I want to put in a drop ceiling and recessed lights in a basement. Do I hang the ceiling first and then install the can lights? Or do I do the lights first and then do the ceiling?
You put the lights up first. They have to be fastened to the floor joists in your basement ceiling.
Put up grid for drop down ceiling Put in wiring for lights and position in center of a panel Put up panel, mark and cut out opening for can light. Install can.
1. You need the type of fixture that mounts to the grid. 2. You are unlikely to find a 'can that needs less than 3 1/2' clearance, so you need a layout that misses the joists.
I assume you mean a grid ceiling? Most of the time we have the electricians run the wiring with 2 feet of where the lights are going. We then install the grid ceiling. Some recessed grid light housings lay right in the gridwork, others just sit on top of one of the tiles. Pick out your light fixtures and get the grid adapters if they have them. Go ahead and put in all the tiles except the ones where the light fixtures go, then just cut a round hole in the tile to fit your light fixtures set the fixture in place, install the trim ring from below.
