Adding downlighters?

Author
Discussion

ChevronB19

Original Poster:

5,737 posts

162 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
quotequote all
I live in a newish build (about 12 years old), and am just in the process of a full redecorate. I love the house, but the hall and landing are very dark, plus it has terrible ‘council’ chandeliers. Darkness will hopefully be solved in part with a sun chimney or similar, but I’d like to change the lights for downlighters. As a new build, everything is plasterboard, but how easy/how much would it be to change two fixed light points for maybe 12 downlighters?

I know the lights themselves are cheap, it’s more about how they would route cables from existing points, or would it require removal of the ceiling plasterboard and replacement?

Thanks. I can rebuild an engine but electricity scares me, as does the Mrs.

BaldOldMan

4,582 posts

63 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
quotequote all
Quite hard.....

There are joists that run from wall to wall - the plasterboard ceiling is fixed to them - that makes multiple cuboids above the ceiling

Running cable along each cuboid is straight foward, but not so much between them.....

It's possible, with a little mess, but not entirely straightforward because of the cable runs.

Each downlight has to comfortably miss the joists also,

ChevronB19

Original Poster:

5,737 posts

162 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
quotequote all
BaldOldMan said:
Quite hard.....

There are joists that run from wall to wall - the plasterboard ceiling is fixed to them - that makes multiple cuboids above the ceiling

Running cable along each cuboid is straight foward, but not so much between them.....

It's possible, with a little mess, but not entirely straightforward because of the cable runs.

Each downlight has to comfortably miss the joists also,
Suspected as much, but many thanks for the feedback. Might stay with the two ceiling roses and get something a bit more tasteful. It’s not a forever house, so something acceptable is ok.

BaldOldMan

4,582 posts

63 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
quotequote all
Knowing where your joists run & how many different 'cuboid' sections you have could be the decider. You only need to feed one cable through & can daisy chain the downlights from there

miniman

24,827 posts

261 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
quotequote all
We had a single pendant in our dining room changed for 4x downlighters - very cheap, quick job with minimal repairs required to the ceiling, probably 2 or 3 holes max.

Pheo

3,324 posts

201 months

Monday 16th December 2019
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Can sparks get access from above? If so, relatively easy.

If they can’t, and then joists are against you (they probably are) then difficult without pulling the ceiling down.

Greendubber

13,129 posts

202 months

Monday 16th December 2019
quotequote all
Good timing, literally has these 3 fitted today. We had a single pendant so meant the L Shaped landing was horrid and gloomy it's a town house so bedroom and ensuite above. Its transformed the area and I absolutely love it. He didn't lift any boards, I was out at work so unsure how he did it...but he did.

We did it post-decoraring but our spark filled the hole from the original light fitting and didn't cause any damage running the cables so minimal touching up to do




The original light was to the left of the smoke alarm in the first picture so it was always dark around the corner, not anymore though!

Pheo

3,324 posts

201 months

Monday 16th December 2019
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House looks nice, like the staircase!

Greendubber

13,129 posts

202 months

Monday 16th December 2019
quotequote all
Pheo said:
House looks nice, like the staircase!
Thanks, just been done and we're over the moon with it.

Belle427

8,858 posts

232 months

Tuesday 17th December 2019
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Doing them upstairs is easy with attic access but downstairs not so.
Id only ever attempt them downstairs by lifting the floor above.

miniman

24,827 posts

261 months

Tuesday 17th December 2019
quotequote all
O/T - did you fit the oak doors? If so, where did you source them please! Looks lovely, really like the grey.

Greendubber

13,129 posts

202 months

Tuesday 17th December 2019
quotequote all
Belle427 said:
Doing them upstairs is easy with attic access but downstairs not so.
Id only ever attempt them downstairs by lifting the floor above.
My folks came and let him in and apparently he managed to fish the wires through, I'm guessing its luck of the draw when it comes to joists etc. When he came he said its not the end of the day as they can notch a little bit out of and go around it if needed. Just means a little bit more making good so not the end of the world if the floor above cant be lifted like ours.

Greendubber

13,129 posts

202 months

Tuesday 17th December 2019
quotequote all
miniman said:
O/T - did you fit the oak doors? If so, where did you source them please! Looks lovely, really like the grey.
The chap who did the stairs fitted them and I'm not sure where he got them from. All I know is 8 of them are fire doors and are obscenely heavy!


miniman

24,827 posts

261 months

Tuesday 17th December 2019
quotequote all
Greendubber said:
miniman said:
O/T - did you fit the oak doors? If so, where did you source them please! Looks lovely, really like the grey.
The chap who did the stairs fitted them and I'm not sure where he got them from. All I know is 8 of them are fire doors and are obscenely heavy!
Indeed, we need 2 fire doors and it kind of amazes me that they will hang on a few hinges!

ChevronB19

Original Poster:

5,737 posts

162 months

Sunday 22nd December 2019
quotequote all
Thanks all! I’m getting a well recommended local electrician to come round and have a look (and, seeing this is PH) also quote on retiring garage lighting to replace a single fluorescent tube with a couple of LED panels so I can actually see the cock ups I’m making.

hyphen

26,262 posts

89 months

Sunday 22nd December 2019
quotequote all
ChevronB19 said:
I live in a newish build (about 12 years old), and am just in the process of a full redecorate. I love the house, but the hall and landing are very dark...
Perhaps not think 'add some downlighters' think "I need more lighting".

picture lights, uplights, stairlights, led strips, wall lamps. Consider pro and cons of each/combination of them, more so as you are doing a full decoration, and also looking to stay there long term.

Edited by hyphen on Sunday 22 December 22:10

I-A

408 posts

156 months

Monday 23rd December 2019
quotequote all
Greendubber said:
Thanks, just been done and we're over the moon with it.
Your carpet looks great - really liking the grey.

garylythgoe

805 posts

221 months

Friday 3rd January 2020
quotequote all
Greendubber said:
Good timing, literally has these 3 fitted today. We had a single pendant so meant the L Shaped landing was horrid and gloomy it's a town house so bedroom and ensuite above. Its transformed the area and I absolutely love it. He didn't lift any boards, I was out at work so unsure how he did it...but he did.

We did it post-decoraring but our spark filled the hole from the original light fitting and didn't cause any damage running the cables so minimal touching up to do




The original light was to the left of the smoke alarm in the first picture so it was always dark around the corner, not anymore though!
This all looks great! Do you know what colour your walls are?

Thanks!

Greendubber

13,129 posts

202 months

Friday 3rd January 2020
quotequote all
garylythgoe said:
Greendubber said:
Good timing, literally has these 3 fitted today. We had a single pendant so meant the L Shaped landing was horrid and gloomy it's a town house so bedroom and ensuite above. Its transformed the area and I absolutely love it. He didn't lift any boards, I was out at work so unsure how he did it...but he did.

We did it post-decoraring but our spark filled the hole from the original light fitting and didn't cause any damage running the cables so minimal touching up to do




The original light was to the left of the smoke alarm in the first picture so it was always dark around the corner, not anymore though!
This all looks great! Do you know what colour your walls are?

Thanks!
I sure do, its Dulux Pewter Grey.

pmanson

13,374 posts

252 months

Friday 3rd January 2020
quotequote all
Greendubber said:
miniman said:
O/T - did you fit the oak doors? If so, where did you source them please! Looks lovely, really like the grey.
The chap who did the stairs fitted them and I'm not sure where he got them from. All I know is 8 of them are fire doors and are obscenely heavy!
They look very similar to ours which were from Howdens