downlighters

M

moneypitt

Registered User
Messages
100
I am thinking of installing flush downlighters for most of the ground floor (hall, living, kitchen and dining area). How are these things installed? Will it ruin the floorboards of the bedrooms upstairs - its t & g flooring (I removed the carpet and sanded them, varnishing is in todo list).

thanks,

MP.
 
Aren't these installed in the downstairs ceilings and, consequently, nowhere near the upstairs flooring?
 
I am presuming this is not a new build house, so floors, ceilings etc are all existing. How do you propose to run power cables to the downlighter positions? Unless provision was made when the wiring was done originally you'll have to lift floor boards above the floor space to run a supply for each light.
 
Its a old house (9 years to be precise). I rekon I will have to lift the floor boards to run cables, but that sounds like a lot of work - I am not sure how easy / difficult this is.. I get the feeling its not worth the hazzle, but then again, the downlighters look so nice too!
 
Can you not work from below . Are the joists running the length of the hall or are they going across.
I did the same last year in a downstairs hall which was underneath a tiled bathroom. It is a little destructive but easy to repair. I was replacing the ordinary pendant light with 3 downlighters. I used the mains one GU10 as I didn't want to mess around with transformers.
Firstly I decided where the lights were going to go and used a drill to make the holes. Next I had to work out where the joists were and basically remove a strip of the ceiling the width of the cable underneath the joist so that the cable could go along from point to point. You are left with a hole in the celing approx 2 cm by 4 cm which is easily patched.
If you are lucky your joists may be running parallel to your cable run but usually this isn't the case.
Usually easier the lift floor boards but in situations where you cannot then this works..
 
It's a lot of work and unless done very neatly your floor boards may look rough after you've reinstated them. But here's an idea, you could replace a single pendant light fitting (bulb holder and ceiling rose) in a kitchen for example, with a mains voltage track or tracks. I did this in our kitchen putting in two LED (brand name of light fittings) mains voltage tracks and with 6 no. G10 lights. I was able to highlight the work areas, features in the kitchen, cost about €120 and took less than an hour to fit. There's no transformers, the bulbs (being mains voltage) last a long time and these light fittings are very popular now, especially in commercial use. Any good electrical wholesaler would stock a range of such fittings.
 
I installed downlighters in a downstairs ceiling which I was getting completely re-done. The floorboards upstairs had to be cut and lifted. As I also wanted to sand the floor boards the electrician was as neat as possible but there is still a noticable cut in two boards. I was recommended to get low voltage lights with transformers as the ones without blow their bulbs frequently. None of bulbs have blown in over a year.
 
We'll have to agree to disagree on the bulbs, my G10 (mains voltage) have been installed over 12 months and I haven't had any difficulties. I also think the transformerless track and fittings are neater and better looking, but it's a matter of personal choice I suppose.
 
Okay, from all the posts above, I feel its a bit too much work either way (either pull the floor boards, or cut a strip on the paster board and cover it later)... I might just go with a track light that carpetnter mentioned - I read somewhere (boards.ie i think) that there are some LED (not the brand name - but Light Emitting Diode) spot lights that is very efficient and lasts a long time etc - any ideas?

thanks again everyone!
 
I don't think LEDs would throw out much light, unless you've got a lot of them, and are they not expensive?. Why not go to a wholesaler/ specialist shop and get some free advice, there might be other new technologies/ fittings that could suit your situation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top