Service
Lighting installation
Good lighting changes how a room feels and how well it works. We install recessed, cove, under-shelf, and fixture lighting with the layout and switching thought through first.
- 5.0 on Google
- Licensed, Bonded & Insured
- WA Lic. WESTPEL745M7
Good reasons to call
- A room is lit by one fixture in the middle of the ceiling.
- You’re remodeling and the ceiling is open.
- You want accent lighting in shelving, a bar, or a tray ceiling.
- Fixtures hum, flicker, or run hot.
- Bath fans are loud, weak, or dead.
Lighting we install
The photos on this site are from our own jobs, and many of them are lighting. This is work we like being judged on.
- Recessed lighting in new and finished ceilings
- LED cove lighting in tray and coffered ceilings
- Under-shelf and in-cabinet LED strips
- Chandeliers, pendants, and wall sconces
- Ceiling fans and bathroom exhaust fans
- Dimmers and switching changes
Recessed lighting that looks planned
Spacing does most of the work. Lights set too close to a wall leave scallops of glare. Too few leave dark corners. We lay the room out first, around the furniture and what happens in it, and then mark the ceiling.
- Thin LED wafer lights for finished ceilings and tight joist bays
- Housings rated for contact with insulation where the ceiling is insulated
- Wet- and damp-rated trims for showers and covered porches
- One color temperature across the room, so fixtures match
- Dimmers matched to the fixtures
Ceiling fans, bath fans, and fixtures
A ceiling fan needs a box rated for its weight and movement. A heavy chandelier needs support of its own. Getting that right above the ceiling is most of the job.
A bath fan only works if it’s ducted to the outside and sized for the room. We replace loud or failed fans, and can put them on a timer switch.
Permits for lighting work
Swapping a fixture for a similar one usually doesn’t need a permit. New lights on a new circuit, or wiring extended to new locations, does. Inside Vancouver city limits the permit comes from the City of Vancouver. Elsewhere in Clark and Cowlitz County it comes from Washington L&I.
Process
How we approach a lighting job
Walk the room
We talk about how you use the space, what you want to see, and what you’d rather not.
Lay it out
Fixture positions and switching are settled before any holes are cut.
Install
Fixtures go in level and evenly spaced. LED drivers are placed where they can be reached later.
Walk through
We clean up, then go through every switch and dimmer with you.
What affects the cost of a lighting job
The fixtures are usually the smaller part of the price. Getting wire to them is the larger part.
- How many fixtures, and whether wiring already runs to those spots
- Ceiling access: open framing, an attic above, or a finished ceiling between floors
- Fixture type: wafer lights, housings and trims, LED tape with drivers and channels, or heavy fixtures that need support
- Switching: new switch locations, three-way control, and dimmers
Do we cover your address?
Our service area page lists every community we work in.
From a customer
He arrived on time, replaced the three existing fans … cleaned up his workspaces and brought the packaging and old fans to the garage for disposal.
Questions
Things people ask us.
Does WestPeak Electric do lighting installation?
Yes. WestPeak Electric is a licensed electrical contractor (Washington license WESTPEL745M7). We do lighting installation throughout our service area. Call or text 360-521-6913, Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM.
Can you add recessed lights without tearing up the ceiling?
Usually. With attic access or careful fishing, new lights can go into a finished ceiling with small patches or none at all. It depends on the framing and insulation, so we check before promising.
Do LED strip lights need anything special?
They run on low-voltage drivers that have to be sized for the run and placed somewhere accessible. Good tape, proper channels, and the right driver are the difference between an even glow and one that flickers or fails early.
Will my dimmers work with LED fixtures?
Older dimmers often make LEDs flicker or buzz. We match the dimmer to the fixture so it dims smoothly.
How many recessed lights does a room need?
It depends on the ceiling height, the output of the fixture, and what the room is used for. A common starting point is to space lights about half the ceiling height apart, so roughly four feet on an eight-foot ceiling, then adjust for cabinets, artwork, and seating. We mark the layout on the ceiling before anything is cut.
Can you put a ceiling fan where there is only a light now?
Usually. A fan needs a box rated to carry its weight and movement, and a standard light box isn’t. Swapping a light for a fan often means changing the box and sometimes adding bracing above the ceiling.
Do you install lighting for businesses?
Yes. Pendant, track, and general lighting for restaurants, shops, and offices is part of our commercial work.
Related
Related services
Request an estimate
Have an electrical project coming up?
Tell us what’s going on. We’ll ask the right questions, look at the job if it needs it, and give you a clear scope and price.
- 5.0 on Google
- Licensed, Bonded & Insured
- WA Lic. WESTPEL745M7