A Well Hung Light™—Recessed to Pendant Light Conversion

A Well Hung Light™ was conceived and developed out of frustration on the part of one of the founders and owners of ideawerks™. Having moved into a new house, he found that like most homes built in the last three decades, the builder seemed enamored with recessed lighting in the ceilings. The kitchen had a sit-up island with three recessed light fixtures directly overhead. Not only did the fixtures look bad, they provided for poor lighting conditions and shadows when someone was seated at the island. And the lighting over the counter work space was not directed to the counter and created shadows.

A number of calls were made to remodelers and “handy-man” companies to convert these three lights into something more desirable and functional, like a pendant light. Most of the remodelers refused to even look at the work that would need to be done as the project was too small for them to be interested. Those individuals that did come to look gave very expensive estimates to do the work. Another way had to be developed and this is the genesis of A Well Hung Light™.

The Problem

The problems with recessed or can or pot light conversions are that of effort and current electrical code. It seems that a recessed lighting fixture is in itself an assembly that has been UL approved and approved by local building codes. The typical fixture is made of a bell-shaped aluminum part that houses the light bulb receptacle mounted to an L-shaped bracket. The wiring for the receptacle runs through a metal conduit to a metal box where the house wiring is connected. Depending on whether the housing comes in contact with insulation or not, and where in the house the fixture is located, the size of the fixture varies. This assembly is then attached to a set of expandable rails that are to be nailed to two ceiling beams. The ceiling is installed later in the homebuilding process and a hole the size of the actual bell-shaped portion of the assembly is cut.

An extended or pendant lighting fixture is attached to a far different assembly in the ceiling. This consists of a junction or “J” – box being attached to a beam in the ceiling where the electrical connection is made for both the house wiring and light fixture. The J-box has either an onboard strain relief bar or a bar is used to support the weight of the fixture itself. This entire assembly is much smaller than the recessed lighting fixture.
The cost estimates to do the conversion work were high ($250 – $400 typical, per each). In the case above, the bill may have been as high as $1200 for the three lights and that did not include the fixtures themselves!

Why So High?! Consider the following:

• Small job – premium cost
• Required getting into attic, if possible
• Cut Sheet rock in ceiling larger than hole
• Once electrical done, now need sheetrock work
• Cut, nail, tape, float and texture new ceiling patch
• Painter to apply undercoat, ceiling finish and paint (Let’s hope it matches!)
• Electrician back to mechanically/electrically attach light

THERE HAD TO BE A BETTER, FASTER, LESS COSTLY WAY

The Solution