Basement Lighting

For starters basements typically have a lower ceiling height than the main floors. Most modern construction today results in the ceiling joists (1st floor joists) being 7'-6" above the concrete slab in the basement. So the first consideration will be head room if you install surface mount lights.

Basement Lighting
Last week one of my readers asked a question: Which is better? Recessed lights or surface mount ceiling lights for basement lighting?

For starters basements typically have a lower ceiling height than the main floors. Most modern construction today results in the ceiling joists (1st floor joists) being 7'-6" above the concrete slab in the basement. So the first consideration will be head room if you install surface mount lights. Obviously a chandelier won't fit in your basement.

The following is my list of issues to consider when choosing between recessed and surface mount lights in your basement:
Cost - Most projects end up being governed by your budget so it's important to talk about the cost comparison between recessed lights and surface mounted lights. For talking purposes let's assume you're finishing a 10' x 10' basement room. In this example you could install one surface mounted light fixture or a minimum of four recessed lights (I think you'd probably want five or six to make it really bright). With this example it's very easy to see that recessed lights are going to cost quite a bit more. In fact, you're going to spend 4 to 5 times a much with the recessed light option.Aesthetics - Obviously aesthetics is in the eye of the beholder. My wife and I completely disagree about recessed lights. I really like them and find them to be a much cleaner, modern look. She on the other hand thinks they are tacky and cheap. The real issue here depends on the look you're going for. Are you looking for a clean look or a decorative one. Recessed lights disappear within the room while surface mounted lights can become a focal point.Installation Difficulty - This category is fairly straight forward also. Recessed lights take much more time to install and it can be quite challenging to come up with a layout that works well aesthetically while not interfering with the structure. When you install recessed lights, whether new construction or remodel, the fixtures must be installed between floor joists. This makes it quite challenging sometimes to get the light laid out symmetrically and effectively. Obviously the recessed lights require more labor to run the wire from junction box to junction box.
Flexibility - Recessed lights obviously pose many challenges. The fixtures must be laid out to avoid plumbing pipes, joists, and other mechanical systems. However, recessed lights allow you to utilize a room with lower ceiling heights and make the room feel much more spacious.Remodel Vs New Construction - Installing surface mounted light fixtures in a remodel situation is certainly easier for a couple of reasons. First off you'll be fishing quite a lot less wire with the surface mount lights. Secondly, the junction box can be installed using a "old work" box. Recessed lights require a precise circular hole to be cut in the ceiling and then wires to be daisy chained from fixture to fixture.Summary - Obviously both types of light fixtures can be used in a number of really nice ways for finished basements. Both types of lights also offer pros and cons so it's important to plan ahead and understand all the pitfalls before you make a decision. If you're doing the work yourself make sure you're not tackling a job that's outside your comfort level. If you're going to hire an electrician be prepared to pay $100 to $200 for each recessed light fixture installed.

Do any of you have an opinion or advice to other readers trying to make this decision?


Tags: home improvement, home improvement blog, home improvement advice, lighting, basement lighting
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