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Under-cabinet lighting can I do this after cabinet installation?

16 years ago

I asked on the kitchen forum and they suggested I post the question here. I want to live in my kitchen with our current lighting choices before I decide if under cabinet lighting is needed. Is adding it after the fact a nuisance?

They have already put in the drywall and electrical outlets. So it will be a add on either way and I am not even sure how under-cabinet lighting works anyway don't the hardwire(?) it and what does that involve?

Thanks for your help.

Featured Answer

Jon1270

16 years ago

If you want hardwired UC lights controlled from a wall switch, some damage to the drywall is inevitable. The exact process depends on the layout of your kitchen, how your house was built, and the discretion of the contractor, but you can be sure it would involve re-doing some work that is already "done."

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Comments (6)

Jon1270
16 years ago
It will be difficult to hardwire UC lights after everything is installed, and virtually impossible if you have a tile or stone backsplash in place. There are models available that simply plug into outlets along the backsplash, but going that way doesn't let you control them with a regular wall switch; you'd have to use switches that are on each fixture.
xoxosmom
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for your response. So say I call the contractor tomorrow and inform him that I want under-cabinet lights. What will the electrician have to do? Drywall is up and wiring is done. I guess I am asking how big of a job am I asking from them? Thanks.
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prairiegirlz5
16 years ago
xoxosmom~So what did you do?

I live in a 100+ year old house, the kitchen cabinets were installed without UC lighting, so have been considering adding it myself. Do you tear out the backsplash/drywall, and then what?? I also saw these touch lights, do you think these might be a good alternative? Is the light strong enough for general task lighting?

Here is a link that might be useful: Touch Lights
lovinghusband
16 years ago
I used LED undercabinet strip lighting with an AC adapter plugged into a switched outlet. I fished the AC adapter cable through a small hole in the drywall near the outlet to another small hole at the bottom of the cabinet. The interconnect wires between the different LED strips were stapled along the underside of the cabinets so they wouldn't be seen. It worked out great. If you don't have a switched outlet, you could use a small 12v DC switch mounted under the cabinet near the first LED strip to turn them on or off. The LEDS are somewhat expensive, but low heat/power use and never need replacing.

Here is a link that might be useful: LED strip lights
ereed
16 years ago
You can do undercabinet lighting anytime. I just finished installing mine last week. I bought the puck xenon lights which are plug ins....I ran the wires from the light inside of cabinet up to the top of cabinet (thats where all the wire plug into) then I hard wired to a switch. The only damage on drywall was cutout to put switch beside receptacle. Just make sure you put switch on inside wall to avoid fishing problems with insulation.

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