← All services

Recessed Lighting

Retrofit and new-construction LED recessed lights with dimmable smart-switch control.

Typical timeline: 2–5 days
Recessed Lighting
The right recessed lighting layout transforms a room — even, warm illumination without glare, no hot spots, no dead corners. The wrong layout looks like an office lobby. We design layouts based on ceiling height, room use, and furniture placement — typically 4-inch or 6-inch LED wafer lights on 4-foot centers, with wall-wash cans over key artwork or countertops. Every install uses dimmable LED wafers (Halo, Progress, or Lithonia) on a dimmer switch — Lutron Caseta for smart control or Diva for traditional slide.

Materials

What we install vs. what corner-cutters use.

Fixtures

What we install

Halo/Progress ultra-thin LED wafers, 2700K–3000K.

Common shortcut

Big-box builder cans with generic bulbs.

Why it matters: Wafers are slim, IC-rated, and dimmable smoothly.

Dimmer

What we install

Lutron Caseta or Diva LED-compatible.

Common shortcut

Generic slide dimmer.

Why it matters: Wrong dimmer causes flicker and buzz on LEDs.

Wiring

What we install

Dedicated 15A circuit as needed.

Common shortcut

Piggybacked on the closest circuit until it trips.

Why it matters: Overloaded circuits nuisance-trip and shorten breaker life.

Process

A predictable path — with real durations.

1

Design

1 day

Layout on ceiling, mark with tape, confirm with you.

2

Cut & wire

1–2 days

Cut ceiling holes, run wire, wire dimmer.

3

Install & test

1 day

Install wafers, test dim range, walkthrough.

Why us

Why homeowners pick Modern Builders for recessed lighting.

We layout every ceiling on paper before we cut anything. You approve the plan and we mark the ceilings with tape so you can see exactly where every light lands. We use dedicated 15-amp circuits when the existing circuit is loaded, so you don't trip a breaker every time you turn on the coffee pot. Every light is on a proper LED-compatible dimmer. Mixing LEDs with incandescent dimmers gives you buzzing and flicker.

FAQs

Answers before you ask.

Warm or cool color?+

2700K for living/bedroom, 3000K for kitchen/bath. We rarely install higher than 3500K — cooler looks clinical.

How many lights per room?+

Rule of thumb: 4-foot spacing for general lighting. A 12x14 room typically gets 6–9 wafers.

Can I install these in an insulated ceiling?+

Yes — all our wafers are IC-rated (insulation contact).

Do you handle the drywall patching?+

We cut clean, tight holes for wafers so patching is rarely needed. If drywall repair is needed, it's included.

Related reading

Go deeper before you decide.

Recessed Lighting: A Homeowner's Guide

Everything a Houston-area homeowner should know before starting a recessed lighting project — scope, materials, timeline, and the questions worth asking.

Read the article →

Lighting and the Mood It Creates

Layered lighting — ambient, task, accent — with the right color temperature and dimming does more for a room than paint or furniture.

Read the article →

The Benefits of Recessed Lighting

Why homeowners invest in recessed lighting — and what you actually get back in comfort, value, and day-to-day livability.

Read the article →

LED vs. Standard Lighting

Wattage is out. Lumens, color temperature, and CRI are what actually matter.

Read the article →

Get a quote — we do it right.

Fixed-price proposals, real timelines, no corners cut. Tell us about your recessed lighting project.

Request your quote