Recessed lights can be effective in rooms that need additional lighting. They add light without requiring you to hang excessive fixtures from the ceiling. However, these lights can make a room look more modern that you want. If you want to remove recessed lights, it is not difficult. However, once you have the lights out of the ceiling, you will need to decide what to do with the holes that are left behind.
Instructions
1. Turn off the power to the room you are working in. Go to the breaker box and locate the electrical switch. Flip it to the "Off" position.
2. Climb a ladder to get to the recessed light. Depending on how the cover is put on, you may need to pry it off with a putty knife or use a screwdriver to back out the screws. Remove the cover and set it aside.
3. Unscrew the light bulb and set it aside as well. You don't want to risk breaking it while you are working on the fixture.
4. Push up on the fixture to see if it moves. If it does, then it was a retro-fit light and you can slide it out. It will take a little wiggling to get through, but it will come out. If it doesn't budge, then it is anchored to the joists. You must use a jigsaw to cut out a section of the drywall so you can get to the ceiling joists on either side of the light. Use a stud finder to locate the joists first. Cut the ceiling away to the joists.
5. Use a screwdriver to detach the mounting brackets that hold the light fixture in place.
6. Untwist the wires connecting the fixture to the house, and the recessed light is now removed. Wrap the ends of the wires in electrical tape and push them up into the ceiling. You will need to patch the hole with new drywall.
Tags: ceiling will, ceiling will need, recessed light, will need