RECESSED LIGHTING
Can lights, wafer LEDs, and retrofit recessed in finished and unfinished ceilings. IC-rated where insulation is present, dimmable LED.
Keil Electric installs recessed lighting (can lights, wafer LEDs, retrofit kits) across San Diego County and the Austin metro. We pick IC-rated housings where insulation is in contact, retrofit-rated thin LEDs in finished ceilings, and code-compliant dimmable LED drivers. Layout planned for even coverage and minimal hot spots.
Same scope on either side. Pick the shop that covers your area and we will route you to the right crew.
IC (insulation contact) for ceilings with insulation above. Non-IC for cathedral ceilings or other isolated installs. Airtight (IC-AT) for energy-code-required spaces. Retrofit thin LED for finished ceilings where joist access is hard. We pick per location.
Even ambient coverage requires fixture spacing matched to ceiling height and beam angle. Standard 4-inch and 6-inch cans space differently than wafer LEDs. We plan layout from the ceiling height and intended use (ambient, task, accent) before cutting holes.
Each install gets a dedicated switch leg or zone, sized for the LED load. Dimming is critical to recessed lighting in living spaces. We confirm dimmer compatibility with the LED driver before install.
When the ceiling is already drywalled and painted, we use retrofit-rated wafer LEDs that fit through a 4-inch hole and clip in place. Cable is fished from a nearby junction or switch box. Ceiling damage is minimal and predictable.
We map fixture locations against ceiling joists, insulation, and intended lighting effect.
Fixture model, count, dimmer change, switch leg work, and cost.
Holes cut, housings installed, cable fished, devices terminated.
Trim rings or wafer trims installed, dimmer programmed, full range tested.
Not every job requires a permit. When the local AHJ requires one, we pull it, schedule the inspection, and stay with the job until it passes. No paperwork on you.
Written warranty: 5-year on outlets, fixtures, and EV chargers; 10-year on wire and breakers; lifetime on panelboxes and surge protection. Parts and labor. Transfers with the home.
Non-IC-rated recessed cans must be kept 3 inches from any insulation. IC-rated cans can be in direct contact. Mixing them up creates a fire risk in attic insulation contact areas.
Real work from our San Diego and Austin shops. Same standards, same warranty, every job.
For recessed lighting installation, here's the honest comparison. We'd tell you the same thing if we weren't trying to win the job.
Most recessed lighting installation calls start when the homeowner is planning ahead: a renovation, an addition, an EV charger, a generator, a panel upgrade, or any project where the existing electrical needs to be sized correctly for the new load. The earlier we walk the property, the cleaner the project sequencing. Bringing us in before the drywall closes saves rework. Bringing us in before the contract is signed with the GC saves scope confusion. We are happy to walk a property at the planning stage even if the install is still months out.
A walk of the property with attention to the panel (age, capacity, available breaker space), conduit accessibility, attic / crawlspace conditions, and the load picture (current loads + planned future loads). For installs that touch the service drop, we factor utility coordination from the start. The estimate we leave with is fixed for the scope as walked. Change orders only happen for genuinely new findings during the work, you hear about them before we proceed.
Recessed lighting is the dominant interior lighting choice for new construction and remodels. The market shifted from older incandescent cans to wafer LEDs over the last decade, and the install method evolved with it. We do both, and we pick per ceiling: deep cans where the access is there, wafer LEDs where the ceiling is finished and patching is to be avoided.
Spacing depends on ceiling height and use. A general guideline is the ceiling height in feet equals the spacing in feet. An 8-foot ceiling spaces lights at about 8 feet. Task and accent lighting is closer.
Yes, with retrofit wafer LEDs that install through a 4-inch hole in the drywall. Cable is fished from a switch or junction box. The result looks identical to a deep-can install.
Yes. We install dimmable LED housings paired with smart dimmers (Lutron Caseta, Leviton Decora Smart). Compatibility check happens on the site walk.
Per-fixture cost includes the housing, the trim, the wiring, and the labor to fish cable. Bulk installs (kitchen retrofit with 8-12 cans) are more efficient than one-off adds.
Older non-IC recessed cans leak conditioned air into attics. Modern IC-AT (insulation contact, airtight) housings seal the ceiling. We use IC-AT in any installation where the housing is in conditioned ceiling space.
A licensed electrician confirms ceiling type, insulation, and joist layout, then writes the install scope with fixture spacing and dimmer compatibility.
