Installing downlights is an innovative way to get a sleek, modern finish to your home. Their subtle nature makes them ideal for both quiet and busy spaces.
Downlights have become popular due to three factors.
Most lights take up a lot of room and can even end up being the focus in the space. Downlights recess into the ceiling and remain hidden from the open view, making them ideal for subtle lighting.
Some rooms require just enough light in order to get the most out of natural lighting - a downlight can help you quickly navigate these spaces and get more purpose out of them.
Whether you are looking to catch up with work or need some dim lighting for an intimate dinner, dimmable downlights offer an easy solution.
You have three options to consider when getting downlights.
These lights have become more popular as people embrace energy-saving solutions. In most modern homes, you will find such lights known to offer a range of 15,000 to 30,000 hours.
Halogen lights have been phased out over the years and are harder to come by following their ban in 2020 due to concerns about their energy efficiency. You can still find some on the market, but getting a replacement once they stop working can prove challenging. They only offer 2,000 to 4,000 hours.
Compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) lights are another excellent option you will probably see in older homes. These are less energy-efficient than LED lights and offer 6,000 to 15,000 hours.
However, if you are replacing a bulb with another type of light, you need to get an electrician involved in the installation, and this will come with a service fee. It works in all cases, whether halogen or LED, or CFL.
Take the example of LEDs. These lights generally cost much more than other lights because they are more energy-efficient. Expect to spend anything from $45 to $75 on each downlight without counting the installation fees. Given that these fit right into the ceiling, they emit heat into the roof and can cause a fire if not installed correctly.
Once they are up and running, they can serve you for years before you need to replace them.
The same case holds for all the lights. For installation, you will pay for the lights plus the electrician’s fees. But for replacements with the same type of light, you can forgo the electrician and buy a bulb for some DIY.
Like with all other fixtures in your home, the price of downlights is not exact. Instead, it depends on factors such as the type of downlight, whether you are replacing the light or installing a new one, how many lights you want and where you will install the light. Labour cost is a major player in the final price.
Each light kit can cost anything from $10 up to $200. However, you may end up paying more than $200 per light in some cases, more so when you choose the more luxurious options.
In this case, you will require a licensed electrician, and you can pay anything from $50 to $80 for each light installation - not counting the callout fee. If you choose to go with the hourly rate, you will probably spend about $80 to $100 per hour, exclusive of the service fees.
With the rise of DIY, people are more inclined to fix things at home on their own rather than calling for professional help. But when it comes to electrical works, this is not a good idea.
Not only can you cause an electric fire, but you can also get shocked. A simple mistake, such as overheating a wire, could send you to the hospital.You can also end up messing up the wiring system such that the house catches fire or gets damaged in some way. Unfortunately, your insurer will not indemnify you for DIY tasks and will insist that you get a licensed professional to avoid such occurrences.
You might not even know that you made a mistake until months later, when the faults start showing.
Did you know that it’s illegal to do some electrical tasks unless you have the proper licensing? You can end up paying fines all because you tinkered with something you should not have.
Downlights require intensive installation involving wiring into the ceiling and a tiny overhaul of the existing electrical connections. Attempting to do this on your own (regardless of how detailed the DIY breakdown is) can have you facing any of the above problems. Call an electrician, cough up the money, and you will be glad you did the right thing.