Seeking to install recessed lighting in pre-war condo unit

Hi all! Looking for any leads, suggestions, information as to whether it’s feasible and (rough) cost of installing recessed lighting in a 2br/2ba condo (not coop) unit in a pre-war building: building is a 6 floor, 25 unit, built 1940, class III non-fireproof; floor/ceilings are constructed of wood joists spaced at 12 and 16″ intervals on center; 8′ ceilings). Total square footage is ~1,000 and looking to install recessed lighting in entire apt: both bedrooms, dining alcove, living room, hallways. Any leads, info, suggestions appreciated! Thanks in advance.

ariannalewis

in Renovation 8 years and 2 months ago

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angelique.m.west | 8 years and 2 months ago

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I’m not sure most condos would care whether you’re putting recessed lighting in the space between your ceiling and “theirs.” All you’d need to do to find out and put it in your alteration agreement and ask the board for the approval.

resident2 | 8 years and 2 months ago

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Another thing to consider. In a Condo, you only own the space to the inside of your walls and ceiling. You do not own the space between your ceiling and the floor above.
You cannot ad light fixtures that enter that no go zone of space between you and the person above you.
The only way for you to get recessed lights is to drop your ceilings.

utoeid | 8 years and 2 months ago

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If you go with a pro you will of course be spending money that their experience will yield. If you are splitting parts of your job to save cost it may end up costing you in the end. If you decide to buy the lights, cabling, lines, cans and switches then you should of course be sure to go to a reputable lighting store that deals with contractors and be able to not only tell them your desired install outcome but bring pictures as well. I will tell you from experience that if you elect to go with non LED lights, at 8 feet ceiling heights it will get very warm in the rooms and spaces where the lights get heavy use. Also if you are thinking about DIYing it, you MUST be mindful of the retrofit space the cans and housing will go into. you need at least 9-12 inches of clearance around each housing or you run the risk of the housing overheating and the lights shutting down or setting the surround area on fire. Do be cautious and do your homework. Also Lutron dimmers are the best option. I have found they work, they are well made, they last and while modern in appearance, mesh well with older construction. Good luck.

workisfun | 8 years and 2 months ago

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Yes – definitely want to test drive switches, dimmers. We went with legrand adorne line, but among several dimmers, only one worked. And we get minimal flickering at 10% and 20% illumination. We can live with that.

brooklyngirl | 8 years and 2 months ago

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Beware of the Aspect LED lights. We installed 100+ of them in our 4 floor gut renovation. We’ve already had 2 blow and NONE of them work well with the dimmer switches that Aspect specifically recommended. (FYI, we thought we were saving money because the Aspect lights were cheaper than other options. And then we were forced to blow that savings on very expensive Lutron dimmers because they were the only ones that the company indicated were compatible. Now, every time we dim our lights, they flicker the entire time.) Please DO NOT use them!

workisfun | 8 years and 2 months ago

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Visit Bowery lighting shops to put your eyes on some of the low profile options. Definitely stick to UL. It’s all low-voltage. I think a lighting designer could also provide wiring options other than drilling through joists above the ceiling. You could also consider LED strips around the perimeter, reflecting upward. Lots of options there, and wiring is no problem.

resident2 | 8 years and 2 months ago

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To get wiring to all your lights will mean drilling through a lot of joists etc + all those holes in your presumably original plaster ceiling will take away a lot of the limited sound insulation between yourself and the apartment upstairs.
This is a huge job between wiring, plastering, probably some carpentering and paint etc. To get something that will be very subjective if it adds value. Personally I hate a space to be dictated by someone aspirations to Times Square lighting.
Between up lighting, side reading lights and the center light fixture that you have, I would be sure an interior decorator or lighting designer could come up with an alternative.

ariannalewis | 8 years and 2 months ago

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Thanks slopefarm and mat315. I appreciate your insight and I even agree (quite strongly) with matching renos with the building. In this case, three facts lead me to raise the specter of recessed lighting.
First, our pre-war apartment building was a low-budget 1940 cookie-cutter apt building (even by 1940s standards), non-historic building with little if any soul to begin with. And, what little soul it may have had has been lost over the last 70 years already.
Second, the lighting in the apt is inadequate by any standard. Rooms are large but have only single central ceiling lights that not only fail to provide enough light, but don’t have any detailing to preserve. We’ve tried to play around with lamps and other lighting solutions but, it’s just not working.
Third, it seems like there’s enough technological development to make recessed lighting a little more versatile and able to match up with a greater number of environments.
I completely understand if my as sessment doesn’t change minds; could be one of those things that you just have to see to emphathise. I do appreciate the insights! Thanks!

slopefarm | 8 years and 2 months ago

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Back in brownstoner’s early days, you could start a war with the words “recessed lighting.”

angelique.m.west | 8 years and 2 months ago

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Might want to keep in mind that one of things that make pre-wars so desirable is that they don’t feature some of the elements you see in more modern construction. Imho, recessed lighting takes some of the soul out of a pre-war. Plus given how solidly pre-wars are generally constructed you it’s going to cost a bundle to put in recessed lighting. On the resale front, so buyers may look askance as well.

ariannalewis | 8 years and 2 months ago

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Thanks very much for the lead.

EJR | 8 years and 2 months ago

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I cannot speak to cost, but in terms of feasibility, there are a lot of new ultra-thin recessed lighting options using LED technology that allow for installation in spaces where traditional recessed lighting installation was not possible. Here is an example, but note that I cannot vouch for this company – I just did a google search: https://www.aspectled.com/collections/led-recessed-ceiling-lights/ultra-thin-low-profile