Lights…well, light holes that is.

Since I didn’t get Wes to help me set up my heavy work table before he left for work, I couldn’t cut the rest of the MDF I bought last Friday.  And I had to work on SOMETHING so I cut some holes in my ceiling.

I’m hiring a real electrician to do the actual wiring because I’m finally listening to sound advice to get licensed and insured professionals do the work that should be done by licensed and insured professionals.

It’s a good idea !  😉

(That wink means nothing.)

Um, anyway, I originally had this plan that I would install I would have 14 lights installed.  One above each cabinet unit.  I bought 3″ cans because I just wanted little spotlights illuminating each section.

Problem : There ended up being joists where I wanted half those lights installed.

So I decided that I’d just install 3 lights on each side in addition to replacing the florescent lights with chandeliers.

(But I’m not putting those in until the very last or they will get in the way.  They are set to arrive tomorrow though.  Don’t know if I’ll be able to resist.)

Now my plan is to use 4″ cans because I want to use daylight bulbs and the 3″ cans use weird sized bulbs that I feel might not always be in production.

Who wants to change out their recessed cans because they can no longer buy the bulbs to go in said cans?

Not me!

So now I’m ready for the electrician.

I totally faked you out before huh?  You thought I really was going to install the lights myself!  Didn’t you?

The original quotes from 2 electricians were both about $500.

I called one guy back and told him that I now only want 6 lights and that I cut the holes and removed the florescent fixtures for him:  now how much would he charge?

He’s coming first thing this morning and he actually said WE could get them installed and it wouldn’t take too long or cost more than a couple hundred bucks.

(Vague I know but he’s coming all the same.)

I’m going to ask him if he’s cutting me a check for my help, or taking it off my bill!

Either way, getting these lights in ASAP is key to finishing this project because I’ve decided that my best option is to build the cabinets in the closet!

Otherwise, each unit will be so big and heavy they will be difficult to carry and to get through the doors.

I’ll cut all my MDF and then haul all the pieces up the driveway in the truck, bring them in and build one cabinet at a time in the room.

And I’m not painting first either!  Just saying it out loud now- I know I’m going to regret that decision later.

But, painting after installation is another misfortunate best option.  I just don’t have the space to lay out 50 big pieces of wood to prime and  paint. Not to mention, I’d have to tape off all my joints because wood glue works really well when it’s gluing wood to wood.  Wood to paint– not so much!

Gotta run, I’m using up all my bandwidth!

hee hee

p.s.

Thanks for all the tweets yesterday.  I got a DM from Charter and communicated with a customer service guy and they’re “checking into it”!  Fingers crossed, but I know there are other options if this doesn’t happen.  We’re giving them until the end of the week and then…severing the relationship (that doesn’t even exist yet.)

How’s that for an ultimatum?   Like they care.  It’s more for us than them.  We’ll see.