LED Lighting for New Construction: Plan It All Before the Walls Close

LED LIGHTING FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION: PLAN IT ALL BEFORE THE WALLS CLOSE

In new construction, lighting is decided before the drywall goes up. Once walls and ceilings are closed, moving a pot light, adding an electrical box behind a mirror or cutting a channel for a profile costs time and money. Planning the lighting room by room during framing — with your electrician and your contractor — lets you install exactly what you need, in the right place, the first time. LEDCO supplies LED lighting products and advises homeowners, electricians and contractors; the installation itself is done by your electrician.

LED pot lights: choosing the size and the colour temperature

For residential work, LED pot lights are mostly chosen in 3 and 4 inches. The 3-inch model offered is the DLX, round or square; in 4 inches you will find the DLF (flat), DLS, DLS-HP, DLX and DLG families. Several models are CCT: the colour temperature is set on the fixture, so a single model can be used throughout the house, with warm white in the living room and a more neutral white in the kitchen or laundry room. For large spaces and commercial projects, multi-voltage 3CCT CDR downlights are available in 4, 6, 8 and 10 inches.

For a soffit or a damp location, some models are rated for damp locations (for example the DLX and some DLF): each model's spec sheet says so. The DLF gives flat, even light; the DLX and DLS give more defined beams, popular on a façade. Directly inside a shower, have the model validated by an advisor; never install a pot light in a sauna or steam room.

LED strips and recessed profiles: plan the channel now

An LED strip in a recessed aluminum profile creates a clean line of light in a ceiling, a bulkhead, a staircase or built-in cabinetry. The recessed profile is chosen by the width you want and the space available (the #86, with its flanges, is the most common; the #85 and #81 are also offered): that width sets the channel to plan before finishing. The profile protects the strip, draws away its heat and, with its diffuser, removes visible hot spots.

With the LED Custom Builder on ledco.ca, the strip is cut to the inch, soldered and sealed, with or without a profile, and the driver is calculated from length and wattage. Custom orders are ready in 3 to 7 business days after payment. Most LEDCO LED strips are 24V: they always need a driver, chosen with at least 20% headroom over the load. Plan an accessible spot to house it.

Dimming, mirrors and outdoors: decisions to make early

Dimmable or not: the answer changes the driver model, so it is decided before ordering. In the bathroom, an LED mirror is hard-wired to the circuit and turns on from the wall switch; the 3000K and 6000K models dim with a standard wall dimmer (MLV or TRIAC). That means an electrical box behind the mirror, at the right height, before the drywall. Outdoors — soffits, decks, stairs — IP66 waterproof strips and outdoor-rated fixtures are planned with the façade wiring.

Contractors and electricians: a professional account gives access to pro pricing. For a complete project, send us your plans: our team will help you choose the pot lights, profiles, strips and drivers for every room.