r/HomeImprovement • u/levatorpalpebrae • 10h ago

Lights

I have a set of three hanging lights over our kitchen island. We plan to remove the island and change the hanging lights to recessed lights. The diameter of the existing recessed lights is about 6 to 6.5 inches. The diameter of the hanging light fixture in the ceiling is about 3 inches. How difficult will it be to widen the diameter to get it closer to match the existing recessed lights?

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2

u/Shadow288 9h ago

You just need to figure out how the existing boxes are secured to the ceiling. Some of the boxes straddle a joist and others are nailed next to one. You will have to expand the hole in the ceiling away from the joist.

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u/Wonderful-Bass6651 9h ago

Making a hole bigger is not a problem at all. If the lighting is already there, swapping out for cans is super easy.

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u/ReasonableNetwork255 9h ago

depends on what they did for structural support on the existing box ..you may have to modify that, but hopefully you can do what needs to be done without actually tearing up drywall ..ultimately anything can be done though

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u/Cold-Consideration99 9h ago

Easy change for an electrician or a handy man who knows electric.

1

u/Semlohttam 4h ago

Did something similar. Enlarging the hole is the easy part with a hole saw that matches your other cans. The main thing is figuring out how the old pendant box is mounted, since if it's nailed to a joist you'll need to shift over a bit. I'd skip traditional cans and go with wafer or canless LEDs. They clip right into drywall, they're thin enough to dodge most framing, and they're way easier to line up with your existing lights.

0

u/Soggy-Willingness793 9h ago

Have to change octagonal electrical box.