how to install can lights in existing ceiling

The big problem with can lights, in my opinion, is that they’re often installed in the building envelope. If you’ve read my Building Science 101 article and other posts on the building envelope, you probably know that I’m a big fan of a having as clean a building envelope as possible, with a continuous air barrier and minimal thermal bridging. My main beef with this cloddish light is that it destroys the integrity of the building envelope. My buddy (and EVER rater) Sean Lintow has recently reported on the demise of the can light, writing their obituary and even following it up with a ‘ Part Deuce.’ Would that it were true! He makes some good points about lighting in his article, but alas, the can light is still alive and sucking (energy, that is). But you can get models that are rated for insulation contact and are air-tight, so that makes them OK, right?

Those of us in the home performance/energy efficiency field look at these lights as abominations. They’re so popular that some remodelers carry a shotgun and walk through the house randomly shooting holes in the ceilings to install them.

Here’s another in the series of building practices that drive me crazy – recessed can lights.

How to install can lights in existing ceiling