My girlfriend and I just purchased a condo. One thing that we overlooked is that there are no ceiling lights in the bedrooms (3). There are wall switches that operate wall-outlets.
Is it possible to add ceiling lights / fans to the rooms and how much of a pain is it to do ??
Any help is greatly appreciated.
2006-12-11 03:06:40 · 6 answers · asked by EG 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
All of the answers are good so far but I have another suggestion and I've tried it many times and it works and its super easy to do. I went to the lighting store and found a lamp that normally hangs from the ceiling like on a chain and I let the chain with the cord inside the loops, swag from the middle of the room over to one side and down the wall to where and outlet is located. Its an easy thing to do and does not require an electrician.
2006-12-11 06:04:03 · answer #1 · answered by R H 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The first two answers are correct. There is another alternative, but it's not as attractive. You can get surface mount wiring conduit that allows you to run the wiring on the wall, without tearing up the sheetrock. It would be visible, but probably not terrible, if you painted it to match the wall and ceiling. You can start from the switched outlet with a box, then run the surface mount stuff up the wall and across the ceiling to a ceiling box. Like I said, not cosmetically perfect, but it's fast and easy.
If you have attic access, running the wires there is the best possible route. Make sure, whatever you do, that you attach your box firmly to the joists somehow.
2006-12-11 03:39:30 · answer #2 · answered by Boatman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are just adding lights it is very easy. Just tap into the oulet that the switch controls, run the wires through the wall to the attic and into a junction box attached to a joist. If you are putting in a fan and light combo you should wire each separately or you will not be happy later on. You can wire the lights the same but the fan should have its own switch, or wire it direct and use the pull chain. A junction box for a fan is attached between two joists using a metal brace made specifically for that purpose.
2006-12-11 04:02:36 · answer #3 · answered by smgray99 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well when they build these things now they just figure that you will be using lamps... DAH......
It is really a pain to not have enough light when yo need it....
BUT never fear....This is what I did........
I put a ceiling fan up and I ran the cord from the socket that the swith works...BUT I took the cord and used one of thse things that hide cords ...You know what I am talking about?
It is a peice of rubber and the cord is covered by it...So you never see the cord...I put it up the wall and across the ceiling...BUT you also need to make sure that you brace up a good sturdy 2x4 to the ceilong for you to mount it on...If you can and if you have a attic then none of this will be a problem...And then you wont even have to hide the cord cause it will be in the attic...GOOD - LUCK..
2006-12-11 04:50:25 · answer #4 · answered by D Coy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Someone must pull wires from the switch to the center of the room. If there is an attic or crawl space above the rooms this is relatively simple. If there is no crawl space they must be pulled from outside the plaster, this is difficult. If you call out an electrcian to consult he will be able to tell you how difficult it would be. No matter the situation it is possible to add lights to the room, but the difficulty depends on your exact situation.
2006-12-11 03:23:09 · answer #5 · answered by nathanael_beal 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can, it will require running electrical circuits.. You could remove the sheetrock and rewire for ceiling fixtures of do cut-in boxes..
Best for ceiling lights to have them placed on a new 15-20amp circuit.
If you don't trust your skills call and electrician. Better done right or not done at all.
2006-12-11 03:25:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋