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The previous owner of our home did not have any overhead lighting installed by the builder in the living or dining rooms. We want to get estimates from a couple electricians on how much it would cost to install a chandelier in the dining room and track lighting in the living room. Our townhouse is fairly new (built 2005), we live in central NJ - what kind of ballpark figure should we expect?
Does the electrician also fix/patch up the ceiling after the work is done?
I would imagine NJ prices are higher than my area, but i'm thinking about $400+ per fixture depending on accessibility of the space and other considerations; track lighting would be more.
Location: Visitation between Wal-Mart & Home Depot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by househuntinggal
The previous owner of our home did not have any overhead lighting installed by the builder in the living or dining rooms. We want to get estimates from a couple electricians on how much it would cost to install a chandelier in the dining room and track lighting in the living room. Our townhouse is fairly new (built 2005), we live in central NJ - what kind of ballpark figure should we expect?
Does the electrician also fix/patch up the ceiling after the work is done?
Thanks in advance - I am clueless about this...!
A chandelier can be really easy if you have attic access over the space and/or there is already a fixture of some sort in the room. If you have to run new power, install a switch, fish wires and install a bracket or blocking to hang the chandelier from (especially without attic access) your hourly labor charge goes way up.
Some electricians are really good with sheetrock patching but you are probably going to keep your costs down considerably by having a handyman or drywall sub follow the electrician to fix any sheetrock problems.
I think Southgeorgia is probably right, but I wouldn't be surprised if your quotes were all in the $1500-$2000 range.
A chandelier can be really easy if you have attic access over the space and/or there is already a fixture of some sort in the room. If you have to run new power, install a switch, fish wires and install a bracket or blocking to hang the chandelier from (especially without attic access) your hourly labor charge goes way up.
Some electricians are really good with sheetrock patching but you are probably going to keep your costs down considerably by having a handyman or drywall sub follow the electrician to fix any sheetrock problems.
I think Southgeorgia is probably right, but I wouldn't be surprised if your quotes were all in the $1500-$2000 range.
Directly above both rooms there are bedrooms, so I don't know what that does for access... We pretty much need to start from scratch for both the chandelier and track, no existing fixtures in the rooms, all we will have are the actual lighting for him to hang up. I was hoping we could get it done under $1000, but not surprised to see it could be double that!
Directly above both rooms there are bedrooms, so I don't know what that does for access...
pretty much guarantees it will cost a lot more than i first estimated.
Quote:
Originally Posted by househuntinggal
I was hoping we could get it done under $1000
not happening if there's no attic access. with attic access, the only holes that need to be cut are for the fixture box; but now there will need to be holes at the edge of the ceiling where it meets the wall to fish the wire down to the switch. possibly more depending on the span; fish bits can easily get out of control on long distances and end up going through the second level floor. do you have popcorn ceilings? those are almost impossible to match.
on something like this there's no way to give an accurate estimate without seeing it.
pretty much guarantees it will cost a lot more than i first estimated.
not happening if there's no attic access. with attic access, the only holes that need to be cut are for the fixture box; but now there will need to be holes at the edge of the ceiling where it meets the wall to fish the wire down to the switch. possibly more depending on the span; fish bits can easily get out of control on long distances and end up going through the second level floor. do you have popcorn ceilings? those are almost impossible to match.
on something like this there's no way to give an accurate estimate without seeing it.
100% correct on everything.
No way to give a guesstimate without seeing it. Without attic access above the rooms, it CAN be done, but will be expensive. Highly unlikely you will find anybody to do the job right for under $1000. You may find a fly-by-night guy that will say they will do it for less, but watch out for workmanship and "extras".
The previous owner of our home did not have any overhead lighting installed by the builder in the living or dining rooms. We want to get estimates from a couple electricians on how much it would cost to install a chandelier in the dining room and track lighting in the living room. Our townhouse is fairly new (built 2005), we live in central NJ - what kind of ballpark figure should we expect?
Does the electrician also fix/patch up the ceiling after the work is done?
Thanks in advance - I am clueless about this...!
A lot of factors will affect the answer to that one. Some electricians simply charge by the hour, some charge by the job. And yes, we've always fixed any work done, making it look like no one has ever been there, thats what we're supposed to do. Ive always done estimates according to the job because you have to include the needed parts.
".......Quote:
Originally Posted by househuntinggal View Post
I was hoping we could get it done under $1000
not happening if there's no attic access. with attic access, the only holes that need to be cut are for the fixture box; but now there will need to be holes at the edge of the ceiling where it meets the wall to fish the wire down to the switch. possibly more depending on the span; fish bits can easily get out of control on long distances and end up going through the second level floor. do you have popcorn ceilings? those are almost impossible to match.
on something like this there's no way to give an accurate estimate without seeing it......"
I can tell you that no attic access will cost more because they will have to get the wire from point A to point B somehow, unless you want those unsightly wire strip cover things going all up your wall and across your ceiling...
Cut out hole in the ceiling.
Install box
Fish wire across the ceiling
cut hole where ceiling meets wall
notch wood
fish down to switch.
(If no switch, intall switch box and fish to power line)
3-4 hours work.
If your guy is getting $250 - $333/hr he darn well better be really good
Location: Visitation between Wal-Mart & Home Depot
8,309 posts, read 38,779,335 times
Reputation: 7185
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tenzo
OK am I missing something?
Cut out hole in the ceiling.
Install box
Fish wire across the ceiling
cut hole where ceiling meets wall
notch wood
fish down to switch.
(If no switch, intall switch box and fish to power line)
3-4 hours work.
If your guy is getting $250 - $333/hr he darn well better be really good
Cut out hole in the ceiling.
Install box
Fish wire across the ceiling
cut hole where ceiling meets wall
notch wood
fish down to switch.
(If no switch, intall switch box and fish to power line)
3-4 hours work.
If your guy is getting $250 - $333/hr he darn well better be really good
Yep, sounds easy... good luck with that.
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