Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
Install Track Lighting
While it was originally created for commercial use in the theater and photo studios, track lighting is a popular choice in homes today. With movable individual heads that can be directed and changed, it's ideal for accenting a piece of art or wall display or for creating task lighting above a desk or work area.

If a room has a ceiling fixture, track lighting can be easily installed by even an inexperienced home electrician with a basic understanding of electricity. It's a job best left to an electrician if there's no fixture because a wire needs to be run and a switch added, work that should be done by a pro.

Assuming there's a ceiling fixture, an electrician will charge $85 to install a 4-foot track, 3-head low-voltage Halogen track-lighting kit. The cost includes wiring the track with the necessary end and connector fittings to the existing ceiling box and installing the light units.

Pro vs DIY Cost and TimeYou can purchase the kit for $70, install it and save 15 percent. You'll need a ladder, drill, screwdriver and wire stripper/cutters. Take extra care when working with electricity and follow the installation instructions supplied with the kit.

Safety tip: Before you start, turn the power off at the main circuit panel, not merely at the light switch.

Back to Home Improvement Preview Lawn And Garden Preview Home Decorating Shopping Center