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Bedroom Recessed Lights

8K views 11 replies 4 participants last post by  Scuba_Dave 
#1 ·
Hello, I have a question for everyone. Maybe more of an opinion or personal preference but wanted to see what people think will look better and be more effective. I am having an electrician put recessed lightning in two bedrooms I am remodeling. To keep costs down and becuase I only have 2X6 rafters, he suggested four shallow can 6" recessed lights in each bedroom. The rooms are smaller, ones 10X13 and the other is only about 8X13 roughly. I took a ride to lowes this morning and saw some shallow can 4" recessed (they need to be able to have insulation around them). What is nicer for bedrooms, say 4 6" cans or 4" cans yet more of the them, say 5 or 6 per room? Would like some opinions on what is more "nicer looking" and what will light the room up the best. Maybe I will pick up the lights to offset the costs. Also, can the IC recessed's have the spray foam installed around them? Thanks in advance.
 
#3 ·
Dave, i'm right next door to you in weymouth. Above it is roof, its a shed dormer. I am having spray foam installed on the roof line so it will get molded around the cans. Should be ok right? Going with the shallow cans and only the far outside lights will be this tight because as you go towards the middle of the rooms, the ceiling raises and the recessed will be mounted to the collar ties with more space for insulation above. What do you think?
 
#4 ·
I have not seen IC rated 4" remodel housings. IMO 4" are fine for accent lighting but I would not try to light a room with them. The housings and trims are also considerably more expensive than the 6".
 
#5 ·
Are they spraying after the cans are in place?
Here the inspection process is rough electric before insulation is applied
If they can get 2" of foam behind the cans it should be OK
That's only around R10 I think ? depends upon the foam

The issue with placement near the roof is heat leaking thru & melting snow & causing ice dams & links

I only put 3 recessed cans in my Master bedroom, 2 in a small bedroom
I like cans in the kitchen, not sure about other rooms but I'm putting them in
 
#6 ·
yes, They are going to spray after the rough electrical is in. They said they will be able to get around all the cans It looks like if I go with the 4" they will be able to get a little over 2" above the cans. Do you think that will be enoough to stop the heat loss. I want nothing to do with ice dams. It will only be on two lights in each bedroom. The rest of the lights will have more room above. Now I question if the 4" will provide enough light? How many cans would you do per room? Thanks for all the help.
 
#9 ·
I personally would only go with 6" cans...you have more options with them with trims and there cheaper...why not just go with the 6" cans and put them on a dimmer so you can control the light if its too much?

Halo also makes air-tite cans so if your concern is cold air from the attic space coming through this could work without spraying insulation around them
 
#7 ·
I have only (4) 4" cans in my kitchen - 9x13 I think
They are 13w CFL's - plenty of light
In my ~20x20 great room (bar area) I have only (4) 6" cans with 13w CFL "floods" & they provide a lot of light
I'm adding a 5th light & splitting 3 off to a dimmer
My 17x24 TV room has only (3) 13w cfl's but they are about 12' up in a cathedral ceiling
They are in the flat part of the cathedral ceiling, R39 will be along the rafters

The small bedroom I used (2) 6" cans that will shine down just in front of the mirror closet doors

In all of these rooms I will also have additional lights- lamps, possibly some rope light or some MR16 LED lights in some rooms
 
#8 ·
Great. Thanks for all the advice, Dave. I may just go with the 4". So what about the heat loss? Do you think I will be ok with the 2.25" of foam above the cans? I really what to stick with the recessed, but dont want ice dams. Like I mentioned, it will only be on the two outside of the room lights.
 
#10 ·
Are you using CFL's or incandescent ? wattage ?
CFL's put out a lot less heat
Where I installed (2) 6" cans on my sunroom cathedral ceiling I am using CFL's to cut down on the heat
I put
3 years now with snowy winters & no ice dams

Cans are 7.5" deep.....2x12's are 11.25"...so I have 3.75" of fiberglass
The spray in should be even better as it eliminates air infiltration
 
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