Remove Recessed Lights

Remove Recessed Lights and Install Something Else

Dear Mr. Electrician:  How do I remove recessed lights so I can install surface-mounted light fixtures?

Answer: Photos below are from a job where I was able to remove recessed lights and replaced them with four LED disk lights in their place.  I had to first patch the holes before I could install the new lights.

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REMOVE RECESSED LIGHTS

In this instance the recessed lights to be removed were the remodel type cans which made it much easier to take out.  It was just a matter of removing the trim and light bulb and then loosen the clips that hold the can to the ceiling.

If the recessed lights were installed during the original  construction it would have been more work to remove the rough-in housings.  I would have had to remove the four screws that hold the can in place and let it drop down below the ceiling.

Through the ceiling opening I would be able to access the junction box for the light and disconnect the wiring.

After that it is a matter of prying and cutting the recessed light rough-in housing out of the ceiling.  I use tools such as a mini pry bar, Knipex high leverage diagonal pliers, BX cutters, and aviation snips to cut the old housing out of the ceiling.

A ceiling fan brace installed inside of a hole that was once occupied by a recessed light
A ceiling fan brace installed inside of a hole that was once occupied by a recessed light.

Ceiling fan braces were used because they were easiest to install using the existing hole.

I inserted two small pieces of wood above the ceiling and held them in place with drywall screws. (See top photo) The wood is used to provide a backing for the drywall rings and to screw them in place.

I used my RotoZip with the circle cutting attachment and made five rings (One extra) from a piece of drywall.

A cut drywall ring loosely fitted for size before being mudded in
A cut drywall ring loosely fitted for size before being mudded in.

The cut drywall rings were a good fit in the holes left from the removed recessed lights.

A drywall ring mudded in a recessed light hole with a fan rated ceiling electrical box
A drywall ring mudded in a recessed light hole with a fan rated ceiling electrical box.

I buttered the hole and the edges of the cut drywall ring with joint compound and pushed it into place.  I used my fingers to smear the joint compound so it would blend a little with the textured ceiling.

Drywall ring set in place to fill recessed light hole and surrounds the new ceiling fan box
Drywall ring set in place to fill recessed light hole and surrounds the new ceiling fan box.

The joint compound dried nicely around the ceiling fan electrical box.

An LED disk light connected to the ceiling box wires and hanging by the connections
An LED disk light connected to the ceiling box wires and hanging by the connections.

A plastic round remodel electrical box for ceilings is usually not rated for supporting a ceiling light.  However at least one manufacturer has a fan rated plastic round box for new work or remodeling.

Check in the catalog on the manufacturer’s website to confirm what the ceiling electrical box is rated for.

A single LED disk light mounted on the textured ceiling
A single LED disk light mounted on the textured ceiling.

The LED disk light was big enough to cover the hole patch.  The ceiling was going to be painted after I finished.

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Four LED disk lights brightly lit
Four LED disk lights brightly lit.

Click to see my blog post about installing recessed lighting in a condominium kitchen.

A side mount ceiling fan box may be what you need.  Click here to read my blog post about them.

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