Recessed “can” lights deliver a clean ceiling line, energy-efficient illumination, and flexible placement. For residential contractors, knowing how to install can lighting quickly and accurately is essential. CountBricks combines real-time voice estimating, AI blueprint takeoffs, and up-to-the-minute material pricing so you can quote, schedule, and finish every recessed lighting job with confidence.
The CountBricks Edge: Upload the homeowner’s floor plan to CountBricks.com/services and generate an AI-driven lighting layout with fixture counts, wire runs, dimmer locations, and labor hours in minutes.
• Verify ceiling joist direction and spacing
• Confirm attic or crawl-space accessibility for cable pulls
• Identify HVAC ducts or framing obstacles with CountBricks’ AR overlay tool
• Select IC-rated housings for insulated ceilings to meet residential code
• IC-rated can light housings and LED trims specified by CountBricks cost library
• 12/2 or 14/2 NM cable (as calculated in your CountBricks material list)
• Cable staples, wire connectors, rough-in boxes, dimmer switch
• Hole saw or adjustable recessed lighting cutter
• Voltage tester, drill/driver, drywall saw, PPE
1. Kill power at the panel and verify with a non-contact tester
2. Snap chalk lines based on the AI layout from CountBricks
3. Drill pilot holes at fixture centers and snake attic to check clearance
4. Pull home-run cable from switch box to the first housing location
5. Use a 6-inch hole saw to cut clean openings; CountBricks’ template shows exact diameter for your selected fixture SKU
6. Insert IC-rated housing, secure integrated clips to drywall, and leave junction box accessible
7. Daisy-chain cables between cans, maintaining 8 in of free conductor in every junction
8. Strip conductors, wirenut blacks to blacks, whites to whites, and grounds to housing clip
9. Land switch leg, splice neutrals, and bond grounds in the switch box
10. Install a dimmer rated for LED load calculated by CountBricks AI
11. Snap in LED trims, restore power, and dim through full range to confirm flicker-free operation
12. Walk the homeowner through zones, bulb color temperature, and app-based controls if installed
• Over-cut drywall: CountBricks provides exact cutout sizes in your estimate PDF
• Overloading circuits: The software calculates total wattage and breaker size automatically
• Forgetting vapor barriers: Alerts pop up when climate zone requires IC-AT housings with gasketed trims
CountBricks pulls live pricing from preferred suppliers, then applies regional labor rates. A typical three-bedroom retrofit might show:
• 18 IC LED housings @ $26.40 each
• 450 ft 14/2 NM-B @ $0.38/ft
• 1 master dimmer + 2 slave dimmers @ $89 each
• 22 labor hours @ $58/hr Los Angeles residential rate
Totals update instantly if the client changes fixture count or trim style, protecting your margin while staying transparent.
• California Title 24 requires airtight, high-efficacy can lights—CountBricks flags compliant SKUs automatically
• Maintain 3-in clearance from insulation if using non-IC housings (rare in modern retrofits)
• NEC 314.27 mandates accessible junction boxes; CountBricks highlights inspection checkpoints on your mobile checklist
After estimate approval, export the task list to your CountBricks project dashboard:
1. Rough-in electrical – 4 labor hours
2. Ceiling cuts and housing set – 3 labor hours
3. Branch wiring and switch install – 5 labor hours
4. Trim, test, and homeowner orientation – 2 labor hours
Automatic reminders keep your crew on pace, and you can close the job with a single voice command in the mobile app.
Will can lights lower my ceiling height? Recessed fixtures sit inside the joist bay, so ceiling height is unaffected.
Can I mix warm and cool LEDs? CountBricks recommends consistent color temperature—usually 3000 K—for unified ambience.
Do I need attic access? Retrofits can be done from below; access merely speeds cable routing.
Ready to win more lighting jobs? Upload your next blueprint at CountBricks.com/consultation, speak your estimate, and let our AI handle the rest—from takeoff to invoice. Your competition is still measuring by hand; you’ll already be wiring the first can.
A Pasadena homeowner wanted vintage charm below and contemporary lighting above. CountBricks imported the existing floor plan, identified 12 optimal fixture locations that preserved exposed beams, and generated a materials list in under two minutes.
• 12 airtight LED cans, 4-inch size to blend with beam spacing
• 220 ft of 12/2 cable, pre-bundled by supplier using CountBricks purchase order
• Labor forecast: 9.5 hours, split over two site visits
1. Day 1 Morning – Rough-in wiring completed ahead of schedule thanks to AR joist mapping
2. Day 1 Afternoon – Housings set, inspection photos uploaded to CountBricks dashboard
3. Day 2 – Trim, dimmer programming, and homeowner walkthrough
The job closed 11% under the original budget because CountBricks caught an over-order of cable before purchase. The homeowner praised the even light distribution and the single-app warranty documentation delivered through CountBricks.com/portfolio.
• Pre-label cable runs with room names to slash trim-out time
• Use CountBricks voice commands to log inspection notes—no paperwork later
• Offer a lighting temperature demo kit; upsell premium trims on the spot
Whether you’re renovating a Craftsman in Pasadena or building a coastal contemporary in Malibu, CountBricks gives you the estimating power, field tools, and project analytics to nail every recessed lighting install. Visit CountBricks.com/services and let our AI turn your next quote into a signed contract.
