/2 inch off center, even if using a pancake box? Not being a sa, just trying to understand some of your pain.

Please, continue to vent.