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So which Recessed Cans did you go with

Posted by chefwong (My Page) on
Thu, Mar 1, 12 at 8:34

Very OT....
Just went and priced out new trim for the recessed cans I put in the Basement eons ago. As I get older, more wiser, more cost conscious - I can't believe how much $$$ Lightolier trim is. We have Lytecaster cans all around the house.

Anyhow, I've got another remodel planned.
For those that are familiar with high hat trim pricing, differences in quality - love to hear your thoughts/suggestions.


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: So which Recessed Cans did you go with

I was appalled at how expensive the trim was on can lighting. When we did our laundry room last year, I decided to just buy cheap trim with a paintable surface and paint the trim myself with good metal paint. Mine were set in a beadboard celiling. They look great.


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RE: So which Recessed Cans did you go with

We used 3" cans from Contractor Lighting and Supply.
Great prices and they were a pleasure to deal with.
Here's a link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Contractor Lighting


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RE: So which Recessed Cans did you go with

I'm scared to even lookup how much I paid for the kitchen just as a reference as I used their $$$ Specular trim hats.

Interesting enough, I was looking to replace on the laundry room with the Specular clears.

Shame on me, but yes, I have been one to buy based on design and then look at the #'s later.....


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RE: So which Recessed Cans did you go with

I got the kind of trim that has shiny chrome look to the reflector part. It was more money than the white or black cheaper kind. I had them put in 12 years ago when I did a large house remodel. and I replaced the trim in the entire house to match them throughout. It made a huge difference to go from the cheapo looking ones to these. I think the cost differential was very worth it to ME.

I would say that it cost WAY less some of the other places where you spend the money.


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RE: So which Recessed Cans did you go with

I used 5" Halo cans with 50W halogens and black "Alzak" (non glare) trims. For the pairs of lights over the sinks, I used 4" Halo cans with 35w(?) halogen and black Alzaks as well.
The Alzak trims are about $15 each if you look carefully. The cans were found at Home Despot.
Casey


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RE: So which Recessed Cans did you go with

Another alternative is to install LED lights because they come with the reflector and trim. Check out Cree CR6 LED lights. They are $53 at Polar-Ray online, and you can get them cheaper at Home Depot.

I like the light from these much better than incandescents and they dim really low. Plus they use only 10.5 watts compared to 65 watts each. It is almost a no-brainer for new construction where you don't already have trim.

Billy


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RE: So which Recessed Cans did you go with

FWIW, many people get turned off when they see the lamp price for the CR6 and forget that the lamp is just one of three material cost components .
For CFL / LED and incandescent A bulb solutions
a. Recessed housing
b. The bulb
c. Trim

For CFL cans
a. Recessed housing with integrated ballast
b. The bulb
c. The trim.

For CR6/ CR4
a. Recessed housing
b. The lamp.

I've written a short description about recessed can lighting on the lighting forum.

Here is a link that might be useful: LED recessed can guide


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RE: So which Recessed Cans did you go with

David -

Thanks for the link. We're all Par, R and or Low Voltage Halogen (Juno Trac 12) in here.

Interestingly enough, I was toying around with some led for some sconces.
And go figure, Crees are my preferred LED in the flashlights if not utility headlights/lamps I have !

But led cans were nowhere even on my radar. I have to dig and see trims. I personally prefer depending on room, just plain white reflectors. For utility rooms, like kitchen and or laundry, that's where I would use a metal trim. The bathroom, I'm going to have to think about.....what type, color, if not bulb shape - at the end of the day, it's all aesthetics and then performance..


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RE: So which Recessed Cans did you go with

I went with elco cans for my house because the trims seem more reasonably priced. They have a huge selection of trims. So far, i have not had any problems with them.


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RE: So which Recessed Cans did you go with

The Cree CR6 come with plain white reflectors. You can get snap-in reflectors for different colors if you want. I think the disc of light is so much prettier than and less harsh than a plain halogen or incandescent reflector bulb.

But you should look and decide what you like, of course!

Billy


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RE: So which Recessed Cans did you go with

Another fan of the Cree. We have the CR4 and CR6 -- love em.

...and should anyone in the LA area want an extra housing, I could sell you one mighty-cheap! (offlist please)


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RE: So which Recessed Cans did you go with

Another huge fan of the Crees. As said in another GW thread... They can light a runway. Love the reduced power consumption.


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RE: So which Recessed Cans did you go with

I have regular 4" cans in my 10 x 10 kitchen. They're okay for overall room lighting, but the one over my sink was just not bright enough. I tried every bulb that would fit and couldn't get the lumens I needed with the 45W size. Thanks to some excellent advice, encouragement and how-to's from Davidtay in the Lighting forum, I bought an Ecosmart LED unit (Cree) at HD and got the most amazing 65W equivalent light. They're not cheap--$50 each--so I'll replace the other cans at a later date. If I can switch out these units, anyone can.


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