6 things to consider when replacing down-lights

1) Many homes have down-lights in kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms throughout the property. 

Many of the down-lights are installed incorrectly and occasionally this can result in problems. The life-span of a down-light can be dramatically reduced if the manufacturers instructions are not followed and the light is installed incorrectly. 

Down-lights can become tarnished and begin to rust if they are installed in a moisture heavy environment like a bathroom or kitchen. This can make them look very un-sightly quick. It can also be a danger if the light fittings are not designed for these types of environments. 

There are many considerations when replacing down-lights and we shall go over them in this guide. 

2) 1. Do I want the same size down-lights installed?

This is worth thinking about. If you are going to be changing the light fittings, do you need the lights to be bigger, smaller or stay the same? This is something you will need to discuss with your electrician as nearly every down-light on the market is a different size! Each of them requires different sized holes to be cut. Your electrician will need to ensure that the new lights will cover the old holes. 

If you want to make the down-lights smaller then you may need the services of a plasterer as well to ensure that the ceiling can be made good after the work. It may be worth slightly relocating the down-lights to different location in the ceiling so that the old holes can just be patched over and fresh ones made to the correct size. 

If the down-lights you want are larger than the existing ones then it is normally possible to enlarge the existing holes assuming they are not too close to the ceiling joists. Replacing down-lights often takes careful consideration.

3) 2. Where are the down-lights going to be installed?

This is an important question. If the down-lights are to be installed into an environment where lots of moisture will be present then we will need to ensure that the lights are sufficiently designed and installed to withstand the rigours of that environment and ensure that electrical safety is considered. 

Bathroom lights are often required to have special construction to prevent water ingress into the light fittings and protect the users of the electrical installation from electric shock. We also want to ensure that the lights will look good, last a long time and not rust! 

4) 3. What colour down-lights are you going to pick?

There are many different colours of down-lights these days. The covers are sometimes interchangeable meaning that if you decide to go with chrome ones now, you can often change them for grey, white, black or other colours later on. Some down-lights have bezels that detach easily and are then able to be swapped out. 

There is also the colour of the light to consider. Do you want a warm yellow type light or a colder brighter white light? This may affect the type of down-lights that your electrician will supply and fit for you. There are some down-lights on the market that are colour changeable meaning a switch is installed on the somewhere allowing them to be swapped from one colour light to another. 

Typically, white light is better for kitchens and bathrooms and a warmer feeling more yellow type light for living areas and sleeping areas. 

5) 4. Do you want the down-lights dimmable?

This is an important questions as not every light is dimmable and those that are will require a compatibly dimmer in order to dim them properly and reliably. This is one of those decisions that cannot be reversed afterwards without some expense and possibly reinstallation. 

Also bear in mind that once the initial excitement of the new lighting project is over you may not wish to use the dimming function often, if at all! Many of us depend solely on lamps and mood lighting rather than bright ceiling lights for our main source of lighting. A dimmable function may well be a waste.

6) 5. Do you want to control the lights whilst you are away?

With today’s technology, it is possible to control your lighting whilst you are away from the home or even in another country. It requires some additional electrical installation work, some additional products and an APP! This is a handy feature though. You can have the ability to turn the lights on and off at certain times of day and night making it appear as if the property is occupied rather than empty. 

When combined with some of our other technology such as cameras, doorbells and alarms you can also have the ability to see potential intruders coming, talk to them, turn lights on and off in the home and so on.

7) 6. How many down-lights do you want for the area? 

Modern down-lights are typically much brighter than those from several decades ago. They provide ample light in most situations and can in some cases overpower the room with light. You may wish to consider how bright you need the room, the existing lighting in the room and how many down-lights you need in there. 

Typically bathrooms and kitchens need to be more well lit than other rooms as we often need to undertake intricate tasks in these rooms requiring more light. A dressing room may need to have lights positioned specifically for illuminating the wardrobes and other storage spaces whereas a bedroom may just require some symmetrically placed lighting with an emphasis on the aesthetic rather than the function of the lighting installation.

No matter what current lighting arrangement you have in your existing room we are able to help rearrange and install the lighting for you. We can install down-lights in various configurations so they are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. If you are considering upgrading your lighting, replacing downlights, or anything else then get in touch and we shall discuss your requirements with you.