Need help lighting coffered ceiling.

[Chris Pasko]

I dont kow if this is where this would go or not, I hope a mod can move it for me if it is not and I apolgize =).

I hope someone out here has experience with this. I have just constructed a coffered ceiling in a city row home we are in the process of remodeling, and I need to light it up.

The challenge is, of course you want the lighting centrally mounted in the center of the squares, however I have a lot of the old original joists that are running center, or nearly dead center almost the entire way down. So almost any type of lighting with a can higher then 3" is out, and even 3" may be out in some areas.

My idea, and the electricians idea was to give fiber optic lighting a try, however I cannot find anything that would work for this application without having many illuminators. I want only 2 one for the dining zone and one for the living zone.

Is there anyone out there that can give m a hand or an idea with this? The ceiling has 42 boxes each about 6" square (except where they are built around areas on the wall that protrude into the room).

Thanks ahead!

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

I have seen some really slick lighting jobs done by installing little round frosted glass low voltage lamps right into the wood coffering. Of course that means ya gotta bore holes in all that lovely wood coffering.

Of course if you do it that way and you are willing to use a bank of dimmer switches you can get some really interesting lighting effects.

You can also light from below with spot type lamps pouring light from behind things like potted plants and furniture up at the ceiling which will reflect down

[Chris Pasko]

Ya, I know I will have to drill each panel out, its been tricky enough to build so I dont mind =). The walls weren't parallel and the whole darn house is out. Working in old city homes is tough, so none of the boxes are actually square, well few were, so you can imagine the time I had cutting panels =).

Low voltage may be my best bet, but the slim housing versions get to be VERY pricey.

[Josiah Bartlett]

I think recessed lighting looks awful in old houses, whether they are remodeled or not. No matter what you do with it, it will be out of style in 20 years and whoever wants to change it will have to contend with a bunch of holes in your otherwise nice coffered ceiling.

I prefer either a centrally hung chandelier, wall sconces, or lamps. All of these enhance the shadow lines of the coffers anyway.

[Chris Pasko]

Well the interior is not remodeled to look original, so the recessed dont look out of place at all.

Here are some pics:

http://www.precision-aquatics.com/gallery/albums/Baltimore/bceiling1.sized.jpg
http://www.precision-aquatics.com/gallery/albums/Baltimore/bceiling2.sized.jpg
http://www.precision-aquatics.com/gallery/albums/Baltimore/bceiling3.sized.jpg
http://www.precision-aquatics.com/gallery/albums/Baltimore/bceiling4.sized.jpg
http://www.precision-aquatics.com/gallery/albums/Baltimore/bceiling5.sized.jpg

[Josiah Bartlett]

That looks like a fun project, carry on. :)

Have you looked into using those little span-bar things they use for hanging ceiling fans between joists? That may help with the centering thing.

[Chris Pasko]

That looks like a fun project, carry on. :)

Have you looked into using those little span-bar things they use for hanging ceiling fans between joists? That may help with the centering thing.

Has been fun, though repetitious =). This is the first coffered ceiling I have ever done, so I know where I can cut some time next time around.

I wont need to use the hangers you are describing as I will just be able to cut what ever is needed to secure the lighting into the 3/4" top panel.

Im hoping fiber optics are my answer, but I dont know, cant find much information on it.

[Jim Becker]

I'd be concerned that the fiber optic choice wouldn't provide sufficient light. LV MR-16 fixtures might be available for low-clearance situations, however. I know the cans I have are in the 4" tall range...maybe someone has shorter ones, or a format that is open to let heat dissipate into the plenum. (check code on that one, however...)

[Roland Chung]

Here are a couple of lighting companies that I have used. You could try discussing your situation with their designers. The second link is to the smallest recessed light that I have seen - just under 3". The 3rd is more detail about the same product. Good luck - let us know what happens.


http://www.waclighting.com/USA/

http://www.waclighting.com/USA/products/?
categoryid=105

http://www.garbes.com/track/beauty-spots.html

http://www.usalight.com/home.php

[Gary Curtis]

The UCLA library gave me an idea for a future home project. They simply have wall wash lights pointed upward. Nothing in the coffered structure itself at all. If you aim the lights toward the center of the ceiling, you get bathed in a very even lighting.

I'm assuming that the coffer isn't going to be stained black. And I don't know what you'd do about getting wiring to fixtures mounted on that brick wall.

Gary Curtis

[mike wacker]

My experience with Fiber Optic lights is a bunch of broken promises and exaggerated claims and then abandoning it in place and installing LV MR16's. Even if it worked, the installed cost and replacement lamp was unbelievably expensive.

[Jim Becker]

I stopped at the local electrical supply today as I had to pick up a couple fixtures for under a porch roof. While there, I took a look at the smallest (on display) Lightoleer recessed and they appeared to be at or slightly deeper than 3"...probably closer to 4".

[Chris Pasko]

Thanks for the input guys. I thought fiber optics might work, but I can only find 150w illuminators for what I need for sufficient light. This wil require at least 5illuminators which I cannot have in the living room area, its just too much.


Soooooo, I think I have found a solution here:

http://www.outwatercatalogs.com/2007_Master/lg_display.cfm?page_number=566&catalog=070148

They take up very little room, and I think it wil work. They are pricey, but worth it if I cant get this darn thing wrapped up.

[Josiah Bartlett]

It looks to me like he framed out the brick wall except for the staircase and fireplace, so he should be able to use sconces.

[harry strasil]

have you considered LED lighting and a customer I used to do work for was in the neon sign business. He installed different colored neon tubes in the bottom of ordinary rain gutter a ways down from the ceiling with switches for the different colors and could blend the colors by turning on two differnt colors, the effect was amazing indirect lighting. The gutter was painted the same color as the walls. Florescent fixtures spaced out around the room in something similar might work.

[jason lambert]

You could alwas 1/2 recess them and put some trim, ring around the outside in matching wood.

[Ben Grunow]

I would look for a LV light that fits and is tried and true. Additionally, I have seen several coffers with small surface fixtures every so often. You have small squares though so that might not look so great unless you could find just the right fixture.

[Ron Coleman]

You might look at "puck lights" for under cabinet lighting in kitchens.

Look at the PK100 style. Just snap it in a hole, only an inch or so space needed. Low voltage 20 watt lamps.

http://www.brodwax.com/pucklight.htm

[Jim Becker]

Chris, on those lights you linked to, be sure you understand the vertical clearance requirement above the fixture. They generate a LOT of heat, especially right above the piece.

[Chris Pasko]

Recessed pucks are most likely what I will be going with. I think thats really the only decent way to go.

Jim, good point, it will be very close, I am thinking "just" close enough or just shy.

LED lights are a possiblity, they dont emit much heat but I am having a difficult time finding little 20w equivelent led puck lights that look decent. Any ideas?

[John Kendall]

Chris, I am looking for the fiber optic lighting for under the stair treads. This is what I have found so far.

http://www.advancedlighting.com/ (http://www.advancedlighting.com/downloads.html)

This is one product that they show, there are several types and sizes to choose from on their website.

http://www.advancedlighting.com/products/fibercable_megabrite.html

From what I am reading the braided fiber optic cables are brighter than the solid strands.

The tricky part is getting everything altogether. From what I have been researching, you need the cable, the optical illuminator and the harness.
Some of the harnesses can handle over 20 cables.

It is sort of complicated, but if they work I won't care.

I am going to be using the smaller optical cable that side lights by routering out a small 1/4" slot to place the cable into, so that is shines on the steps.

Let me know how it goes. I'm still researching to make sure there's not something better to use.:)