These things are driving me nuts. El cheapo crap bought from HD.
Not only are the hanger bars and mounting clips totally cheesy, but the little clips inside won’t hold the trim rings flush against the drywall. Anyone else had the same experience?
Anyone got a fix or workaround?
Thanks,
Scott.
Replies
but the little clips inside won't hold the trim rings flush against the drywall
Sometimes a wrap or two of gaffer's tape will give enough friction to keep the trims in. I've resorted to the foam-cored double-stick tape with mixed success.
How mixed? Ripped the junk fixtures out and replaced with better. This can be an illuminating experience (NPI) when there's a custom texture already on the DW over the installed new-work boxes against a can't-change, it's already published opening night deadline.
Using a stinger ladder on a drop cloth (to catch debris) on a blanket (to not scuff the alreadly expensively finished floor--that's fun enough. Using your dremel to conduct a box-ectomy so as to get a remodel can in not just the once, but all 24 times is definitely a "character building" experience.
Hard to even look at the can light display in the big box and not have an elbow cramp creep up on a person . . .
Hmmmm... sorry to hear that you hate them as much as me. I'm tempted to call the 1-800 number indicated for 'customer satisfaction and assistance', but I don't know if I'd be able to control my temper.
To make matters worse, I now see that one of the hanger assemblies let go during drywall installation, so the entire can is loose and won't hold the trim ring. Damn.
It reminds me of a favorite quote:
There is nothing in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and he who considers price only is that man's lawful prey.
John RuskinEnglish critic, essayist, & reformer (1819 - 1900)
Edited 4/11/2005 6:38 pm ET by Scott
There is nothing in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and he who considers price only is that man's lawful prey.
John RuskinEnglish critic, essayist, & reformer (1819 - 1900)
I always wondered where walmart got their philosophy.
SamT
That's right. Caveat Emptor.
Ironically, my inspector warned me about the stupid things, although he was more concerned with the paper-thin connection box than the trim issue. By that time I had them all out of the package and mounted, and I chose to leave them in place.
Anyway, if anyone is considering these lights, I highly recommend you look elsewhere. I've now got 21 headaches covered in drywall in a brand new house. Other Commercial Electric products may be fine, but these suck.
Scott.
to call the 1-800 number indicated for 'customer satisfaction and assistance'
At least the brand name is not "Generally Electric" (oh what a sordid tale of a skin flint getting his just desserts . . . <g>)
"Hello, customer service."
"You have a problem, that makes us sad. We'll send you a coupon for a free replacement, how's that?"Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Better units, generally, have better mounting systems. Clips of some sort are par for old work units. Better units have better clips.
Trick with the discount units, oh how I loath discount units, is to make sure the hole you cut is very tight. Often the the paper or cardboard template provided is too large. I guess they were being a little optimistic.
One trick if you have the holes oversized and the clips won't hold is to look close at the trim. Make sure they overhang the can a sufficient amount.
Next cut a small hole beside the can just barely sufficient to allow the folded wings of 1/8" toggle bolt to be inserted above the ceiling. If you overcut the original hole this might not be necessary.
Pivot the head toward the center of the fixture and spin. Through the single hole, making sure the trim will cover it or being prepared to patch a bit, insert three or four toggle bolts. The wings on the toggle reach out farther than the clips of many of these units and the wide head catches the bottom edge of the can. Effectively wedging the can in place firmly.
A trick is to use toggle bolts that have a Philips head and use a screw gun or crank-handled screwdriver. If the toggle bolt heads interfere with the trim slipping into the can I use a small grinder to remove the offending portions. Hold the heads with a pair of pliers to keep them from spinning or loosening.
Sounds like a PITA, and I guess compared to a simple installation with a quality unit that goes in smoothly I guess it is, but once you get a system down it goes quickly and adds only a few minutes per fixture. Wear safety glasses, especially if you use a grinder, as staring up at an installation is a fine way to get fiberglass, drywall bits or other crud into an eye.