Install can lights - is this a good price?

[Liquor and Poker 3659]

OK, so I have a first floor ceiling that had some water damage from the shower above (fixed) so it has had the sheetrock removed.  Existing setup was a track light, which I hate.  I wanted to install a grid of 9 can lights in 3 rows of 3.  The contractor quoted me $400 just to replace the existing sheetrock, $1600 to do that and install the lights.  Includes sheetrock but not lights or romex. The ceiling is built kind of like a roof - with supports across that have two studs above and below with angled cross beams between them, so there's no need to drill through studs or anything - it's just straight runs of wire and mounting the lights.  Given that the price doesn't include the materials, that extra $1200 seemed kinda high.  Am I wrong?  Is there more to this than I think?

[The Original CaliHorn 68]

In regards to the “can lighting” this is a simple install. I’m in the Electrical Distribution field and manufacturers are ow offering “can-less” trims. LED and the driver is remote. Junction box easily accepts Romex. Cost depends on the lumen output and the diameter of the module.

 

[CooterBrown 18021]

In regards to the “can lighting” this is a simple install. I’m in the Electrical Distribution field and manufacturers are ow offering “can-less” trims. LED and the driver is remote. Junction box easily accepts Romex. Cost depends on the lumen output and the diameter of the module.
 

Yep. I’d never bother with a can light again. The canless LEDs are too easy. If you want to add several on the same switch they have built in connectors and you just add the wire in between them. I added them to my bathroom remodel last year.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-Color-Changing-Integrated-LED-6-in-85-Watt-Equivalent-White-Round-Dimmable-Canless-Recessed-Downlight/1003142570?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-lit-_-ggl-_-LIA_LIT_143_Light-Bulbs-and-Commercial-Lighting-_-1003142570-_-local-_-0-_-0&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=Cj0KCQiAweaNBhDEARIsAJ5hwbf6RI9wuXcp-A5Y4VAJinzec5JLGX85gvWHSHwKAFf6y-FKNEGSBZ8aAqtTEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[CooterBrown 18021]

In regards to the “can lighting” this is a simple install. I’m in the Electrical Distribution field and manufacturers are ow offering “can-less” trims. LED and the driver is remote. Junction box easily accepts Romex. Cost depends on the lumen output and the diameter of the module.
 

Yep. I’d never bother with a can light again. The canless LEDs are too easy. If you want to add several on the same switch they have built in connectors and you just add the wire in between them. I added them to my bathroom remodel last year.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-Color-Changing-Integrated-LED-6-in-85-Watt-Equivalent-White-Round-Dimmable-Canless-Recessed-Downlight/1003142570?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-lit-_-ggl-_-LIA_LIT_143_Light-Bulbs-and-Commercial-Lighting-_-1003142570-_-local-_-0-_-0&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=Cj0KCQiAweaNBhDEARIsAJ5hwbf6RI9wuXcp-A5Y4VAJinzec5JLGX85gvWHSHwKAFf6y-FKNEGSBZ8aAqtTEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[davidg 4038]

14 minutes ago, CooterBrown said:

Yep. I’d never bother with a can light again. The canless LEDs are too easy. If you want to add several on the same switch they have built in connectors and you just add the wire in between them. I added them to my bathroom remodel last year.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-Color-Changing-Integrated-LED-6-in-85-Watt-Equivalent-White-Round-Dimmable-Canless-Recessed-Downlight/1003142570?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-lit-_-ggl-_-LIA_LIT_143_Light-Bulbs-and-Commercial-Lighting-_-1003142570-_-local-_-0-_-0&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=Cj0KCQiAweaNBhDEARIsAJ5hwbf6RI9wuXcp-A5Y4VAJinzec5JLGX85gvWHSHwKAFf6y-FKNEGSBZ8aAqtTEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

These are very easy to put in.  We had some painting done at our place last month and prior  to the painting, I remove and old wood trim fixture and a couple of 48" tube lights.  Had the painters, texture the ceiling and paint.   We marked off locations and installed the above lights.  Took an hour or so.  Biggest time was marking off the locations and making sure you won't hit any joists, wiring or pipes in the ceiling.

[Liquor and Poker 3659]

34 minutes ago, davidg said:

These are very easy to put in.  We had some painting done at our place last month and prior  to the painting, I remove and old wood trim fixture and a couple of 48" tube lights.  Had the painters, texture the ceiling and paint.   We marked off locations and installed the above lights.  Took an hour or so.  Biggest time was marking off the locations and making sure you won't hit any joists, wiring or pipes in the ceiling.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking.  Since the ceiling is gone we know that's not an issue.  It's just empty space and joists.

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

Puck light, LED, can replacements are the way to go for remodeling for sure. 

[davidg 4038]

Measure twice, you can still hit the joists.  Ask me how I know.

Also, a 6 3/8" hole saw make this job really easy.  Makes a mess but quick and easy.

 

[gsoda3 3276]

you in austin? $1600 for sheetrock and actual can lights isn't bad.  we got quoted to do a series of cans for our dining room and it averaged around $200 per. 

 

when we did our master bath remodel we opted for the puck lights everyone's talking about.  much cheaper.  i didn't install them so i'm not sure how to replace them when the motherboard on the LED goes bad but other than that i'm happy.

[Liquor and Poker 3659]

52 minutes ago, Onboard 2.0 said:

Puck light, LED, can replacements are the way to go for remodeling for sure. 

I'd rather have cans with LED bulbs.  Far cheaper and they will match the rest of the house.  But not relevant to the discussion since the lights aren't included in the price.

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

Puck light was a poor choice of words. I meant new LED fixtures that are much easier to install than a bulky can  . You’re Still cutting into the ceiling, but they are much easier to install and cheaper than the traditional can.

[Liquor and Poker 3659]

4 minutes ago, gsoda3 said:

you in austin? $1600 for sheetrock and actual can lights isn't bad.  we got quoted to do a series of cans for our dining room and it averaged around $200 per. 

 

when we did our master bath remodel we opted for the puck lights everyone's talking about.  much cheaper.  i didn't install them so i'm not sure how to replace them when the motherboard on the LED goes bad but other than that i'm happy.

I was quoted $400 for just doing the sheetrock back to the way it was.  The $1200 extra is effectively just the labor on the lights.  Doesn't include the lights or romex.  And the labor seems minimal given that the ceiling joists look like this pic

IMG_3620.HEIC

[Liquor and Poker 3659]

What the fuck is HEIC?  Gotdamn iphone.

Edited December 15, 2021 by Liquor and Poker

[ChickenSandwich 9844]

21 hours ago, Onboard 2.0 said:

Puck light was a poor choice of words. I meant new LED fixtures that are much easier to install than a bulky can  . You’re Still cutting into the ceiling, but they are much easier to install and cheaper than the traditional can.

Got a few of these in kitchen, and despite the premium price and 20 year “life span” one has already gone out. 
 

anyone have experience changing these?  Do the bulbs simply screw out?

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

2 hours ago, ChickenSandwich said:

Got a few of these in kitchen, and despite the premium price and 20 year “life span” one has already gone out. 
 

anyone have experience changing these?  Do the bulbs simply screw out?

Interesting, probably a bad driver/ballast.

[Deej 76872]

On 12/15/2021 at 12:22 PM, Liquor and Poker said:

Given that the price doesn't include the materials, that extra $1200 seemed kinda high.  Am I wrong?  Is there more to this than I think?

Sounds like you need to call "House Husband".

 

[Liquor and Poker 3659]

36 minutes ago, Deej said:

Sounds like you need to call "House Husband".

 

Yeah I'm just gonna do it myself.

[CooterBrown 18021]

Got a few of these in kitchen, and despite the premium price and 20 year “life span” one has already gone out. 
 
anyone have experience changing these?  Do the bulbs simply screw out?

Watch a YouTube video on how it’s installed. They’re are just some spring clips on the top of the sheet rock. Basically you can just pull slowly until the clips release. Worst case is you’d need a thin screwdriver to nudge a clip if it doesn’t release.

[ChickenSandwich 9844]

 

[Saint Tacky 1614]

On 12/16/2021 at 4:24 PM, CooterBrown said:

They’re are just some spring clips on the top of the sheet rock. Basically you can just pull slowly until the clips release. Worst case is you’d need a thin screwdriver to nudge a clip if it doesn’t release.

Watch your fingers. Those SOBs hurt like hell if they catch a fingertip in the wrong place. 

[fattyflattie 4638]

OP don’t know what you ended on but that’s a good price for the Sheetrock. I paid about 2x that a few years ago (and texture and paint). Also a big fan of the keg can replacement types. Bright af.