How To Install Recessed Lights | Ask This Old House

In this video, Ask This Old House master electrician Heath Eastman installs recessed lights in a homeowner’s playroom.

Heath heads to a homeowner's house to help her with a dimly lit room. The homeowner explains that she has recessed lights in some of her rooms, but the children's playroom is lit only with a lamp. Heath knows just what to do, offering recessed lighting in the playroom to match the other areas in the home. After accessing the layout of the framing and the plumbing in the ceiling, Heath gets to work. After ensuring that the power is off, Heath rewires a switch-controlled outlet so that it's on constant power. Then, after removing the switch, Heath can look into the wall cavity to ensure that it's free of obstruction. Next, Heath drills holes in the ceiling for recessed lights (utilizing the dust shroud for mess control) and inside the wall for wiring. With the homeowner's help, Heath pulls wires for the new lights through the ceiling and back to the switch location before wiring the individual devices. Then, back at the switch, Heath installs a dimmer switch to control the room's brightness.

Skill: ⅗
Cost: Under $300 (depending on the light and number)
Estimated Time: 3 Hours

Shopping list:

Tools:

Where to find it?

The other tools and materials Heath used to install the recessed lights, including the drill, dust shroud, and wiring, can all be found at home centers and electrical supply stores.

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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. Ask This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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How To Install Recessed Lights | Ask This Old House

[bnasty]

Camera guy is the real MVP getting a shot of the oscillating tool waking up that dog.

[MichaelAuslanderJr]

Shoutout to the person who animated the plumbing and joists. That was a pretty cool and informative overlay.

[steveloux]

I've been doing this a long time, but still learned a few things here. Using a multi-tool to shear off the nails of the old plastic box was a slick idea. He had several things going in his favor - strapping being a huge one. And the location of the existing switch being on what appeared to be an interior wall meant the framing was pretty simple. But I like the methodology, including drilling the hole for the can light first which also serves as an exploration hole and a way to monitor the progress of drilling up through the wall's top plate.

[DJDEEM]

I just did this in my living room that had no lights other than a lamp, just like the video. The toughest part was fishing the wires through the wall and ceiling but I managed. These lights are a great look and the overall job was fairly easy…with the right tools. Great video.

[kylefowler]

That lighted inspection mirror was worth watching the video for, I did not know that was an option lol

[RobertLeBlancPhoto]

I've done this same job a few dozen times, and it's interesting how they leave out several important steps that are frustrating and rarely go easily.

[RandomTechWZ]

I'd be stuck trying to get that fish tape over to the hole for about 2 hours lol.

[interred_potato]

The dog waking up at the multi tool was awesome. Those things are so much louder than videos make them seem

[awaara]

He didn't even roll up his sleeves, I would've had a ripped shirt, scratched up arms and dust all over my head by the end

[zefrum]

Man he made this look so easy! True expert.

[Craigthepope]

I really liked the visual overlay used for the ceiling.

[DazedNConfuzed]

The dog in this video is a scene-stealer!

[michaelsteinbach]

Good video. I'm doing this in my kitchen soon and even though I have full open attic above, it's nice to see other scenarios .

[freedomfyter]

You should have a shown how you daisy chained all the lights that’s important the thing that you left out!

[swimmerhair]

I literally just did this project at home and had to punch multiple holes in the wall to fish wire through horizontal fireblocks. If only it were as easy as he makes it....

[MattyWill]

Now homeowners think this can be done in about 8 min. Lol.

[Nobody]

And this is why there are professional electricians

[rerolley]

I hope you had the tools you needed after Kevin took your favorite tools the other day.

[loco]

Can someone please tell me what drill bit he used to drill up through the switch opening and into the top plate??

I've been notching and patching walls for years. This would save me so much time.

[Mr.Pop]

Canless recessed LEDs should the standard, better than installing housing.