Moving a Light Fixture | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House master electrician Heath Eastman helps a homeowner with an askew light fixture, centering it over their dining room table.
SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse.
Master electrician, Heath Eastman takes us on a house call to help a homeowner move a light over their dining room table. After assessing the situation and getting some careful measurements, the two move the table, shut off the breaker and get to work moving the light fixture.
Difficulty: 2/5
Time: 3 hours
Cost: Under $60
Where to find it?
Heath moves a kitchen ceiling light fixture 12-18 inches to center it over a kitchen table. He uses a small metal rod (about 16 inches long), pushes it through the ceiling, and bends it to a 90-degree angle, so there is about 2 inches of bent wire through the ceiling. Heath says by rotating the rod around 360 degrees without hitting anything, he knows he can freely work in that section of the ceiling.
Once Heath determines that the new location is free of obstacles, he drills a hole using a dust collector, and a 4-inch hole saw. After Heath detaches the fixture, he removes the old electrical box from the ceiling, freeing up the wire. After Heath installs the appropriate junction box and runs the wiring through it, he installs the new light fixture.
Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: bit.ly/2GPiYbH
Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/st...
Materials:
* Painter's tape [amzn.to/3OJSgyU]
* Pencil [amzn.to/3u92Yag]
* Wire test bit [amzn.to/3QSwOtw]
* Fan brace [amzn.to/3npbrm2]
* Electrical box [amzn.to/3R5ym3w]
* Wire connector [amzn.to/3OLbbtd]
* Chandelier light fixture [amzn.to/3Ntn0Dd]
* Hardware (including wire nuts) [amzn.to/3nomFXZ]
Tools:
* Non-contact voltage tester [amzn.to/3yq16MU]
* Screwdriver [amzn.to/3I1tWWZ]
* Tape measure [amzn.to/3bAtov6]
* Laser or plumb bob [amzn.to/3QUd34M]
* Screw gun [amzn.to/3y0gNsW]
* Pliers [amzn.to/3Ab5ikU]
* Keyhole saw or hole saw [amzn.to/3QSzW8K]
* Wire strippers [amzn.to/3yrWHJr]
About Ask This Old House TV:
From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment-your home.
Follow This Old House:
Facebook: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
Pinterest: bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG
Moving a Light Fixture | Ask This Old House
/ thisoldhouse

[@davidciaffa4711]

Just once - I'd love to see them need to deal with an "unlucky" situation.

[@nonyanks2510]

I was just gonna say that, lets see some outtakes!!

[@Exotic_drift]

Lol

[@AutoUnder]

They kind of did once on the Ceiling Fan on Cathedral Ceiling project where the bottom of the roof rafter was right up against the ceiling so they couldn't install a normal light fixture box; luckily they had a pancake box on them at the time so they were able to use that instead

[@Manknuggest]

YESSSSS

[@BradThePitts]

Search for the full series of TOH renovating a Brooklyn Brownstone - you'll find dozens of challenges.

[@louisax4058]

lol at the end Mauro was like "need some help guys?"

[@Kilork13]

Probably to help patch the hole they left by moving the fixture.

[@eddiephillips2000]

@@Kilork13 My thought exactly! No TRUE electrician likes patching holes. Hi Hi

[@dtemp132]

@@Kilork13 Yeah I would have liked that included in the youtube cut.

[@nhdenver7883]

nice catch! he'll take it from here!

[@dannylove1009]

I would've used the cut out from the new hole, and used it to patch the old hole.

[@mscarolynnigro]

I love watching competent professionals work. How relaxing .

[@allclevernamesgone]

Ha! I like the painter shows up at the end to presumably patch the old hole. Must be nice having a world class painter in your back pocket. Quality professional work.

[@Mikidy303]

I'm glad they helped this guy out. Being James Taylor stunt double probably doesn't pay well and he can use the help.

[@dwb7447]

😂

[@WillPolley]

Loved the tip to install the chandelier “backwards” from most instructions. Starting with getting your canopy in the right position is brilliant.

[@slippinslidewayz]

Thank you for the use of the fan brace! My chandelier is held on by the box which is screwed into a cross member from a weird angle and distance. I didn't realize they make old work braces so I'll be upgrading it now.

[@mcseforsale]

I had to do this. I capped the existing box with a blank plate, then bought one of those plastic cieling medallions that was just big enough to cover the existing box. Worked a treat.

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

Junction boxes are supposed to be accessible not covered

[@jackpast]

@@RoastBeefSandwich but if there’s no wires in the old box it’s no longer a junction box.

[@WinterSina]

I love how he was like, aight good luck with the exposed hole lmao

[@GriffinWiebel]

Given this is an episode of This Old House, I think the guy stepping in at the very end is going to through patching the hole.

[@arod7404]

and now the hardest part. Patching the hole and perfectly matching the texture and paint (if you don’t have leftover original paint.

[@gzamora138]

Easy peezee, the material that came out of the hole that was made will be use to patch the hole where the lamp use to be. Little bit of mud and paint and job completed.

[@arod7404]

@@gzamora138 the seam where the patch meets the ceiling will need to be texture matched and will definitely be noticeable if not done correctly, especially with upward firing lights. You never addressed if there wasn’t any leftover paint, which again, with upward lights, any differences will be noticeable.

[@nick4leader]

I'm guessing that is coming soon, Mauro showed up right at the end

[@rupe53]

someone else mentioned a 36" medallion to cover the whole deal. Beats a repaint all the way into the hall.

[@arod7404]

@@rupe53 to me, they’re outdated, unless they’re going in a 1915 Craftsman home. Hey, but to each his own.

[@joelpaterson7161]

Buddy was friggin tickled pink having Heath by to sort his chandelier out

[@DougCeleste]

BEST electrician the show has ever had!

[@ghostface4072]

Disagree he’s good but my vote is for Scott

[@bboi]

@@ghostface4072 I miss Scott, but I think sometimes he was considered “a hack”. 😂

[@randybb]

@@ghostface4072 Scott the Magician which throws all junk behind dry wall? :D

[@parkerk7018]

I think Roger was the best electrician they had rip roger

[@oldtwinsna8347]

@@bboi he tried doing too many handyman tasks out of electrical which exposed him as such. should have stuck entirely with electrical.

[@colinstewart2634]

Way easier to extend the chain of the fixture and add a hook over the table.

[@WannaBeHocker]

3:12 - Moves the table to 70 1\4... "Yup, 69 1\2 inches!" 🤣🤣

[@michaelsteinbach]

Parallax error coupled with the beveled edge on the table looks like the wrong measurement.

[@Exotic_drift]

Lol

[@shamusomalley4263]

I loved this guy in better call saul.

[@timjballin]

Nice of his brother to walk in the last second.

[@vince6829]

Thanks for sharing.

[@jeefunk8833]

Sounds good guy.

[@justinballard7242]

5:45 it would of been funny if he said "I don't"

[@michaelsteinbach]

"Eh, not really David but hey, you do you!"

[@thomasstogner4715]

And followed up with, “That fixture looks ridiculous, but so does the rest of your house”.

[@randyd3649]

I bet when he hits his head on the fixture he feels light headed!

[@oldgamerstudios425]

Go stand in the corner!

[@Cypher791]

Certainly won’t feel very……….. bright… 😏💡

[@iosolofede]

Is there a video on how to move the ceiling box to a wall. I have a ceiling light over my kitchen sink that I want to change it to the wall.

[@Collectologist]

Cue the music: "Hey TOH, come around. You've got to send someone down. Hey, Heath, I'm no Handyyyy Mannnn."

[@Mommy_Paladin]

would I be ableto do this if the light is next to a vent and I want to move it to the other side of the vent?

[@chrisruddy8406]

What's the tool you used to open and close the chain? I needed to do that a few months ago to hang stained glass. I used my linemen's pliers, which worked fairly well, but I think a dedicated tool would have been better.

[@ToastedBuns207]

Chain pliers

[@stephennutt2565]

The light was only 12" off center. I would have just screwed a hook in the wall centered over the table and run the chain & wire from original location of light to that hook then down? If keeping the same light fixture, done in 5 minutes!

[@KrynnTheDragon]

Dude was getting paid by the hour though! 😂

[@davidalearmonth]

Exactly! A hook would be so easy.

[@DougCeleste]

Good idea but he wanted a new light fixture.

[@illestofdemall13]

@@davidalearmonth Nobody wants swagged chains in 2022 Lol

[@davidalearmonth]

@@DougCeleste But that makes it even easier! The new fixture had the longer chain needed.

[@ericowensnyc]

THATS GREAT but I have a concrete ceiling……any ideas to move my fixture????!

[@javiergalvan242]

Great video as usual 👌

[@pistolpete5325]

4:50 Guest starring Thing from Addams Family

[@JP-xr9qg]

What are the best practices to patch the hole from the previous fixture?

[@MichaelSuddard]

I think there's another patching and painting video to come. If you look at the end of this one, This Old House's Painter, Mauro, walks in as the clip ends.

[@justinballard7242]

Slide in a piece of 1x3 that's bigger than the hole. Screw through the existing drywall into the board to hold it. Put in a patch piece that fits the hole. And patch from there

[@MichaelSuddard]

Mauro's Video is up! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWOvZGSJd9Ghpbc

[@jctai100]

Admittedly haven't done many houses, but is it common to have furred out ceilings with an air gap for wiring? I'm in Canada and the wire is usually drilled through the joists.

[@illestofdemall13]

Where I'm from in the US (South Florida) there are often furring strips under the joists for drywall backing but the cable is usually above the joists and stapled on top of the joists or some other framing. Sometimes it's passing through a hole in the joist if there's no attic or crawl space above.

[@jctai100]

@@illestofdemall13 We staple up here too, just never seen this. Would think it's a hazard with the wire just behind the sheetrock.

[@illestofdemall13]

@@jctai100 Looks like a flat roof. It can be a hazard I guess if someone isn't careful while drilling or cutting. It isn't common around here at least from what I've seen, though.

[@SnatchyPanda]

Very common practice here in New England where strapping is installed on the joists like tbat

[@steveloux4709]

It is not code compliant to route the nm cable through the strapping, due to the likelihood of damage during drywall installation. Cable is required to be at least 1.25” from the framing edge or install suitable protection if that is infeasible.

[@spikeshostagetv5935]

Who was that guy walking up 🤣 he was late to the gig

[@mccalejk2]

3:15 Sure looked like 70’ to me 🫣

[@kemmebudhai5160]

Lmaooo I had to rewatch that myself 🤣

[@michaelsteinbach]

Parallax error coupled with the beveled edge on the table looks like the wrong measurement.

[@davidgarfinkel7033]

I think you mean 70”

[@dannylove1009]

I put everything together on the ground usually it's just easier for me

[@dannylove1009]

And I would take the cut out from the new hole, and Use to patch the existing hole

[@tambarlas5248]

Surprise Mauro is surprise at the end

[@christopherworkman6143]

I want to build a closet in my bedroom, but I don't know if I'll have to move my ceiling fan/light. The new closet will come within 5 inches of the fan blades. Also, has anyone else ever discovered that your fan or light fixture wasn't connected to an electrical box, but instead screwed directly to a joist with the wires coming through a hole in the ceiling?

[@drdez]

Buy a smaller fan with smaller blades

[@philoyphilia]

"Sounds great"

[@dlp7130]

Hello this old house..! Please how you can help me to learn electrical wiring I’m a foreign whom is living in fort Lauderdale?

[@drewspinoso4849]

What about the hole in ceiling?

[@AndreViens]

If you didn't know Mauro was there to help patch the old hole, the way they cut this video made it seem like the henchman just came in to demand payment.

[@algebraizt]

This is the first I've discovered this old house and that's the comedy thought that went though my head. "Right now pay up or we break your kneecaps".

[@TheCristo68]

Where's Mauro ? found him @ 8:01 .

[@thomassears4920]

he was there to fix the hole they left lol

[@emmas.635]

Howd they get the camera up there

[@yelwing]

……or, just screw in a decretive hook where you want the light to hang from. This puts the light where you want it and lifts it up so you don’t bump your head.

[@donaldlee6760]

At 0:14 - in high end homes it is preferable to not use the white back plate on a Nest thermostat to a give "cleaner" and more high-end look?

[@MrAssChapman]

Yes, but chances are the old thermostat was much larger than the Nest and therefor covered a larger portion of the wall. Typically when there's something like a lightswitch or thermostat on the wall there's a sloppy, unfinished, unpainted area or even a hole right behind it. You use the backplate to cover it up if you're not up to the task of repairing or repainting the wall. There's a good chance you don't even have the right color so the backplate is often the best option.

[@zachmiller4930]

Was he able to patch the ceiling or did the homeowner have to schedule with a different business?

[@thomasstogner4715]

Most electricians don’t do drywall repair which would include taping and painting. You wouldn’t want them to anyways... leave that to the tapers/painters. That’s a separate skill in itself.

[@zachmiller4930]

@@thomasstogner4715 my dog can do that ceiling patch...

[@rickybobby9255]

@@zachmiller4930 What's their availability? I have some work to be done.

[@zachmiller4930]

@@rickybobby9255 DIY…..it’s all easy I dunno why everyone is so scared these days. Our great grandparents are probably embarrassed.

[@johnnywadd7960]

This guy looks like a young James Taylor

[@edub8082]

Why’d he cut the wood in the ceiling?

[@ALAPINO]

*A wild Maro appears.*

[@stevedrake2031]

James Taylor on the show 🤔😅

[@Dementore6]

I'd just move the table back a foot.

[@saulgoodman2018]

yeah

[@karlarentz7694]

That would be right in the path of entry going into another room from what I'm looking at..would look crappy

[@Dementore6]

@@karlarentz7694 guess we all have opinions karen

[@saulgoodman2018]

I would have just moved the table.

[@drewspinoso4849]

You mentioned plumbing but forgot to mention hvac. :-(

[@dessertman1181]

The homeowner looked like James Taylor

[@Collectologist]

Sure did, but he's no "Handy Man".

[@RobertLeBlancPhoto]

He got lucky that he did't hole saw into the romex. ;)

[@pandraus]

A wild Mauro appears.

[@Stottzy777]

So just gonna leave a hole in the ceiling??

[@eli7909]

What about the hole

[@michaelcoste203]

8:01 - What’s he doing here?

[@karsonkevin2]

Probably going to patch the hole in the ceiling

[@KieraCameron514]

The replacement light is fugly.

[@lathamgreen]

Was that painter supposed to show up

[@robwebnoid5763]

Mauro was apparently renting a room at that house who then happened to wake up & go downstairs. :)

[@HaggisMuncher-69-420]

Who hangs a wireless house phone on the wall like that?

[@RionE23]

Anyone else notice this video doesn’t cover patching that hole in the ceiling?

[@DapperChe]

You can see their painter come in at the end. They usually break it up into different segments. It should be coming soon.

[@2loco]

Well spotted eagle eye.

[@DapperChe]

The patching process kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWOvZGSJd9Ghpbc

[@fldesigner5047]

Nice video of HALF COMPLETED PROJECT! Moving the light INCLUDES repairing the hole left at the previous location. It's BS videos like this that give homeowners unrealistic expectations when they're quoted a price for a COMPLETE PROJECT!

[@tupapi818247]

lmao that was an upgrade?

[@junkstough6622]

@3:17 Since when did 70-1/8th become "Yep 69 and a half inches"?

[@luckysbackupchannel]

this guy looks like he'd hit you with a "petty with a prior"

[@JuliosYoutube]

Ah, super finicky with several potential mishaps that will leave me frantically googling what to do next. So, hire someone else to do it. Got it. 👍

[@hb3electric851]

What’s the name of the tool he uses at 6:33 ?

[@Subangelis]

Probably linesman pliers.

[@zacharyspishock650]

Those are lighting chain pliers, used to separate the chain as well as close once hooked together lighting fixture chains without damaging the paint on the chain, very handy tool runs around $15-$25 depending on where you buy them.

[@hb3electric851]

@@zacharyspishock650 thank you.

[@hb3electric851]

@@matjamesmusic thank you.

[@jakegirardi186]

Lol dude looks like Spock

[@andrewc6385]

The customer and keith have very similar voices lol

[@Exotic_drift]

More like 70 1/2

[@dalesworld1308]

James Taylor can't afford an electrician?

[@JustRyan76]

homeowner totally doesnt have bodies in his basement

[@nnamerz]

HAHAHA! Thank God I wasn't the only one thinking that. I'm hoping it was just his nervousness of being on camera, but he totally gave me some super creepy vibes, lol

[@JustRyan76]

@@nnamerz 100%

[@JustRyan76]

looked like gargamel lol

[@nnamerz]

@@JustRyan76 LMAO!

[@bngr_bngr]

Why didn’t he cover the old hole. Who wants a plate on their ceiling?

[@samsquires2877]

Of course this was an ideal situation. How about you show what a non ideal situation would be like in the real world. I do this work every day and lots of times its not ideal. Fyi 3m wire nuts are junk.

[@kylefowler5082]

Those tan/yellow & their twin orange/blue wire nuts do suck haha. But I prefer the 3m tan/reds and their longer skirted sister red/yellows

[@ghostface4072]

Until his wife changes her mind and wants to move things around

[@jimbohnenkamp5082]

How many times??

[@ghostface4072]

@@jimbohnenkamp5082 at least 3-4 time a year

[@MilkmanCR]

Bros gotta shave that hair off asap 😂

[@CDPMATH]

If the video were 30 seconds longer, we could have seen the table back in place and see the final result. Just saying…

[@johnnywadd7960]

A retentive huh... bwahaahaa

[@robertbamford8266]

Nah. Got to patch the hole. Or not.

[@Guardducks]

@@robertbamford8266 that's why Maro ward there.

[@robertbamford8266]

@@Guardducks Yup. With the hardest part of the job, I think.

[@ryanroberts1104]

Oh for crying out loud. Screw in a hook over the center of the table and hook the chain to it. Solved for $2 in 5 minutes.

[@saulgoodman2018]

Sure, that's 69 and a half inches? Sure looks like 70 1/16th. to me.

[@mikeberecochea2020]

I was laughing at that too, but after a second look the table edge is beveled . The bottom of the bevel looks to be 69 1/2.

[@saulgoodman2018]

@@mikeberecochea2020 Yeah, just looked at it again.

[@rickfromthecape3135]

Oh great. Here comes Mauro to screw up the ceiling patch.

[@Andrew-Comi]

Why do these videos...the furniture styles...clothing...etc all seem like they're from 1992?

[@Guardducks]

Switch over to the wago lever nuts they save si much more or the stab type also save room. Not saying wire nuts are obsolete but take up a lot of room especially in a pancake box.

[@jimmyr9468]

This video is not that helpful. Magically, the existing wiring could not have been more conveniently placed in the ceiling for the new fixture if you tried. Murphy's law is going to dictate that for most of us we would need to add wiring to reach the new fixture destination. That's the video I want to see.

[@TheEgg185]

That guy stepping in at 8:01 is his husband.

[@BrandonVlogs000]

Made no sense, he wanted to replace the other one because of the location and he could bump his head but now the new one is even lower?

[@mccalejk2]

It’s in the middle of the table though lol

[@ryk3899]

What a creepy guy

[@neipas09]

Move your table a foot over and stop being a bunch of cry babies.

[@gpslightlock1422]

Wagos - it's 2022 for heaven's sake. Lever nuts rock. Wire nuts are old school.

[@Mixwell1983]

Found out about em a few years ago and theyre awesome. I got a 50pack of the 3 port ones for whatever i need around the house. Much easier and ive used em on a few projects, Wago is definately better than wire nuts in most cases especially with using stranded and solid wires together.

[@brianfong5711]

Asians: Oh my god they are wearing shoes indoors and bringing all the crud from the sidewalk, like doogy poo and squirrel dingus, right into their house!

[@nnamerz]

I'm not Asian and I was thinking the same thing. I especially found it odd that they were walking indoors with their shoes, but still made sure to place a mat down under the work area to catch any debris, lol.

[@dlake1224]

This was so cheesy

[@tyroneshoelace4872]

This video is close to useless. In reality, many steps along the way will prevent you from completing the task as they show here.

[@slappadabass3290]

Who the heck is that dude at the end? TOH going woke?

[@EricWalstrom]

That’s Mauro, the painter. Probably going to show how to patch the hole.

[@slappadabass3290]

@@EricWalstrom Thought it was the customers husband

[@michaelsteinbach]

@@slappadabass3290 Does it matter? (He also mentions his wife at the beginning.)

[@riffdex]

He couldn’t even take the time to patch the hole to make the project complete?

[@Guardducks]

That's why Maro shows up at the end.