Indoor and Outdoor Lighting in Middle Tennessee
- Licensed and insured plumbing, HVAC and electrical techs
Lighting changes how a room works. A dark kitchen, a hallway with one bulb, a porch where you can't see the steps: most of that is simple to fix, and some of it takes new wiring.
We'll walk through what you want, tell you what your wiring can support, and give you a firm price before any work starts. Electrical work is done by licensed and insured techs. One call covers the whole house.
Signs you need lighting help
- Rooms that are too dark, or lit by one fixture in the middle of the ceiling
- A fixture that flickers, buzzes or won't come on with a new bulb
- You want a ceiling fan where there is only a light, or no fixture at all
- Dimmers that hum, or LED bulbs that flicker on a dimmer
- Steps, walkways or the driveway are hard to see at night
- You want motion lights at the doors, the garage or the back of the house
- You're remodeling and want recessed or under-cabinet lighting
What we do
Fixture installation and replacement
Ceiling lights, pendants, chandeliers, vanity lights and wall sconces, including a properly supported box for heavier fixtures.
Recessed and under-cabinet lighting
Recessed lights in new or existing ceilings, and under-cabinet lights in kitchens, on switches or dimmers that suit LED fixtures.
Ceiling fans
New fans and replacements, on a fan-rated box, with separate control of the fan and the light where the wiring allows.
Switches, dimmers and smart controls
Dimmers matched to your bulbs, three-way switches for stairs and halls, and smart switches, which usually need a neutral wire in the box.
Outdoor lighting
Porch and entry lights, motion lights, post lights and landscape lighting, with outdoor-rated fixtures, weatherproof boxes and buried wiring run to code.
New construction and renovations
Lighting layout, rough-in and trim-out for new homes, additions and remodels, coordinated with the rest of the electrical, plumbing and HVAC work.
Repair or replace?
When a fixture stops working, the cause is often the bulb, the switch or a loose connection in the box. Those are quick repairs, and we'll tell you so.
An old fixture with brittle wiring or a cracked socket is usually better replaced. So is a fixture that has held bulbs larger than its rating, since the extra heat can damage the wiring in the box. We'll tell you which it is, and price both if both make sense.
What it costs, and how we price it
What drives the price
- How many fixtures, and whether they replace existing ones or need new wiring and boxes
- Access: an open attic above makes new ceiling lights simpler than a finished ceiling between floors
- Ceiling height, and fixtures that need extra support, such as fans and chandeliers
- Distance and trenching for outdoor and landscape lighting
- Controls: standard switches, dimmers, three-way switches or smart switches
- Permits and inspections the local jurisdiction requires
- The diagnostic visit
- Free. We come look, find the cause and explain it.
- Your price
- Firm price given before any work starts.
- How we price
- Priced per job. Each job is priced on its own.
- Why prices stay down
- Low overhead, and the work done right the first time with current methods, equipment and quality materials, so you are not paying for callbacks.
How a visit works
Call or text
Call or text (615) 426-9344 and tell us what's going on. A photo helps. We work Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A free diagnostic visit
We come look, find the cause and explain it in plain words. The visit is free.
A firm price before any work starts
You get the price for the job before we begin, so you can decide with real numbers.
The work, done right the first time
Current methods, good equipment and quality materials. We keep overhead low and skip the callbacks, which keeps prices down.
Follow-up
If anything we worked on gives you trouble, call or text the same number.
Why do my LED lights flicker?
Most often it's the dimmer. Many older dimmers were made for incandescent bulbs and don't work well with LEDs. A dimmer rated for LED, with bulbs marked dimmable, usually fixes it.
If lights flicker across several rooms, or with no dimmer on the circuit, it can be a loose connection. That's worth having checked.
Can a ceiling fan go where a light is now?
Usually, yes. A fan needs a box rated to hold it, since a standard light box isn't made for the weight and motion. If you want the fan and the light on separate switches, that can take an added wire. We'll check what's in the ceiling and tell you what it takes.
What outdoor lighting makes sense for a home?
Start with safety: light at every entry, the steps and the driveway. Motion lights at the back and sides of the house add security without burning all night.
Landscape lighting is often low voltage. A transformer steps the power down, so the wires running through beds and lawns carry much less voltage. We'll help you decide what goes where before anything gets dug.
Common questions
Can you add recessed lights to an existing ceiling?
Usually, yes. Recessed lights made for existing ceilings go in through the hole cut for them, with the wiring fished between. An open attic above makes it simpler.
Do smart switches work in older homes?
Many do, but most need a neutral wire in the switch box, and older homes often don't have one there. We'll check your boxes and tell you which switches will work.
Why does my light fixture buzz?
Usually a dimmer that does not match the bulbs, or a loose connection. Try a dimmable LED bulb rated for your dimmer. If it keeps buzzing, or the switch plate feels warm, turn it off and call us at (615) 426-9344.
How many recessed lights does a room need?
It depends on the size of the room, the ceiling height and what the light is for. A kitchen needs more light on the counters than a living room does. We'll help you lay them out before any holes get cut.
Will I need a permit?
Adding new fixtures, circuits or outdoor wiring often needs a permit and inspection, depending on your city or county. We'll tell you what your job needs when we give you the price.
Who does the electrical work?
Licensed and insured techs do the electrical work. Root House gives you the firm price, so a remodel that also needs plumbing or HVAC is still one call.
Do you handle lighting for new homes and remodels?
Yes. Root House specializes in new construction and renovations. Lighting layout, rough-in and trim-out are coordinated with the plumbing and HVAC on the same job.
Related
- Outlets, Switches, GFCI and Rewiring
- Electrical Repair and Troubleshooting
- Electrical Panel and Meter Base Upgrades
- Whole-Home Surge Protection
- Smart Thermostats
Electrical
Why does my breaker keep tripping?
A breaker keeps tripping because something on its circuit isn't safe: too much load, a short, a ground fault or arcing. Sometimes the breaker itself is faulty. Unplug what's on the circuit and reset it once. If it trips again, even hours later, leave it off and have a licensed electrician find the cause.
Electrical
Is my electrical panel outdated?
Your panel is likely outdated if it uses fuses, has no open spaces for new circuits, or is decades old and never updated. Many older homes have 100-amp service or less, which gets tight with an EV charger or heat pump. Heat or a burning smell at the panel is a fire risk: get everyone out and call 911.
Work that holds.
Call or text for lighting anywhere we serve in Middle Tennessee.