Hello all,
I am looking for lights for the ceiling of my basement laundry room. The ceiling is unfinished (bare joists) and as a temporary cleanup job I will be painting the ceiling black and installing some downwash lighting.
I was thinking of using standard recesed lights, but I wonder if that would be considered legal if I never get around to installing a finished ceiling?
Any reccomendations of a type of light to use?
Thanks.
Erik
Replies
don't see why not...
a strip flouresent in a joist bay or two would be my choice...
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A neigbour painted his unfinished basement ceiling black. Man that was one depressing space after that.
Use the can lights if you want, but be sure to buy about 200 of them.
With a black ceiling, in a basement, that place is gonna be DARK!
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And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone;
I can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone,
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here. (Phil Ochs)
Well, the floor and walls will be painted with lighter colors, so I don't think it will be THAT dark, but I've been wrong before! It is just the laundry room, so say 12x12'.
Thanks
Erik
Hi Mpls1921,
I was thinking of using standard recesed lights, but I wonder if that would be considered legal if I never get around to installing a finished ceiling?
5 IC lights with flourescent bulbs, 3 sheets drywall, tape, mud, prime, paint - less than $150 and 6-8 hours hands on work....you'll be delighted you spend the time and $
View Image A little time a little money lots of good value
Well, unfortunately it is all of the above plus (thanks to lazy/sloppy/cheap previous owners/contractors...
1) Re-do all the kitchen wiring because it is BX that is routed (including junction boxes) below the joists.
2) Remove unused but "live" natural gas line also below the joists.
3) Reroute poorly positioned HVAC duct.
4) Reroute 220v for stove that is in some schedue 80 pipe.
5) Reroute hot and cold water supply lines that are below joists.
I think that is it... All stuff I will complete, someday :)
ThanksErik
Edited 8/22/2009 10:44 pm ET by Mpls1921
What's your joist spacing? if it's 16", install 1x4 troffer fluorescents. If it's 24", you can bevel the joist bottoms an inch or so (or twist them a bit), and install 2x4' troffer fluorescents flush with the ciling plane. Just screw through the shell into the joist.
My garage ceiling has joists alternating at 47/49" OC just for that reason.
Use lots, though.
Can lights just won't have near enough "spread" to do anything more than put tiny pools of light on the floor. Iffin' yer gonna' do it, go no more than 4' OC on a grid.
Cheap troffers should be 2-3' apart side-to-side, and also end-to-end. This is a bit more than an office spacing, but an office has lots of light, reflective surfaces.
Forrest