Effective Can-Light Cover
A bucket and spray foam is all it takes to air-seal ceiling electrical boxes and can lights.
I was looking for a way to air-seal ceiling electrical boxes and IC-rated can lights, and I also wanted a way to prevent blown cellulose insulation from covering the light. That way, if I ever had to replace the fixture, it wouldn’t create a mess. There are recessed light covers at big-box stores for this application, but they are way overpriced. Instead, I took 5-gal. buckets ($3 each) and cut them down to about 4 in. tall. Then I placed them over the fixtures and sprayed foam around the base. Once the foam cures, the caps are rock-solid and tightly sealed.
—Aaron Miiller, Pollard, Ark.
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #291
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Dear Aaron,
Thank you! I am installing a whole house fan and was looking for a way to keep the dust from filtering through the ceiling fixtures.
Awesome idea. Just checked into it since I am building a house with a LOT of can lighting. I found a 100 pack of foil pans for under 40 bucks that I will be using.