Lighting work we do
Most of our residential lighting work falls into a few groups:
- Replacing old halogen downlights with LED
- New downlight layouts in kitchens, living areas and bedrooms
- Pendants over islands, benches and dining tables
- LED strip lighting under cabinets, in shelving and in ceiling bulkheads
- Outdoor lighting for decks, patios, entries and pathways
- Garden and landscape lighting
- Sensor lights and security lighting
- Dimmers, two-way switching and smart switches
Some jobs are a straight swap. Others are part of a renovation where we plan lighting from scratch alongside the rest of the renovation electrical work.
Upgrading from halogen to LED
If your home still has halogen downlights, switching to LED is one of the easiest ways to cut power use. Halogens run hot, use a lot more energy for the same light, and their transformers tend to fail over time.
A proper LED upgrade isn’t just swapping globes. Old halogen transformers and some older dimmers don’t work well with LEDs, which leads to flicker, buzzing or early failure. We replace the whole fitting with an integrated LED downlight and driver, and change dimmers where needed so they’re compatible. If you’re renting out the property, it’s also one of the simpler upgrades that tenants notice straight away. Our LED downlight buying guide explains what to look for if you’re choosing your own.
Downlights and ceiling insulation
This one matters for safety. Downlights sit in the ceiling cavity, often right next to insulation. Old halogen downlights needed clearances around them, and fires have been caused by insulation packed against hot fittings.
We use downlights rated for contact with insulation, commonly marked IC-4, so insulation can be laid over them safely and you don’t lose the thermal benefit of your ceiling insulation. If your roof space has loose insulation pushed back from old fittings, let us know and we can talk about options.
Getting layout and colour right
The most common lighting mistake we see is too many downlights in a grid, all the same colour, all on one switch. It lights the room, but it’s flat and harsh. A better approach is to layer lighting: general lighting for everyday use, task lighting where you work like kitchen benches, and feature lighting to make a space feel comfortable at night.
Colour temperature is the other big one. Warm white suits living areas and bedrooms, while neutral or cool white can work in kitchens, laundries and garages. Some fittings let you switch colour temperature, which is handy if you’re not sure. We’re happy to talk it through before you buy anything.
Outdoor and garden lighting
Outdoor lighting on the Gold Coast and in Northern NSW has a hard life. Salt air, humidity, heavy rain and summer storms all take a toll. We use fittings with an appropriate IP rating for their location, and materials that hold up near the coast, such as marine-grade stainless or quality powder-coated finishes.
Garden lighting can be low voltage or mains powered depending on the design. Either way, outdoor circuits must be protected by a safety switch, and cabling needs to be run and buried correctly. If you’re lighting around a pool or spa, there are extra rules, and our outdoor and pool electrical page covers that work.
Smart lighting and controls
Smart switches and dimmers let you control lighting from your phone, set schedules or build scenes. They can be a simple add-on for a couple of rooms or part of a bigger home automation setup. We’ll let you know which products suit your existing wiring, as some smart switches need a neutral at the switch, which older homes don’t always have. Where that’s the case, we can run a neutral to the switch or suggest a product that works without one.
Sensor lights are another practical option for driveways, side paths and entries. We set the detection range and timer so they come on when you need them, without being triggered by every passing car or the neighbour’s cat.
What affects the cost
Lighting costs vary a lot depending on what you’re after. The main factors are:
- The number and type of fittings
- Whether we supply fittings or install ones you’ve bought
- Ceiling access, including two-storey homes, raked ceilings and concrete slabs in units
- New switching arrangements, dimmers or smart controls
- Trenching and cable runs for garden lighting
We give you an upfront written quote before starting. If you supply your own fittings, we’re happy to check they’re suitable for Australian conditions and compliant before we install them, which can save a return trip.
On the day, we cut ceiling holes neatly, use drop sheets, and clean up before we leave. All work is done to AS/NZS 3000, tested, and backed by a compliance certificate.