Flush Ceiling Light Fitting

Types

• There are a number of recessed ceiling lights that fit flush with the ceiling surface. The trim around the opening of the light fixture only sends light straight down from the fixture if you use a trim that fits flush, but you have many types of bulbs to choose from. Incandescent and halogen lights allow for the use of a dimming switch, but low-voltage and fluorescent fixtures save money on electricity.

Installation

• If you can access your ceiling without removing all of the drywall or plaster to reach the rafters, a new construction housing can be used. These fixtures are mounted on the rafters at a height that makes them flush with the ceiling. Installing these lights where access to the space behind the ceiling is limited requires the use of special remodeling housings. A remodeling fixture is designed to slip right into a hole cut into the ceiling and sit without extra support.

Benefits

• Recessed lights are commonly used in rooms with low ceilings where surface-mounted fixtures would take up too much space. This type of lighting also works well in a bathroom because the electrical parts that would be damaged by moisture can be protected by a gasket sealed to the ceiling. A flush-fitting light also allows for careful spotlighting to highlight a certain piece of artwork or area of the home.

Considerations

• While fluorescent and low-voltage recessed cans produce much less heat than incandescent ones, they can still get hot in the closed space of the ceiling. Heavily insulated ceilings require the use of special insulated recessed cans that won't heat up enough to cause a fire. With the right fixture, insulation can even be in contact with the light without causing a fire risk. This makes installing lights in a finished ceiling much easier than removing insulation to create extra ventilation.