Replies

1. 
   JohnSprung | Oct 18, 2002 01:00am | #1

   I had considered finding an old chandelier winch for the one over my stairs.  You might find one from a wrecking company that's taken down some big old movie houses.  What worked out better was to create an interior window from a small hallway into the space over the stairs.  It lets sunlight into the stairwell in the day, and chandelier light into the hallway at night.  But best of all, by making it openable, all I have to do is hook the chandelier with a piece of coathanger wire and pull it over to change bulbs.

   -- J.S.

2. 
   clwebb | Oct 18, 2002 01:02am | #2

   HPR1,

   You didn't dream the lift mechanism for lights up. I have seen them too but don't have a name or company. If the fixture that you choose is a chandelier type light, and especially one that the bulbs mount into in an upright position, that might be your only option, rather than ladders and scaffolding. There are light bulb changers, which either mount to or have an extendable pole which allows you the hieght to change simple standard bulbs like a19's or similar floodlight bulbs.

   Check in the back of FHB, or you might even check with an electrical supplier, or maybe even the Suites catalog.

   Hope this helps,

   Chris

3. 
   MisterT | Oct 18, 2002 01:03am | #3

   How many architects DOES it take ?

   Mr T

   Do not try this at home!

   I am a trained professional!

1. 
   rez | Oct 18, 2002 01:38am | #5

   Well, if they're blond... Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.

    We're going on.

4. 
   akaCamiA | Oct 18, 2002 01:21am | #4

   Alladin makes chandelier lifts.

   How many architects does it take to change a light bulb?

   None, it's the engineer's job...

   
   ...get an up-north attitude...
5. 
   4Lorn1 | Oct 19, 2002 02:54am | #6

   One long time customer used to pay us about $200 per bulb change. A two and a half story cathedral ceilinged entance sporting an ugly ceiling mount fixture and finished wood walls conspired to make replacement a chore. We tried to get them to change to compact florescent lamps, longer life, or change to a chandeleir that would hang a bit lower. No dice. The best we could do was to install 130v commercial bulbs instead of the discount ones the HO provided.

   Every few months we would rent or borrow scaffolding and replace the bulbs. One day the job came up when we were slow. After brainstorming a bit it occured that we could open the window above the front door and insert a 30' extension ladder. The window sill was protected with scrap carpeting. The ladder left just enough room for an electrician to shinny through. I was then able to, climbing the ladder backwards, to get within arms reach of the fixture while lying on my back. The top 15' or so of the ladder were unsupported so the ride was a bit wild.

   This became our new method. With practice we could complete the process in about 15 minutes without unlocking the front door or stepping foot on the floor.

   None of this really answers your question. But it shows that this problem is common. I am heartened to see an archetect asking such a basic question to a nagging problem.

1. 
   archyII | Oct 19, 2002 03:38am | #9

   I have many asked clients the same question many times (I'm the architect) but the chandelier must be hung.  Tried to get a client to install a chandelier lowering device (the electrician had come up with a truck winch and cables for several hundred dollars) they said no "We can change the bulbs".  They couldn't.  Had another project with a vaulted ceiling 25' up and recessed cans.  They used a ladder with a lamp changing pole (stick with a suction cup) and it worked great. I have also designed a few where changing the lamps was a b*tch but it looked great.  I always tell the client that it will be a problem and 95% don't care as long is the "LOOK" is good (until they live in it and the lamps burn out".

1. 
   4Lorn1 | Oct 22, 2002 10:14am | #13

   Sometimes I wonder about some of the customers. One I know, even after hints and suggestions, insisted on hanging a $5000 cut glass and solid brass chandelier over a char-grill unit in an island with only a small downdraft unit for ventilation. As long as it is never used it will continue to look great. That first burger will come with a cleaning bill that will more than offset any savings for the home cooking.

   Have to love the form over function crowd. Some people have more money than sense.

2. 
   geob21 | Oct 19, 2002 04:56am | #10

   I need you!

   If you can get a ladder off the truck through a second floor window, replace light bulbs then break it all down in 15 minutes. You da man. And I thought Norm was, building a deck in two  1/2 hour episodes.

1. 
   bake | Oct 19, 2002 07:16am | #11

   "in about 15 minutes"

   Which is the amount of time alloted for a coffee break! Hope that clears things up a bit <G>

6. 
   Piffin | Oct 19, 2002 03:16am | #7

   OK.

   How many architects does it take to get the light to come on in a dark place?

   I couldn't resist - afterall, you openned the door.

   Like the previous, I'm glad to see you thinking ahead.

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

7. 
   JerraldHayes | Oct 19, 2002 03:30am | #8

   I see those winches on all the houses I've been in lately. I'll ask on Monday about the manufacturers and suppliers. What gets me is the cans in high ceilings that are insatlled without a strategy for changing lamps. The best system I've seen for them so far is crawl space type access but I'd love to hear other takes on the subject.

   ---

   View Image

   “Systemize the Routine; Humanize the Exception”-

   from Customer Culture: How FedEx and Other Great

   Companies Put the Customer First Every Day

   by Michael D. Basch

8. 
   andybuildz | Oct 20, 2002 05:33pm | #12

   One of those extendable garden step ladders are sure a lot cheaper then a lift

   Be well

           Namaste

                     Andy

   It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM