Recessed Lighting Buying Guide

The way you layout your recessed lighting will depend on what type of lighting you need. Ambient lighting is best when you want an even lighting experience throughout the room. Accent lighting is best when you want to draw attention to an area or a particular wall. Follow these popular recessed lighting patterns to help you make your decision:

8 Foot Ceilings - 3 Feet Apart

10 Foot Ceilings - 4 Feet Apart

12 Foot Ceilings - 5 Feet Apart

What are new construction housings?

• Although they are referred to as "New Construction Housings", they are not only limited to new construction applications.
• Select a new construction housing any time you have access to your ceiling joists.
• These mount directly to the ceiling joists.

What are remodel housings?

• "Remodel Housings" are to be used when you do not have access (or limited access) to the area above the ceiling.
• These do not mount to the ceiling joists.
• Remodel housings attach directly to your ceiling material through a hole bored in your ceiling..

An IC rating determines whether or not the recessed lighting housing may come in contact with insulation.

• IC Rating means that the recessed lighting housing may come into contact with insulation.

• Non-IC Rating means that the recessed lighting housing should not come into contact with insulation.

Unlike the housing, there are many directions you can go with your trims. The "trim" is the part of the light fixture that you will see everyday when you look up at your ceiling.

What types of recessed trims are available?

• Trims are available in a wide variety of styles and shapes. 
• Many of the trims are specific to a desired lighting effect.

What trim sizes are available?

• Trim sizes range from 2" up to 10"
• The trim size refers to the diameter of the opening in your ceiling.
• The most common size trims for residential homes are 4" and 6".

LED retrofit can lights allow you to quickly and easily replace old incandescent recessed ceiling lights with energy saving LED versions. These LED retrofit kits are designed to screw right into the existing sockets of your old fixture.

Step 1: Remove your inefficient light bulb.

Step 2: Pull off the trim.

Step 3: Screw the LED retrofit module right into the existing socket.