Replies

1. 
   plumbbill | Mar 31, 2008 02:54am | #1

   Are you removing the sheet rock ceiling or leaving as much in place as possible?

   Is the space insulated or not?

   Cans like these are quite handy for remodel applications.

   http://www.lightingonthenet.com/SG-1118-RemodelIC-Recessed-Housing-by-Sea-Gull-Lighting-P371771C681.aspx?AFID=6&Theme=themes/new_lighting_feed.thc

   Wiring the light to each other is the easy part, if they are in a direct path of each other.

   Using the template provided cut the sheetrock to hold the can, then using a long flexible drill bit http://www.tools-plus.com/flexi-drill-a722.html?utm_medium=shopeng&utm_source=nextag&utm_term=F-DA722 bore a hole from can space to can space pulling wire back as you retrieve the bit.

   To save sheet rock repair you can "pot hole" your way to where the switch will be located.

   UH OH----- do you want all the cans to be controlled seperately? Or just seperate from the old can?

   “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” —Albert Einstein
   

2. 
   holy hammer | Mar 31, 2008 04:57am | #2

   Only four cans? Trust me, you'll want six! ;-)

   Seriously, I have rolled up carpet on an upstairs floor to pull up the plywood subfloor to keep from messing up a perfectly good ceiling below when installing cans.

   Constructing in metric...

   every inch of the way.

3. 
   IdahoDon | Mar 31, 2008 05:10am | #3

   A nice trick to see if your lights are going to work as you expect is to wire a few up and hang them from the ceiling.  4" cans don't put out all that much light.

   The amount of sheetrock you'll need to open up depends mostly on the skills of the electrican running the wires.  The best at running wire can put a long flex drill an amazing distance and find strange paths so very little patching needs to be done.

   Unfortunately, it seems many new electricans are coming up that have never developed good skills fishing wires and it amazes me when one askes to borrow a tape.

   If you have to open up the sheetrock, it should only require a few narrow slots at joist crossings, or better yet 3/4" holes drilled at an angle up through the sheetrock and through the joist where needed and the wire fished from joist to joist as you go.  These are much easier to patch than the 6" round holes favored by many.  The 6" hole saw is easy to whip out holes, but it's more work in the long run.

   My suggestion is to get a flex drill and get a metal fish tape through the joists before your electrian friend shows up or he'll whip out that 6" hole saw.  ;)

   Good luck

    

   Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.

1. 
   thatjackbuilt | Mar 31, 2008 06:15am | #4

   thanks for the suggestions everyone...the reason i'm going with only four 4" cans is that it's a pretty small kitchen(9 x 14) and i already have a fixture above the sink and one ceiling fixture in the middle of the room. so the cans are going to be mostly for "mood" and accent lighting(and to please my better half). maybe it's not even worth it in such a small space?? pulling up the subfloor in the upstairs attic is a good idea actually...thanks!!

1. 
   xxPaulCPxx | Apr 01, 2008 06:53am | #7

   My kitchen is about a foot longer in both dimensions.

   I put in a total of 6 6" recessed cans with the high reflective silver trim.  Inside I use 19w (75w equivalent) warm white CFL.  I also have a ceiling fan over the dining nook (were the 15 foot wall would be) where I run 4 13w (60w equivalent)  warm white CFL.

   The cabinets are light maple and the walls are red, the floor and counters are a light grey/beige. 

   The light thrown off by these 10 bulbs is even and fills the space nicely.

    Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA

   Also a CRX fanatic!

   If your hair looks funny, it's because God likes to scratch his nuts.  You nut, you.

2. 
   maddog3 | Apr 01, 2008 05:14am | #5

   Unfortunately, it seems many new electricans are coming up that have never developed good skills fishing wires and it amazes me when one askes to borrow a tape.Thank You....I'll shut up now.

   .

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1. 
   Biff_Loman | Apr 01, 2008 05:42am | #6

   No kidding! My old man was an electrician in a former career, and it seems like he can fish anything. To hear him talk, patching drywall is a sin.

1. 
   maddog3 | Apr 01, 2008 01:23pm | #9

   yep I learned all my tricks having to work with plaster and at times, wall tile.

   .

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3. 
   jonblakemore | Apr 01, 2008 08:50am | #8

   I've always wondered how many electricians have found DWV or supply lines with an errant flex bit? 

   Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

1. 
   IdahoDon | Apr 02, 2008 07:08am | #10

   I'll bet it's an awful lot of 'em, but only once or twice before they quit fishing wires like that. 

   It's a good point that you really need to know what's up there.  

   Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.

2. 
   wallyo | Apr 02, 2008 07:31am | #11

   Jon I had an electrician find a water pipe like that he was drilling with a self feed bit, Oh did I forget to mention the ceiling was open and the pipe was on the other side of the joist. Wonder what it would of been like if the ceiling were closed.Wallyo