Thursday, October 11, 2012

Install Track Lighting On A Sloped Ceiling

Sloped ceilings can provide special challenges for those who want to install lighting. A sloped ceiling will make it difficult for the homeowner to hang any lights that may drape down over the flooring below, because the point at which the light attaches to the ceiling usually needs to be flat. However, other forms of lighting, such as track lighting, may provide the perfect solution for the lighting challenges of sloped ceilings.


Location


Track lighting is one of the more practical options for lighting on a sloped ceiling. Track lighting is simply a strip of multiple lights that sit within a metal track or strip. These lights can usually be slid up and down the track to create different lighting options for the homeowner. One of the better places to install track lighting on a sloped ceiling is as far down the ceiling as possible, close to where the ceiling and wall intersect. This makes it easier to move the lights around as needed and to highlight artwork and other decorative elements on the walls.


Shape


One of the major advantages to track lighting is that the tracks in which the transformers are located can be shaped so that they meet the specific needs of the homeowner. On a slope ceiling, an L-shaped track that goes both parallel and perpendicular to the walls can provide a number of different lighting options, allowing the homeowner to maximize lighting coverage throughout the room. Because sloped ceilings are different from home to home, the flexibility of shaping track lighting provides a convenient option.








Installation


Installation of track lighting on a sloped ceiling need not be difficult. Track lighting is a surface-mounted type of lighting that does not require any additional wiring inside the ceiling itself. It is a much simpler lighting style to install than recessed lighting, which can require additional wiring and cutting into the ceiling itself. Track lighting is also flexible. You can usually add or subtract lights as necessary.


Changing Bulbs


One of the issues that the homeowner may run into with track lighting on a sloped ceiling is the fact that the lights are sometimes installed too high up on the ceiling. This can make it difficult to change the lights, which are out of reach, even with some ladders. Homeowners in these situations may need to invest a little money in a telescopic pole designed for that specific purpose.

Tags: lighting sloped, lighting sloped ceiling, sloped ceiling, track lighting, additional wiring