Lighting Installation in Houston. Lights on, where you want them.
Recessed cans, the chandelier in the box in the garage, landscape lights, pool and spa lighting. We hang it, wire it, and put the switch where your hand goes.
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Light fixture installation by a licensed electrician
Hanging a light looks simple from the floor. Most of the work happens in the ceiling box, and that is where a light fixture installation goes right or wrong.
What we check before a new ceiling light goes up
Before a ceiling light fixture installation, we open the box and look at what is there. We check the box is secured to framing, that it is rated for the weight of the new fixture and that the wiring is in good shape. Old houses often have brittle insulation on the wires or no ground at all. Finding that before the new light goes up saves a second trip and keeps a loose fixture from coming down later.
Ground wire and mounting bracket
Most new fixtures come with a mounting bracket and a ground wire, and both matter. The bracket has to sit flat and tight against the box so the fixture does not sag or rattle. The ground wire gives a fault a safe path back to the panel. When a box has no ground, we tell you what that means and what the options are, rather than leaving the green wire tucked in the ceiling unconnected.
Installing the fixture you already bought
A lot of our calls start with a light still in its box in the garage. That is fine. We install fixtures customers buy themselves from a store or online, as long as the fixture is listed for the location it is going in. Bring it out at the visit and we will look at the mounting hardware, the weight and the instructions so there are no surprises on install day.
Replacing a ceiling fan with a light, or a light with a fan
Swapping a fan for a light fixture is usually straightforward, and we patch the switch setup so it makes sense afterward. Going the other way is different. A fan moves and vibrates, so the box has to be fan-rated and braced to the framing. Many standard light boxes are not, which is why a fan hung on one starts to wobble. We check before we hang it.
Chandelier and pendant installation
Chandeliers and pendants are the fixtures people notice first, and the ones most likely to be heavy, high up or both.
Chandelier installation on high foyer ceilings
Many Houston homes have a two-story entry with a chandelier far out of reach of a household ladder. Installing or replacing one up there takes the right ladder or scaffold, a second set of hands and a box that can carry the weight. We also check the chain or rod length so the fixture hangs at a height that looks right from the front door and from the stairs.
Replacing an old chandelier with a modern fixture
When a light fixture replaces a chandelier, the new one is often a different size, shape and weight. The canopy may not cover the old paint line, and the box may sit off center from where the new fixture should hang. We plan for that before install day, so you are not left with a ring on the ceiling or a light that hangs crooked over the table.
Pendant lights over a kitchen island
Pendants over an island need to line up with the island, not with wherever the old box happened to be. That can mean moving or adding boxes and running new wire in the ceiling. We look at height above the counter, spacing between pendants and how they line up with the sink or range, then put them on their own switch and dimmer if you want.
Sloped and vaulted ceilings
A sloped ceiling changes how a fixture hangs. Pendants and chandeliers need a canopy or adapter that lets the rod hang straight down, and the box has to be mounted solidly in a spot that may be hard to reach from the attic. We confirm the fixture works with the slope before you buy it, when we can, and bring the right parts for the job.
Kitchen, bathroom and under-cabinet lighting
Kitchens and bathrooms are where lighting gets used hardest, and where the wrong light makes daily tasks harder.
Kitchen light fixture installation
A kitchen usually needs layers of light. General light covers the room, task light hits the counters and accent light sets the mood at night. Kitchen light fixture installation often means a mix of ceiling fixtures, pendants and under-cabinet lights, each on a switch that makes sense. We look at where you actually prep food and where shadows fall before we decide what goes where.
Under-cabinet lighting
Under-cabinet lighting puts light right on the counter, where an overhead fixture leaves a shadow from your own head and the upper cabinets. The cleanest installs are hardwired, with the power hidden behind or under the cabinets and controlled from a wall switch. Plug-in strips work, but they use up an outlet and leave cords visible. We help you choose the approach that suits the kitchen you have.
Vanity light fixture installation
A vanity light should light your face evenly, not cast shadows under your eyes. That usually means a fixture above the mirror, or lights on each side of it, at the right height for the mirror and the people using it. Bathroom fixtures must also be rated for damp locations. We center the box on the mirror and sink so the fixture looks like it belongs there.
Bathroom light and exhaust fan combinations
In smaller bathrooms, a light and exhaust fan combination can replace a dim fixture and an old fan that no longer pulls moisture. The fan needs a proper duct to the outside, not into the attic, and the light and fan are often best on separate switches. Houston humidity makes good bathroom ventilation worth doing properly. We size the fan to the bathroom and check the duct path before we cut.
LED retrofit and replacing fluorescent fixtures
Most homes still have a few old fixtures that use more power and burn out faster than they should. An LED retrofit fixes that without rebuilding the room.
What is an LED retrofit?
An LED retrofit is the change from older bulbs or tubes to LED, either by swapping the light source inside the existing fixture or by replacing the fixture with a new LED one. The goal is the same either way. You get light that runs cooler, lasts longer and draws less power, and you stop climbing a ladder every few months to change a bulb.
LED retrofit kit vs a new fixture
A retrofit kit makes sense when the fixture housing is in good shape and you like how it looks. A new fixture makes more sense when the housing is yellowed, cracked or dated, or when the old one has wiring problems. Integrated LED fixtures have the light built in, so there is no bulb to change, but the whole fixture is replaced when it finally fails. We talk through the trade-off room by room.
Replacing fluorescent light fixtures with LED
Fluorescent fixtures in garages, laundry rooms and kitchens are common, and their ballasts fail with age. You see it as flicker, humming or tubes that are slow to start. Replacing a fluorescent fixture with LED is often the simplest fix. Some LED tubes need the ballast removed and the fixture rewired, which is electrical work, not a bulb change. We do that properly or replace the fixture outright.
Why LED lights flicker on old dimmers
Many older dimmers were made for incandescent bulbs. Put LEDs on them and you can get flicker, buzzing or lights that never fully turn off. The fix is usually a dimmer made for LED loads and bulbs or fixtures marked as dimmable. We match the dimmer to the lights during an LED retrofit so the room dims smoothly. If flicker continues after that, we check the wiring for a loose connection.
Switches, dimmers and lighting controls
The best light in the world is annoying if the switch is in the wrong place. Controls are part of every lighting installation we do.
Three-way switches and switches in the wrong spot
A room with two doors should have a switch at both. A three-way setup lets you turn the light on at one end and off at the other, which matters most in hallways, stairs and large living rooms. We also move switches that ended up behind a door swing or on the wrong wall, so the switch is where your hand reaches for it.
Dimmer switch installation
A dimmer turns one light into several moods. Full brightness for cleaning, low for movies and somewhere in between for dinner. The dimmer has to match the type of light and the load on the circuit, and some fixtures need a specific kind. We install dimmers when we hang new fixtures and add them to existing lights on their own.
Smart switches and lighting schedules
Smart switches let you control lights from your phone, set schedules or turn lights on when you are away. Many need a neutral wire in the switch box, which some older homes do not have. We check what is in the wall before you buy, so the switch you pick actually works in your house. If a box has no neutral, there are often other ways to get the same result.
Lighting installation cost, DIY and what a visit looks like
Here is what to expect before you call, and why some fixture jobs are better left to an electrician.
What drives the cost of light fixture installation
The cost depends on how many fixtures you are installing, how heavy and complex they are, how high the ceiling is and what we find in the box. Swapping a fixture on a sound box is the simplest job. Adding a new box, running new wire, bracing for a heavy chandelier or fixing old wiring adds work. Every house is different, so a free visit gets you a written estimate.
Can I install a light fixture myself?
A handy homeowner can swap a simple fixture on a sound box with the breaker off. Where it goes wrong is the parts you cannot see, such as a box not rated for the weight, a missing ground, a shared neutral or old, brittle wire. If the fixture is heavy, the ceiling is high, the box is loose or anything looks scorched, call an electrician instead.
What happens at a lighting estimate
We walk the rooms with you and talk about what you want each space to feel like. We look at the existing boxes, switches and wiring, and at the fixtures you already have or plan to buy. Then you get a written estimate that lays out the scope, so you know exactly what is included before any work starts. Questions are welcome at any point.
Lighting, inside and out.
Flip the switch at dusk. That's the whole job.
- Recessed lighting. New cans in an existing ceiling, dimmers included.
- Fixtures. Chandeliers, pendants, vanity lights, the one you've been meaning to hang.
- Landscape lighting. Paths, beds, trees, the front of the house.
- Pool and spa lighting. Done to code, which matters more here than anywhere.
- Switches and dimmers. Three-ways, smart switches, and the switch that's in the wrong spot.
From first call to finished job.
- Call. Tell us the room and what you're picturing.
- We come out. Free estimate. We'll tell you what's doable and what it costs.
- Lights on. Usually one visit. We clean up and show you the switches.
Lighting installation, fixtures and LED retrofit
Every room is better with the right lights, and the wrong ones can ruin it.
Lighting installation
New lighting from the first wire to the last switch, with dimmers if you want them. Kitchen, living room, outdoor.
Light fixture installation
Chandeliers, pendants, vanity lights, sconces. Bring the fixture, we bring the ladder, and we check the box is rated for the weight.
Recessed lighting installation
Remodel cans go in from below with small holes. See recessed lighting.
LED retrofit
Swap old fixtures and cans for LED so they run cooler and cost less to run. We do it room by room or whole house.
Ask us anything. These come up most.
Can you add recessed lights without tearing up the ceiling?
Usually, yes. Remodel-style cans go in from below with small holes. We'll tell you at the visit if your ceiling is the exception.
Do you install fixtures I bought?
Yes. Bring the box, we'll bring the ladder.
Can you do landscape lighting?
Yes, including the transformer, the wire runs, and the timer.
Can you convert my old lights to LED?
Yes. LED retrofit kits and new LED fixtures replace old bulbs and cans, and we can add dimmers at the same time.
How much does it cost to install a light fixture?
It depends on the fixture, the ceiling height, the condition of the box and whether new wiring is needed. Every house is different, so a free visit gets you a written estimate.
Do I need an electrician to install a light fixture?
For a simple swap on a sound box, not always. For heavy fixtures, high ceilings, new locations, missing grounds or any sign of damaged wiring, a licensed electrician is the safer choice.
Can you hang a chandelier on a high ceiling?
Yes. We bring the right ladder or scaffold, confirm the box can carry the weight and set the hanging height so it looks right from the entry and the stairs.
Can you replace a ceiling fan with a light fixture?
Yes. That swap is usually simple. Going from a light to a fan needs a fan-rated, braced box, which we check before installing.
Is it worth replacing fluorescent fixtures with LED?
Usually, yes. LED avoids the flicker and buzz of failing ballasts, lasts longer and uses less power. Some conversions need rewiring, so it is worth having an electrician do it.
Why do my new LED lights flicker?
The most common cause is an old dimmer made for incandescent bulbs. A dimmer rated for LED loads and dimmable LED bulbs or fixtures usually fixes it.
Can you add under-cabinet lighting to an existing kitchen?
In most kitchens, yes. We look at where power can come from and how to hide the wiring, then put the lights on a switch.
Do you install smart light switches?
Yes. We check whether your switch boxes have the wiring a smart switch needs, since many older homes are missing a neutral wire.
Got a fixture in a box?
Call, tell us the room, and we'll hang it right.