How To Fit Spotlights In Your Kitchen

 

Fitting spotlights in your kitchen or indeed, anywhere in your home has become increasingly popular in recent years.

It allows for a sleek finish and removes the perception of clutter in minimalistic rooms.

Firstly, consider carefully whether or not you want to do the work yourself before beginning.

Fitting spotlights in your kitchen is something a lot of home-owning novices can and do try themselves.

If you are willing to take time and of course, the necessary safety measures, then this is something that could save you money.

However, if there is anything you are uncertain of, it is definitely worth getting a quote from a qualified tradesman.

What Tools Will I Need For The Job?

• • • Safety goggles or glasses are advisable
    • Tape measure and pencil
    • Screw drivers
    • Plasterboard saw
    • Hole saw set
    • Hand drill

If there is work being done on kitchen lighting of any kind then there must be a method of ensuring earthing is adequate which a qualified electrician can check for you.

Remember also that spotlights will need to be fire rated in order to be compliant with the law.

There are several other safety procedures a qualified electrician will do before fitting spotlights in your kitchen.

This includes locating the isolation point and checking the voltage on it; switching off the circuit to be worked on and ensuring no voltage is present before beginning work.

The Process Of Spotlight Installation

• • 1. Firstly, plan where you want your down lighters.
    2. Think about how many you want and ask yourself: Do I want them underneath cupboards? Is my lighting circuit sufficient to accommodate the new down lighters? Work out the answers before you begin
    3. Once you are sure of the positioning of the spotlights, check above the ceiling where you have marked out the points and ensure there are no objects in the way e.g. wires, pipes
    4. Mark out the central points of where you want the lights on the ceiling and drill pilot holes (which will now be visible from the floor below when you look up at the ceiling)
    5. The type of spotlights you have purchased will detail on the packaging, the size of drill bit you will need to help you cut the right sized hole for your lights. You can buy hole saws of different sizes. If you opt to use a pad saw instead you will need to draw a circle on the ceiling of the right size
    6. Now that you have a hole in place you will be able to pull the wiring through the hole ready to attach to the spotlights
    7. Hold the springs on the spotlight fitting ready to put it into position. Hold them until the fitting has been pushed through the hole then release. This will hold it in place

Building Regulations Compliance

Finally, a note worth remembering when fitting spotlights in your kitchen is Part P.

Part P relates to electric installations and forms part of Building Regulations which are a set of enforceable policies controlled by your local building regulations department.

If you do the work yourself the department can issue a certificate following the work, providing your electrics are safe and installed correctly.

If it is not compliant you will not have met the required building regulations standards.

Need An Electrician?

If you need an electrician and want to compare up to 4 free quotes from local tradespeople in your are then you are, of course, welcome to post a quotes request using the form above.

We will then match you, via our free service, with local electrical contractors near you, ready and willing to provide quotes for your project.