archaic recessed lighting?

salemguy2012

Recently, I changed the bulb in a recessed lighting, and I had to remove the fixture to get the old bulb out. Now, it won't go back into the ceiling and stay in place, and whenever I pull it out again to re-examine how I'm inserting it into the ceiling (and to possibly change the way I'm inserting the springs), the ceiling is slowly chipping away(is it drywall?). As you can see, it's a mess.

I'm going to attach pictures to see if anyone can help me or at least point me in the right direction. The lighting seems archaic - I can't find anything online to help me with these spring-loaded clips.

Are the clips in the right place? Every different way I load this into the ceiling seems to not be sticking.

Thank you in advance for your help!

- Trent
Salem, MA

For some reason, it wouldn't let me upload pictures, so please click on these links:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/42/photo5mua.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/594/photo1rm.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/593/photo3lt.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/28/photo2ov.jpg/

joecaption

Not sure why you removed the whole fixture just to remove a bulb, should have been able to do it from below the ceiling.
Looks like you have the clips in wrong. That wide flat piece should be the part that presses down on the drywall if I remember right.
It is drywall and not a suppended ceiling panel, right?
That hole is so messed up now it may not hold the light up any more and have to be repaired. It's looking pretty punky. It also looks like someone tryed to cut it out with a key hole saw not a hole saw.

salemguy2012

Unfortunately whoever installed the lights before us did such a bad job of rigging the springs in that they're all really tight and can only be yanked down (we had a handyman out last year doing the same thing to one of the other lights)... so I'm trying to fix this one without having to call the handyman out each time.

SO... as much as I hate to follow in his footsteps, any suggestions on how I can rig this to stay up? Because I really don't want to have to replace all of these. It really is quite a mess.

And you're right - the ceiling looks really bad.

gregzoll

If you do not like how whoever put them in originally, why not pull them out, patch the holes, then cut in new holes for the fixtures.

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salemguy2012

It's a thought - if I were able to just put in sensible, easy recessed lighting that were accessible in the future, it'd be great. But wouldn't that be really costly? I'd need to replace all if I were replacing one.

Question for everyone: if I'm doing a big overhaul for this sort of project - replacing all the recessed lighting (the guy who installed it all took bad shortcuts that we're paying for in other areas) - should I call a general contractor? Is it crazy to assume there might be someone in the Boston area who specializes in installing light fixtures and who could also work with the ceiling?

gregzoll

Why not do it yourself? Why hire someone out to do a simple job like this.

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joecaption

Do you have access to the attic area?
What you have is what's called a remodeling type fixture. Cut a hole and stick it in.
They also sell the same light or a slightly larger one called a new constrution light.
It would have brackets and a much bigger housing that gets mounted in the attic.

What is above that light fixture? Is it an open attic or another room above?
The reason I'm asking is I've never been able to find Air tite, IC fixtures in the small size you have. Which would mean if it's in a cold attic the air can come in around the fixture and the insulation has to be kept back at least 3" from it.

salemguy2012

Great suggestion - I wish I had access. There's another unit above us, and I'd need to open up her floor to get access.

Question for everyone: Thoughts on placing wooden shims between the can and the drywall to hold it in place?

joecaption

And how is that going to help fix the real problum of the poopy sheetrock that needs to be cut out to be repaired.

salemguy2012

It's just a temporary fix until I assess all of the lights. As they each burn out, I'll be finding out how poorly all the lights were installed. The guy who did all this work left kind of a ticking time bomb of DIY work around the house. Once I know what I'm working with all together, I'll have all the sheetrock repaired.

So do you think that for the time being the shims will help keep the fixture in place? Just trying to not have a junky light hanging from the ceiling.

Thanks!

TarheelTerp

I say replace these with new "old work" fixtures...
but this time install them correctly. Below is a pic one of the better ones.

In the alternative... set a regular (old work) j box...
and buy a surface mount light fixture.

Attached Images

 

salemguy2012

Thanks Tarheel! I'll look for that today.