skip to main content

High cost of 4 Inch recessed lights

12 years ago

We are remodeling our basement and for our home theater we need 13 4" recessed lights. We wanted to do low voltage.

Our electrician gave us a quote of $80 for each line voltage recessed lights and $180 for each low voltage recessed lights. I have no other information about the model of the lights he is supplying.

A friend of mine just install Elco 4" inch recessed lights in his home theater. He has had no problems with them. He only paid $35 for each low voltage recessed light.

I know that June makes good recessed lights. Are their lights worth 5 times the cost of an elco fixture.

I have a few days to figure out what I should do.

Let me know if you have any suggestions for me.

Thanks

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

DavidR
12 years ago
You are learning why recessed lights are so expensive to install - you need a lot of them to get good light coverage. They are good for highlighting small areas, but an abomination for general lighting. For some reason cans are still fashionable, although that's now been the case for so long that they ought to be going out of style soon. :)

Surface mount fixtures, which send light in all directions, are much cheaper. You need fewer of them, too, so you save on quantities and labor. You also don't make your ceiling look like swiss cheese.
hehateme
Original Author
12 years ago
I already plan to have pendants over the island. Pendants will be Halogen.
Can you give me an example of surface mount fixtures?
I am not in love with cans. If there are surface mount fixtures out there that provide enough lighting and still don't come in the way I am very open to using them.

Thanks
Related Discussions
4 Inch recessed lights for home theater
Q
Comments (1)
Theaters can have multiple sources of light. There are recessed over the seating, recessed at the drapes/stage, wall sconces at the sides, step lights, possibly cove, and maybe pendants. A minimum is recessed at the stage, over the seating and some type of wall sconce on separate dimmers to allow for the kids to put on a play, watch a movie and watch sports which each call for different settings of the lighting zones. The L series of Cree fixtures only go down to about 22% The Cs go down to 5% but for home theater use that is unacceptable. The lighting needs to dim smoothly up and down with no drop out at the bottom of the range. LEDs can be used for the step lighting which typically stays on during a performance but must be well shielded and not too bright so that it does not leak onto the screen. Movie scene is slow fade to stage off, seating off, sconces low, steps on. Intermission is a medium rate fade to medium brightness for snacks and the restroom. The End is a slow fade up to the brightness required to exit. Sports is brighter than movie because you need to find the chips and dip. Play is similar to movie but with the stage bright. For full effect these scenes need to transition smoothly.
...See More
New construction - 4 or 5/6 inch led recessed lights
Q
Comments (3)
It's all about the lumens, there are 4 inch trims that will give off as much light as a 6 inch. You will want to look for color temperature as well. The linked article may help you... https://progresslighting.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Recessed_Guide_web.pdf
...See More
4 inch or 6 inch recessed lights and pendants
Q
Comments (30)
Take a look at this line: Juno Adjustable LED and Juno 4" Downlight. The adjustable ones are...adjustable and have 3 choices of user-replaceable beam spreads. Both have a wide selection of trims. With ceilings that high I would go for the higher-lumen version. Were it my new house, I would want something nicer than the basic builder-grade recessed light. I don't know how flexible your GC is and if this is a spec house or a custom-build. If it's a custom-build, I would be looking for a far more customized lighting plan, which is somewhat hard to do without a furniture plan.
...See More
4 vs 6 inches recessed lighting
Q
Comments (4)
The amount, placement, and style of fixture should be based on the room function, design, and level of the house. For instance, an 11x12 kitchen has very different requirements than an 11x12 office or 11x12 bathroom. 6" would typically require less fixtures and different spacing than 4", and is usually cheaper and less aesthetically pleasing to many people. And a basic grid of lighting is not the default solution for lighting.
...See More
User
12 years ago
The contractor price for a Juno or Lightolier Lytecaster line voltage PAR20 recessed fixture (IC housing, trim & lamp) should be about $50 to $60 depending on the reflector cone or baffle selected.

The contractor price for a Juno or Lightolier Lytecaster low voltage MR16 recessed fixture (IC housing, trim & lamp) should be about $90.

These prices can double if the lamp is deeply recessed or highly adjustable.

Your electrician's higher price should be for wiring, switching, installation labor, overhead & profit.

The $35 price is probably for a lesser quality brand without installation, with a non-IC housing, no tax, and no lamp. The wattage of the lamp in such fixtures must often be reduced when installed in insulated ceilings (I assume yours is insulated for sound abatement). If the normal wattage lamp is used, the fixture will turn off and on as it heats up and cools off. The more expensive fixtures can take the higher temperature.
triphase
12 years ago
Some of the advice in these forms kill me. Anyways the size and scope of the room will determine how mnay you need. I charge $135 for low voltage elco recessed lights, and $145 for IC rated elco low voltage. We have installed around 4000 or so in the past 5 years. I really like the elco's, they are good for the price. Are the prices you told us, the install prices with parts? When doing a room like this, the best lights to go with are a 60 degree beam spread. You may not ned a smany as you think depending on the room size and color of the room.

Mike

Related Stories

LIGHTING Get Your Home's Recessed Lighting Right

By Elements of Style

Learn the formula for how much light a room needs plus how to space downlights, use dimmers and more

LIGHTING Recessed Lighting 101

By Lisa Frederick

Looking to brighten a drab, dim space? Recessed lighting may be your answer. Here's what you need to know

LIGHTING The Lowdown on High-Efficiency LED Lighting

By Karen LeBlanc Design TV Host & Writer/Blogger

Learn about LED tapes, ropes, pucks and more to create a flexible and energy-efficient lighting design that looks great

THE HARDWORKING HOME CES 2015: Inching Toward a Smarter Home

By Mitchell Parker

Companies are betting big on connected devices in 2015. Here’s a look at what’s to come

LIGHTING Why It’s High Time to Reconsider Flush-Mount Lights

By Toronto Interior Design Group

Look past your negative perceptions and see how versatile these lights can be

SMALL HOMES Houzz Tour: A Studio Makes the Most of Every Inch

Thoughtful design transforms a neglected London flat into a stylish multitasking home

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Unplugging From High Tech in a Texas Farmhouse

By Mitchell Parker

This simply styled home gives an Austin family all the warmth of comfort food and all the amenities of modern times

WOOD Try DIY Plywood Flooring for High Gloss, Low Cost

By Vanessa Brunner

Yup, you heard right. Laid down and shined up, plywood can run with the big flooring boys at an affordable price

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: High End Meets Budget Friendly in Toronto

By Andrew Snow Photography

Splurging selectively and saving elsewhere, a Canadian family gets a posh-looking home that matches their vision

FURNITURE Armoires Travel From Ancient Rome to High-Style Storage

By Elements of Style

Go ahead, be possessive — this beautiful furniture piece with a rich history gives your treasures a proper home

Sponsored

More Discussions

How can I soften fluorescent lighting in an office that I'm renting?

5

1 large chandelier or 2 medium?

44

fireplace sconces

3

bathroom light fixture

11

Lighting update

1